1. Photography in Dentistry
By
Amin Abusallamah

2. :Outline
• Introduction.
• Photography Recommendation & Accessories.
• Extra-oral Photography.
• Intraoral Photography Tips.

3. Introduction
• Images are fundamental in the day-to-day
practice of dentistry. They serve as
documentation of dental procedures and as
forensic evidence, and they play an essential
role in dentist-patient communication,
providing the basis for patients’ expectations
for treatment.

5. Photography Recommendation
. And Accessories

6. Ring Flash Recommendation
• A ring flash, invented by Lester, in 1952
originally for use in dental photography, is a
circular photographic flash that fits around the
lens, especially for use in macro photography.
• Its most important characteristic is providing
even illumination with few shadows visible in
the photograph, as the origin of the light is
very close to the optical axis of the lens.

7. Ring Flash

8. Mirror
• Dental mirrors are used by the dentist or
dental auxiliary to view a mirror image of the
teeth in locations of the mouth where
visibility is difficult or impossible. They also
are useful for reflecting light onto desired
surfaces.

9. Mirrors

10. Retractors
• Dental retractors have been used in dentistry
for various purposes such as intraoral
photography, and fillings. They assist the
operator by moving away the lips and cheeks
of a subject temporarily.

11. . Extra-oral Photography

12. Extra-oral Photography
The pre-requisites for successful images are;
• The patient’s frontal and lateral images are
best taken.
• Include the patient’s shoulders and down as
far as the underarms.
• light clear background such as: wall.
• About 6 feet between the camera and subject.

13. Frontal Photography
• Ears and shoulder must be visible.
• Lips at rest and patient smiling.

14. Lateral Photography
• Ears and shoulder must be visible.
• Lips at rest and patient smiling.
• Always pull hair back to view ears and neck.

15. Intraoral Photography Tips.

16. Tip1
Plastic double-ended cheek retractors are
recommended to retract cheeks. Plastic
retractors hold the cheeks out better than metal
retractors which allow the cheeks to cave
inward.

17. Tip2
Position the lens as close as possible to the
object being photographed to maximize clarity of
the image. The object should be centered in the
photograph and should also be the main focus of
the image.

18. Tip3
Avoid showing any of the retractors in the
image.

19. Tip4
Identify the most important part of the image
being photographed and eliminate all other
distracting objects such as: tongue, saliva, lips.

20. Tip5
The main object of the image should be
centered vertically and horizontally within the
photograph.

21. Tip6
The occlusal and incisal planes should be
positioned parallel to the horizon and in the
center of the image.

22. Tip7
Place an optimal amount of light on the image
being photographed. This may include changing
the strength of the flash and the amount of light
directed to the image from overhead lights.

23. Tip8
Dry and clean the area to be photographed with
suction and/or gauze. Eliminate extraneous
blood and saliva before taking the photograph.

24. Tip9
Mirrors are required for lateral or buccal
images. Buccal surfaces of molars cannot be
photographed without mirrors.

25. Tip10
Warm the mirrors before the intraoral
photograph is taken by flowing warm water
over them. Be sure to dry them thoroughly with
moisture-free air from the air/water syringe.

26. Tip11
Intraoral mirrors should be used to photograph
buccal, lingual and occlusal images. The edges of
the mirrors should not be visible in the
photograph.

27. Tip12
A solid, non-textured surface should be used as
a background when photographing products or
prostheses extraorally. Black or colors with low
values should be used.

28. :References
• Clinics of North American Dentistry, C. Freehe
• Biomedical Photography, J.P. Vetter
• Worschech, C.C; Moura, J.R; Fonseca, D.M:
Micro-operative dentistry: Why do it?QDT
2007, 199-205
• http://thedigitaldentist-
site.org.uk/techniques.asp
• www.3i-online.com