DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY KNOW YOUR CAMERA

Within the field of Dentistry, clinical photographs are essential as a diagnostic tool, to monitor treatment progress, and for academic and medicolegal purposes.  Dental clinical photographs consist of extraoral and intraoral photographs. Clinical photographs are taken by a professional medical photographer, Dentist or dental assistant .

With time, the means of obtaining measurements from clinical photographs have evolved with New technology beginning from projecting photographic slides on to a screen, using sliding calipers, or from scanned photographs and direct on-screen digitization.

NEED FOR CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHS

•        Clinical Records

•        To Communicate With the fellow Dentist

•        Communication with the Patient & Parent

•        Photographs as a learning tool

•        Medico-legal requirements

PRINCIPLES OF CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHY

•        In order to take a standard photograph, proper patient position is recommended.

•        Accessories such as jewels, glasses and hearing aids should be removed before photographing.

•        The camera should be placed parallel to the patient face.

•        Patient must look straight into the camera without any tilting of head.

RECOMMENDED EXPOSURE SETTINGS FOR CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHY

1)     Shutter speed                                                                              1/125

•        Aperture for extraoral photographs                                             f-8 to f-11

•        Aperture for intraoral photographs, direct view                            f-32

•        Aperture for intraoral photographs ,mirror view                           f-19 to f-16

•        ISO                                                                                               100

SIZE OF CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Extraoral-length x width= 3.5”x5.5”

            Intraoral-length x width= 5.5”x3.5”

TYPES

Extraoral- 1. Frontal view-a. Frontal at rest

                                           b. Frontal dynamic smile

                                           c. Frontal posed smile

                   2.Profile view

                   3.Three-quarter profile view

                   4.Submental view(worm’s eye view)

                    5. Bird’s eye view

Intraoral-1. Frontal

                2. Right and left buccal

                 3.Occlusal view-a. Maxilla

                                             b. Mandible

REQUIREMENTS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SET-UP

1.Background- Sky blue for contrast/ white background with color coding for different stages 

2.Tripod stand

3.Retractors-Should not be visible in photographs

                          a.) cheek retractors

                           b.) lip retractors

4. Mirror-a. Side mirror

                b. Occlusion mirror

The frame of photograph should have equal space on all sides.

IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHY

•        Photometric analysis serves as a powerful method to address orthodontic malocclusion, establish treatment planning, evaluate surgical results and orthodontic outcome, and also study the facial growth.

•        Use of photograph as a diagnostic aid was also established by many workers when they studied the impact of buccal corridor, lip line, or smile arc on facial attractiveness.

•        Especially in the field of orthognathic surgery, where surgery can change the appearance of a face, 3D assessment is becoming very essential. Digital photography not only allows the clinician to plan the surgical procedures, but also aids in predicting the outcome.