The invention relates to a method and a camera for the three-dimensional measurement of a dental object, comprising at least one light source that emits an illumination beam, at least one projection mask that produces a projection pattern, focusing optics that display the projection pattern in a plane of sharp focus at a defined focal distance relative to the dental camera. The projection pattern projected onto the object is reflected by the object as an observation beam and is acquired by means of a sensor. During the measurement of the object, the focusing optics are controlled in such a way that the focal distance of the plane of sharp focus relative to the camera is adjusted incrementally between a number of defined scan positions.