Introduction to Digital
Dental Photography
Prepared by Todd R. Schoenbaum, DDS & Richard G. Stevenson, DDS
with support from the UCLA Division of Restorative Dentistry
and the Academy of Operative Dentistry Founder’s Fund
Welcome to the world of Digital Dental Photography
All information is accurate and current as of 2012. Future developments in
photography will require revision of the information contained within.
What is Dental photography good for?
•Patient Communication
Patients understand their
needs and complications much
better when they can see a
picture of their own pathology
•Lab Communication
Particularly for treatment in the
aesthetic zone, technicians
need more information than
just a single shade tab.
Photography greatly simplifies
the shade taking process;
providing the ceramist with a
“palate” of shades rather than
trying to match a single shade.
•Interdisciplinary
Communication
Photography greatly enhances
the ability to communicate
between disciplines for
complex treatment.
•Diagnosis and Treatment
Planning
Even with radiographs, charting and
mounted models, there is much diagnostic
information to be gained by including
photography to comprehensive treatment
planning.
Basic Armamentarium
There are 3 camera types for dental photography
Intraoral
dSLR
Point & Shoot
There are 3 camera types for dental photography
Intraoral
Advantages:
- no mirrors needed
- small and lightweight
- simple
Disadvantages:
- subpar image quality
There are 3 camera types for dental photography
Point & Shoot
Advantages:
- small and lightweight
- lower cost
Disadvantages:
- not upgradeable
- inconsistent
magnification
There are 3 camera types for dental photography
dSLR
Advantages:
- highest image quality
- upgradeable
- various lighting options
Disadvantages:
- heavy
- expensive
dSLR
Although intimidating, once properly
calibrated the dSLR is the most popular
and versatile choice for dental
photography.
There are 3 components of a dSLR for dental
photography
Camera Body
Macro Lens
Macro Flash
Camera Body
The models and specifications of
camera bodies changes very rapidly.
A dSLR body for Dental Photography should at a
minimum have the following requirements:
- 10 MP resolution
- APS-C sensor
- 3” LCD screen
More expensive models may have many extra
features, most of which are of little use in dental
Macro Lens
The lens needed for dental photography
is a Macro (or Micro) specific lens with a
focal length of 85-105mm.
•This is not the lens that comes on the camera when
purchased as a kit at a consumer store.
•It cannot be a zoom lens.
•It must have magnification marking on the lens.
Ring Flash
- Easier to use
- Smaller
- More consistent lighting
- Not very good at showing incisal
translucency or line angles
Dual-point
Flash
- More difficult to use
- More flexible lighting options (i.e. diffusers)
- Difficult to use for mirror shots
- Best option for aesthetic dental work and shad
photography
- Works best with a special mounting bracket for
dentistry
Photography accessories
Intraoral Photography Mirrors
Occlusal XL
Buccal #1
Wide
•
Front surface coated to
avoid double images
• Occlusal mirror is used for
the maxillary and
mandibular occlusal
images
• Buccal mirror is used for
quadrant, buccal, and
lingual images
•
must be handled with
extreme care to minimize
scratches
Tips:
- keep mirror warm to avoid fogging (i.e. water bath, heat pad, coffee cup
warmer)
- use the biggest mirror possible
- never place mirrors on or near metal instruments
Cheek Retractors
• Used to hold the cheeks off the buccal
tooth surfaces and allow more light into
the mouth
• Usually positioned by the doctor, and held
by the patient
• Available in different sizes and made of
metal or plastic
• They should not be visible in the photo
Anterior Contraster
(optional)
•Used in anterior shots to “black out” the
background
•Enhances the ability to see translucency
•Used in conjunction with retractors
dSLR Camera Settings
Shutter Speed: 60250
Aperture: f/8 for full face
f/32 for intraoral
White Balance:
Flash or Custom
Image size: Large
JPEG or RAW
ISO: 100-400
dSLR Camera Settings
Exposure Mode: “M” Manual or “Av” Aperture Priority
(Usually set on the dial on top of the camera)
Flash Mode: eTTL
This is an automatic mode that works well for beginners.
Advanced users may choose to experiment with manual
flash exposure settings.
