New patient standardised dental phototography series

 I have been taking a standardised set of clinical photos for my patients for a few years now. Mainly for new patients or existing patients to the practice which I am meeting for the first time if they have something that requires in depth discussion. I find this to be hugely useful in communication and patient acceptance of their condition. I will try to go through my approach to photography in future posts but I mainly wanted to show the set of photos that I take on a daily basis. My photos aren't perfect, there are some things I would like to start doing when I can be bothered, like paying attention to the magnification ratios on the lens to standardise my photos more. However my photography has improved a lot since I started to play around with it back at dental school.

Basic new patient photo set in sequence: 

1. Close up smile
2. Retracted frontal
3. Retracted frontal half open
4. Retracted right buccal in occlusion 
5. Retracted right buccal half open
6. Retracted left buccal in occlusion 
7. Retracted left buccal half open 
8. Upper occlusal mirror shot
9.  Lower occlusal mirror shot

Close up smile

Retracted frontal half open

 

 

Retracted right buccal in occlusion 

Retracted right buccal half open

Retracted left buccal in occlusion 

Retracted left buccal half open 

 

Upper occlusal mirror shot

Lower occlusal mirror shot

For attrition cases, I will also add photos showing the wear facets lining up. I like to do this after the half open shot as when I am going through the photo series, it is easier to show the flat wear facets in the half open shots with the black background of the mouth, then right after I can show then the lined up facets to show them why this has happened that way

3.5. Anterior edge to edge 

5.5. Right lateral excursion

7.5. Left lateral excursion 

 

Left lateral excursion showing the lateral incisor and canine edge to edge

A bit past canine edge to edge

If the assistant has prepared the photography equipment (retractors, mirror). The whole photo sequence is quite quick. I can have the photos taken and ready to present on the computer within 3-5 minutes. I have had occasions where I squeeze the photo sequence inside of a 30 minute recall appointment, have time for a brief discussion to introduce a problem and complete the hygiene visit without running late. The more I practice, the more I am trying to take these standardised sets of photos. There have been many issues where I have a questions that I would like to refer to previous photos e.g "Was this tooth chipped last time?" or "Were the teeth worn previously?" but I haven't had photos to refer to. I haven't had any pushback from the patient up until this point. They are either indifferent or more often appreciative that I have taken the effort to take the record and explain their condition to them. 

I might make a post in the future about other photo sets e.g for orthodontics, restorative work and perhaps a post about light modifiers and polarisers which I have played around with in the past.