How to Get Started in Digital Photography

Thomas K. Hedge D.D.S., F.A.C.E.
Dental Products Report
August 2002

Interested in learning about taking cosmetic dentistry photos? Here are some basic tips about digital photography and cosmetic dentistry photos. The first thing you are going to need is a camera. There are hundreds of models to choose from and thousands of places to get them. Very few of the available models are practical in dentistry. Dentistry requires some very specific features that are not often found on consumer cameras.

You must have the ability to focus close. Look for a camera with at least 3x optical zoom. Digital zoom is not as useful as optical zoom because it enlarges by cutting out some of the image, thus wasting resolution.

Evenly distributed lighting on close up shots is another critical need in dentistry. Ring flashes give use the best lighting, but most digital cameras cannot accommodate these. The small on board point flash, that most consumer cameras have, will light one side of the mouth more than the other.

Another important feature to look for is the ability to manually adjust the aperture. This will allow you to use the highest f stop number giving you the greatest depth of field. This insures that everything from the central incisors all the way back to the second molars is in focus.

Recommended cameras include the Canon D60 at the top end, to the the Canon G2, Kodak 4900, and Olympus 4040 and D40. Lester Dine and Photomed make some dentally specific modifications to Olympus and Epson models.

The second thing you will need is software to store and modify, and possibly image your photographs. All digital cameras come with some photo storage and manipulation software, such as Photoshop Elements. These are made for comsumers with recreational use as the focus. Dental imaging and storage software is made by Dicom Image, SciCan, and Digital Dentist. These were designed specifically for dental needs and are simple to use and will give you great imaging and simulation results.

The last thing you will need is some education, background, and training on how to make the most of your digital camera. Kodak has a section on their web site at www.Kodak.com called "Taking great pictures" that will give you a good background on digital photography.

Dr. Tom Hedge has written a text book that includes general and specific information on digital applications to dentistry. There are also a few courses that are available throughout the country. Dr. Hedge directs a two day hands on course at the Las Vegas Institute and does one day hands on courses in his office in Cincinnati, Ohio. There will be a one day hands on course during the GenR8Tnext meeting in Tucson, Arizona in September taught by four of the nations leaders in digital photography. The IOAD in Tampa offers a hands on digital course and the AACD has a digital program planned for their meeting next April in Orlando.