Clinical Photography
Journal Summary:
Photography in clinicial dental practice
Have you ever heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words?". Photography has influenced our lives in many ways. It would be hard to imagine any part of our existence without relating it to photography. It has entered all segments of life providing new facts and knowledge in science, medicine, industry, communication, and art. A camera instantaneously captures sights that remain as a lasting proof of exsistence. A camera has become one of the most widespread gadgets used daily by our population.
Photography plays an important role in the dental field. The first role of dental photography is to serve as documentation, and then education. It has become a great tool in the presentation of treatment to patients. Good photographic presentations along with communication can simplify the most difficult to understand dental terminology and confirm the need for necessary procedures.
Today there are two types of photography that can be used in a clinical setting. The first is classical photography. It uses film as the photographic carrier and requires laboratory equipment for processing. The second is digital photography. It produces an image electronically and is ready for reproduction momentarily. In order for the images to be visible certain devices are needed. If your camera does not have an LCD display, it must be attached to a TV or computer monitor. In order to see the images in their full brilliance they must be printed out in the adequate format. Given two photographs on two pieces of paper of the same dimension, one made in the classic procedure and the other in digital one, a neutral observer would be unable to make the distinction. Digital photography has the advantage that it is at the user's disposal immediately after shooting. It can be printed, stored, copied and sent via email anywhere in the world. You can also eliminate the faulty ones and mistakes are visible instantaneously.
Besides having the adequate photography equipment, some basic knowledge is required as well. This includes proper technique, illumination, knowledge of photographic materials and processes, and basic painting (contour, shape, color, texture, and composition). To begin, a camera is a mechanical-optical-electronic device for recording real static images on a photographic film or electronic sensor. For classic photography, the most adequate one is the small-format 35 mm camera with reflex view finder and interchangeable lenses. For digital, it is best to use a camera with the same characteristics and minimal resolution of the 4 MPix. Both of these cameras are relatively small, easy to use and adjustable to various types of shooting.
There are four main parts to a camera. They include, the housing, view finder, shutter, and lens. The housing connects all camera parts in one complex and keeps film material or the photosensitive sensor away from the light. A view finder is used for defining the composition and adjusting focus properly. The shutter releases light through the lens in the moment of exposure. A lens is an optical-mechanical complex for achieving real image of an object during the taking of a photograph. Its design and characteristics influence the appearance and quality of an image.
It is impossible to take a photograph without light. Only a self emitting light object or a light-reflecting object can be recorded. There are two main groups that light can be divided into. They include natural and artificial. The sun is practically the only natural light source and is the most common in exterior shooting. In closed spaces with insufficient natural light, some artificial light must be used. The two types of artificial light sources include, tungsten filament lamps (conventional or halogen light) and ionized radiation sources (fluorescent lamps, HMI, HDI, electronic flashlight). The type of light source determines the quality of light. You should pay attention to this feature when choosing the film material for classic photography or white color balance in digital photography. You should also know that the relationship between the position of the light source and the lens axis is an important factor for photograhic appearance.
Along with adequate equipment and lighting, successful photography requires additional features often found in the dental practice. These include retractors (for lips and cheeks), dental mirrors, and small plastic plates used as background when photographing anterior region. When taking photographs there are five principle views that can illustrate a patient's intraoral status. These include, frontal view, two lateral and two occlusal views. To take pictures of these views it may require the use of retractors and mirrors. Additionally there are six outer views. These include, two side, frontal, frontal with slightly move head and two frontal-lateral at 45 degree angle regarding the sagittal plane. The standardization of photographs enables comparison of the photographs even if they are taken at different time intervals and by different photographers.
For easy access, adequate storage and archiving of dental photographs is important. Today digital photography has caught up with and in some ways overtaken classic photography. Many offices use only digital or a combination of digital and classic. The use of digital in a dental practice is simple, fast, and highly efficient in documenting procedures, patient education, and research. Digital photography offers many benefits for dentists and patients. Good and successful dental photography is a true reward. It worth investing in the equipment and time.
How this journal article will help dental hygiene care: Photography is a great tool for documentation and patient education. I know that as I continue my career as a dental hygienist, I will be using photography as part of my job. This article will give me the foundation of knowledge that I will need to use photography as a part of the clinical setting. This along with the practice of using a camera will be a great benefit to my career.
Additional Information: As I continue my education, I know that I will get an opportunity to practice taking dental photographs. I thought the following you tube video was very informative. It gave me an example of what I may be doing. It also gives anyone who hasn't had an experience with dental photographs an idea of what they are and what may be done to them by a hygienist if they require a need to have them. http://youtu.be/vegsPDz_11k
APA citation: Dukić, Z. (2007). Photography in clinical dental
practice. Serbian Dental Journal / Stomatološki Glasnik Srbije,
54(2), 97-105. doi:10.2298/SGS0702097D
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