Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Pursue Dental Photography Daily

Dental Photography Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Pursue Dental Photography Daily

Photography has more than 50 applications in dentistry, Here is all you need to know WHY you are missing out on the MOST happening trend in dentistry today.

Visit the DentistFriend.com dental portal to know what are best dental courses in India

1.Smile Design:

Thinking about a career as an Aesthetic dentist? 

Be it any kind of smile designing (DSD, GPS, PSD etc) photography will give you a HUGE boost to plan your smile designing. In fact all these smile designing techniques employ photography or videography for treatment planning and evaluation. Not having a sound knowledge of photography might prove to be a hinderance in mastering these specialized techniques.

2. Keeping Records (Medico legal):

Just like keeping a record of case paper, RVG, OPG, CBCT, casts and models it is always good to keep photographs of the patient and store them safely. 
Pre operative, Operative and post operative images are a MUST as we move towards what is called an “Evidence Based Practice”

3. Forensic Odontology:

Might sound like a science fiction movie but dentistry can help deliver justice and solve many mystries! Forensic odontology is making its mark even in the highest court of India and there is heavy dependance on clues provided by dental science.

As Law and order is becoming more and more aware about the strides in dentistry, it can rely hugely on the “accurate”  data provided by forensic odontology. (Any kind of details recorded by a dentist can become a part of important evidence and help deliver justice to the needy.)

Photography and recording data accuratly in the form of videos is a vital part of this science.

4. Practice Marketing:

A before and after album in your clinic can be your best friend when it comes to marketing your practice to the patient waiting in your reception. 

Images do speak louder than words …. but make sure its your own work not downloaded from internet !

5. Learning Curve:

Before after images shared with your colleagues and professors (after required conscent from the patient) are extremely helpful learning tools. (Unless you are open minded and are open to criticism) 
Self evaluation and self improvement is a big benifit of macro photography 
Since a 100 mm  macro lens shows you more details that a naked eye can never appreciate you can use this as an effective tool to sharpen your skills.

6. Shade taking:

Believe it or NOT its not your eye but a camera that will help you decide if its an A3 or an A 3.5 ! Cameras are great with understanding the VALUE aspect of teeth and shade guides … 
So get on … get clicking … 

A secret Tip here : Switch to Black and white mode to appreciate the values better!

7. Lab Communication:

What do you think is wise? 

Requesting a ceramist to fabricate a prosthesis based on his own imagination Or Send the ceramist an image of the pre operative/ operative images to get predicatbale results? 
Take advantage of photography so that there are less errors during fabrication. Save time, Save efforts 
At the end the patient is extremely happy too!

8. Publications:

Be it your PG thesis or an article for publication in a national / international journal … 
Make it a point to record and share the best images because your images will make a greater impact on the audience.

Besides if your article has poor image quality there are greater chances that your request to publish might get turned down by the journal editor!

9. Educate Your Staff: 

This idea is right out of the box!! 
You can take images of all instruments, dental materials and even where you store them, a few settings of x ray machine or screen shots of your digital practice management software!
You can use these images to train new staff who arent well worsed with your clinic equipment. All they have to do is go through the images. Also they might remember it better like that… 
You can share these images with them via whatsapp so that they can revise the list suring their free time or holidays!!

And last but not the least 

10. Photography is a great way to explore the artist in you!

When used correctly and regularly it can make you reach newer heights in dentistry. It will also give you an eye for beauty and reignite the passion for excellence. 
People who would want to take it further can become wildlife/ portrait / macro/ landscape/candid wedding photographers par excllence and who knows you might take it to the next level as a source of passive income !
One gets redefined as a true artist …

Source : DentistFriend

Dental Photography: Are You In Focus?

Dental Photography Are You In Focus

Despite having innumerable hours of experience with shooting I have met many dentists who pursue dental photography in the AUTO mode.

Want to settle in abroad after BDS in India then visit our dental portal DentistFriend.com

I have nothing against the use of AUTO mode but I feel there is a HUGE need for the dentists (AND OTHER MEDICAL EXPERTS) to understand that by using the camera in auto mode one fails to realize the true potential of ones DSLR (or other camera) The AUTO mode is nowhere close to what a DSLR camera can really achieve.

It’s actually like a monotonous robot who fails to have a mind of his own.NO creativity, No BRAIN, NO Ambition and NO experimentation … what a dull life.

Despite being a boring mode to shoot in the AUTO mode has innumerable drawbacks one of the greatest drawbacks being the loss of freedom to choose the right focus point.

This post shall be helpful to all the beginners in dental / medical photography who want to understand WHY despite innumerable attempts they do not get a sharp image in any particular situation”

It’s invariably important to have a rough idea of the composition of an image in your mind, not a difficult job for a dentist considering we have few options for standard type of photography. (Of course if you would like to be creative Sky is the limit … but that’s not the point for this post)

We now have a set composition and a magnification to shoot at. We know the settings to shoot at.

The Next step is to focus accurately.

In semiprofessional cameras there is a box (actually meant for face recognition) to help you focus on the area of interest.

In AUTO mode this box tends to change place and even before the dentist knows the box shifts to a place which the camera feels is the desired region for focus and the result is a blurred image.

The reason for this is that the camera will focus on the easiest spot as soon as possible and this usually is a well-lit area with high contrast (be it intra oral or extra oral photography) this area need not be the area where the dentist wants to focus.

So is there a way the dentist can change the focus spot? The answer is yes

In semiprofessional cameras too you can switch to manual focus and manual mode of shooting and shift the box to where exactly you would want to focus.

Remember SMALLER the box … greater will be the accuracy of the spot where you would like to focus.

Speaking about DSLR we have a much professional way to solve the issue

Every DSLR has specific focus points (Number of focus points – 9, 11, as many as 100 or more)

A dentist can pre-select the focus point of choice based on the composition of the image in his/ her mind.

For e.g., selecting the top focus point instead of the center focus point might give greater sharpness to the central incisors which are the subject of conversation in the image.

The focus point can be easily selected using the main dial in Canon cameras. The focus point selected turns RED in the optical viewfinder and also on the LCD screen.

The only thing left NOW is to shoot … hey but wait a minute … we have still not finished actual focusing.

It is always a good choice to set magnification first in the camera and set the lens and camera to manual mode and manAnchorual focus.

Before pressing on the shutter release button one has to make sure that the desired spot is accurately in focus in the optical view finder

If it is not in focus at the desired magnification it is ALWAYS recommended to move your own position rather than change rotate the lens for focusing because that will again change the magnification ratio.

In canon cameras once we achieve accurate focusing the camera gives out a small beep and the focus point flashes red again when we HALF CLICK

(Half clicking is a very good habit that needs to be cultivated because this will tell us if we are correctly focusing or not)

I used a Nikon camera and surprisingly Nikon camera did not give out a BEEP in manual mode during half click – I was a bit uncomfortable with that.

Lastly we need to understand that Focus point is the center of an imaginary sphere (of focused area) Maximum sharpness is in the center and focus reduces as we come towards the periphery.

Hence we should always focus in a spot in between the desired area of depth of field

E.g If we want the entire upper arch in focus it is a good idea to focus on Canines rather than the incisors to avoid wastage of the sharpness in depth of field

Source : DentistFriend