If you are like me, then you want to incorporate technology into your dental practice. You also want it to be as user-friendly as possible. Such is the case with digital photography. This technology is very important for diagnosis, patient education, case presentation, and virtual documentation. However, many dentists are scared away from using digital photography because the cameras have been so complex, oftentimes requiring a PhD to put them together and several photography courses just to use them, never mind acquiring the desired result! Distance, lighting, color, and acquisition require so many gadgets, accessories, and instructions it can make your head spin. For me, when it comes to technology, I believe in the K.I.S.S. principle—keep it simple, stupid! I want point, click, and shoot! And then I want to incorporate it into the patient’s virtual record as quickly and easily as possible.
Does this sound impossible? The answer is no, because there is a dental digital camera that will do just that. It is called DentalFoto Digital Camera(Trademark) and it consists of just two parts, a 5 megapixel Cannon camera and a special proprietary lens.
Things to Look For in Choosing a Camera
As mentioned above, a majority of dentists will do better with an easy-to-use camera that takes good quality pictures. The DentalFoto™ is a new point-and-shoot camera that is easy to use and produces high-resolution, clear pictures.
Megapixel
The first question that comes up is “what megapixel should I choose?” The answer to this one is simple; they all have enough resolution, but anything more than 3 megapixels is fine. A 2.5 megapixel camera can produce a clear print of 8 x 11 inches. I have seen clear 16 x 20-inch blown-up pictures from a 4 megapixel camera. All cameras have quality settings resulting in different file sizes. Here is how to set your camera. Take pictures of the same thing on each of the camera’s different quality settings and import them into your computer in a folder on your desktop (doctors, have your assisting team do this). Open the folder and select View, then Details. Keep the setting where the pictures are around 1,000 kb to 2,000 kb. This is good for most desired uses. Anything larger takes too much time emailing, storing, and manipulating in the computer. The DentalFoto has 5 megapixels and is set one notch lower than its maximum. The file size is around 1,700 kb per picture.
Magnification - Keept simple
If the camera can take a clear picture of a smile or occlusal full arch then it will work. Because these pictures are digital and high resolution you can zoom in and crop if you need a close-up. I prefer cameras that have one set magnification position because it removes variables. Unneeded variables lead to mistakes and confusion. The DentalFoto™ robotically zooms in automatically to the exact magnification. No need to make changes.
Lighting
Ideally, you want to slightly underexpose the picture with the oral cavity being fully lit. You should be able to preset your camera’s flash to achieve this. There are several lighting solutions, including ring flashes, ringlights, and diffusers. These are incorporated because their onboard flash is inadequate or produce shadows. This happens when the light source, located above the camera, angles down. The DentalFoto’s flash is on the same plane as the lens, giving it a soft, diffused light without an add-on light source or diffuser. This is an advantage.
Color
Most cameras have a “white balance” feature that color corrects the pictures. I would advise you do this and yes, you may again have to refer to the manual. Do the procedure in the operatory where you take pictures. Sunlight coming in and your overhead light may affect the resulting color. The DentalFoto™ has been professionally set for color using fluorescent, color corrected light.
This system takes the mystery out of dental photography and pretty much guarantees a terrific image every time. Remember, I said point, click, and shoot! Well, it is as easy as that. If you want to take a full-face image of the patient, aim (point) the camera a comfortable distance from the patient, click to focus the image (click), then shoot. For close-up images of individual teeth or a quadrant, just place the proprietary lens on the camera and (point) aim the camera approximately 6 inches from the patient’s mouth, (click) focus the image, (shoot) acquire the image. Now the image is ready for viewing. It is this unique, specially designed lens that adjusts distance, color, and lighting automatically. So you don’t have to! The images can be downloaded into the patient’s virtual record via a capture card and through a docking station in seconds. It is that easy. The entire Dentalfoto Digital Camera Kitretails for approximately $1,500.00 and is distributed through Patterson Dental Supply.