Focus Mode: “MF” Manual Focus
Not to be confused with the exposure mode set above.
This prevents the autofocus from changing the
magnification setting. Focus will be achieved by moving
the camera. This may initially seem more complex, but the
mouth is generally too dark for autofocus to work properly.
Magnification
Rotate to change
magnification
Magnification:
- Controlled by turning the lens barrel
- Macro specific lenses have magnification
markings on them
- The magnification is set on the lens
- Do NOT spin the lens to focus
(it will change the magnification)
- We will be using three magnification
settings:
- 1:15 for full face image
- 1:3 for most intraoral images
- 1:1.5 for closeup images
What images to take?
Basic Diagnostic Image
Series
(6 images)
1. Full Face smiling
- stand approx. 2 meters away
- use autofocus for this image only
- patient’s head should be vertical
Magnification 1:15; Aperture f/8
Magnification 1:3;
2. Lips in Repose (“M” position)
- turn off autofocus; set magnification to
1:3 and aperture to f/32
- Instruct pt to say “emma”
- used to determine incisal display at
rest
Aperture f/32
3. Maximum Gingival Display (“E”
position)
- instruct patient to say “eeee”
- used to determine lip mobility and
gingival display
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
4. Retracted 1:3
- insert retractors, dry teeth
- teeth should be slightly
separated
- retractors need to be pulled
out and forward
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
5. Maxillary Occlusal
- place patient in a fully supine
position
- insert retractors; dry teeth
- insert occlusal mirror
- shoot from 12 o’clock position
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
6. Mandibular Occlusal
- place patient in a fully supine
position
- insert retractors; dry teeth
- insert occlusal mirror under
tongue
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
Posterior Restoration Image
Series
(3 images) 1. Shade Image
- taken before preparation or rubber dam
- best to shoot in RAW format for color fidelity
- position shade tabs as close as possible to teeth to be matched
- use one tab for occlusal, one tab for gingival
- use the appropriate shade guide for the porcelain to be used
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
2. Pre-operative Occlusal
- Use buccal mirror
- Teeth and rubber dam should be clean and dry
- If not using a rubber dam, use the cheek
retractors
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
3. Post-operative Occlusal
- Use buccal mirror
- Teeth and rubber dam should be clean and dry
- If not using a rubber dam, use the cheek retractors
Anterior Restoration Image
Series
(6 images)
1. Full Face smiling
- stand approx. 2 meters away
- use autofocus for this image only
- patient’s head should be vertical
Magnification 1:15; Aperture f/8
4. Retracted 1:3
- insert retractors, dry teeth
- teeth should be slightly
separated
- retractors need to be pulled
out and forward
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
2. Shade image
- set magnification to 1:1.5
- use retractors
- clean and dry teeth
- make note of shade tabs if labels
cannot be seen in the image
Magnification 1:1.5; Aperture f/32
5. Preparation
- set magnification to 1:1.5
- use retractors
- clean and dry teeth
- use contraster to better capture
translucency
Magnification 1:1.5; Aperture f/32
3. Pre-operative Close up
- set magnification to 1:1.5
- use retractors
- clean and dry teeth
- use contraster to better capture
translucency
Magnification 1:1.5; Aperture f/32
Magnification 1:3; Aperture f/32
6. Post-operative
- set magnification to 1:3
- use retractors
- clean and dry teeth
- use contraster to better
capture translucency
Comprehensive Diagnostic Image
Series
(16 images)
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#1
1. Full face smiling
2. “M” (Lips in repose)
3. “E” (max. gingival display)
4. “F” (A-P relation)
5. Right smile
6. Center smile
7. Left smile
8. Pre-Operative shade image
9. Right retracted
10. Center retracted
11. Left retracted
12. Right close-up
13. Center close-up
14. Left close-up
15. Maxillary occlusal
16. Mandibular occlusal
#8
#15
#16
Like any new skill…
This will take practice and dedication to master
Prepared by Todd R. Schoenbaum, DDS & Richard G. Stevenson, DDS
with support from the UCLA Division of Restorative Dentistry
and the Academy of Operative Dentistry Founder’s Fund