When we hear “Say Cheese,” what is the first image in your head? Family photo? Graduation day? Dental photography?
Ok, probably not the last one, but you do hear it.
Dental photography is a standard when it comes to dental care. Dentists use these images for a myriad of reasons from diagnosing patients to creating coherent medical records.
In this blog, we will go over:
Picture this: by the time you finish this blog, you’ll know more about photography than people on Instagram!
Dental photography is the process of taking high-quality images of a patient’s teeth, gums, and oral structure.
This helps dentists diagnose issues, create treatment plans, and better communicate with patients about why they are ordering tests and procedures. They also keep records along the way.
This process began in the 1950s as a way for dentists to show patients what was happening inside their mouths. The original setup included a circular flash attached to the camera lens, which illuminated the mouth.
Dental photography has come a long way since the 1950s and is now a staple of the dental industry.
Professional photography provides accurate, detailed visual records of patients’ oral conditions. These clear images provide dentists with the best information to diagnose and treat patients.
This process has also become a powerful teaching tool for education. This is not limited to personal skill development, but for sharing with colleagues.
Photographs can be used for presenting at conferences or being published in research papers. But always make sure you have the patient’s consent first.
One matter that benefits from expert use of digital photography can be legal documentation. Having exceptional dental photography records can provide strong support for your case should any disputes arise.
The newest equipment and up-to-date techniques can be a highlight across your marketing. These photographs are used to highlight success stories and create before-and-after photos. Efforts like these drive more potential patients to the offices that use these practices.
As discussed earlier, dental photography has come a long way since its inception in the 1950s.
Today, a typical dental photography setup involves three pieces of equipment:
Digital cameras have become the norm across most photography, especially dental photography. Digital cameras provide multiple settings and the ability to switch between equipment when needed to get the best results.
As for the macro lens, this is a lens designed for close-up photography. Having this allows the user to take sharp, detailed images of small subjects, like teeth and specific areas of the gums.
Ring lights are popularly used by social media influencers today because they provide a soft, even light across the frame of their camera lens. This is the same for any professional photo to achieve the same effect.
As for twin flashes, these are set up with two separate light heads. The lights are positioned on either side of the lens to create a three-dimensional effect. This allows for greater depth in dental photography photos.
Retractors and mirrors are used in dental photography to improve visibility and capture clear, detailed images of hard-to-reach areas in the mouth. This is similar to why dentists hold a smaller mirror while working on a patient.
Choosing the best camera for dental photography is essential for capturing the best images for patients. Here are a few of the most popular cameras dentists use for their dental photography:
The Canon is a popular choice because of the high-resolution 32:5MP sensor and autofocus. This ensures a crisp, detailed image. Flexible lenses are also an option and it has impressive low-light performance.
The Nikon D850 offers a high 45.7MP resolution and exceptional dynamic range, providing crystal-clear images that capture even the smallest details of dental structures. Its versatile functionality and robust build make it ideal for both clinical use and educational purposes.
This mirrorless camera is known for its compact design and incredibly high 61MP resolution, which delivers outstanding detail in photos. Its advanced autofocus and fast shooting speeds make it suitable for both dental photography and other uses in the clinic.
Ultimately, it is in your best interest to try different cameras and make the decision for yourself on what is the best camera for dental photography.
It is great to know that this kind of technology is around and helping improve dental care on the provider side.
Now, where do we learn how to do it? And if your practice already does this, how do you improve?
Dental photography is not going away anytime soon, but updates to technology and imaging techniques are happening every day. This is one of the reasons why continued education courses for dentists are important.
Continuing education with dental photography is a course offered online by some accredited CE businesses. However, being as hands-on as the dental industry requires, an in-person dental photography course can provide a better learning experience.
Learn to use the equipment that is used daily, and try different cameras or lenses to find which one works best for your practice. An online course can only do so much when it comes to learning. That is why we offer one!
Now that you understand how important professional photography is to the overall care of your dental patients, it’s time to improve your technique!
Performance Dental Institute is offering our course, The Power of Dental Photography, for dentists.
Our state-of-the-art facility offers one-day courses in sunny Palm Bay, FL. You’ll learn about the newest techniques and technology used to improve your patient care; and with better patient care, better satisfaction will follow!
Whether you’ve been working for years in the field or fresh out of school, there is plenty to learn to offer the best care to your patients. Sign-up to get notified when classes are available and get ready to tell your patient to “Say Cheese!” a lot more often.
