Many dentists encounter a situation like this in the clinic: The treatment has been completed successfully and the restoration on the front tooth looks great. The patient was extremely pleased with the result.
The dentist suddenly realizes that he neglected to take pre-case photographs of the front teeth and thinks: “I wish, at least 2 (first) and then) I wish I could take a photo! to purchase the equipment.
In this way, the desired case can be photographed and shown to our patients at any time.
In this article, camera body, lens and We will discuss flash selection. We will give different recommendations according to different expectations. By having the equipment and technical knowledge to take those 2 photographs mentioned above, a serious archive can be created.
These photographs can contribute to our profession as follows:
» Your own treatment archive can be created for different treatments
» Patient and technician communication can be strengthened.
» Forensic It can be kept as a document for cases
» It can contribute to raising public awareness
» It can be used in scientific publications, presentations, etc. can be used
» And most importantly, for the sake of your professional development, you can get the opportunity to see the treatments performed more closely.
By constantly taking photos, you can get a clinical picture. costs may be considered rising; However, the information provided through photographs from your own treatment is invaluable. Because they allow us to see details that are at least 40 times larger than what is seen with the naked eye.
Digital cameras have developed rapidly in the millennium and have expanded their usage areas. Previously, dental photographs could only be taken using 35 mm cinema films. Photos taken with this method must pass through the processing stages. Bath solutions, on the other hand, contain toxic chemicals and their waste is Consolidation creates a problem. For this reason, its environmental friendliness is also questionable.
Thanks to digital photography, the environment is not constantly harmed, the result can be displayed on your computer screen within seconds, photos can be stored intact for years, and as many photos can be saved as you want.
Currently, a total of 373 cameras from 5 different brands are sold in the market. If we can eliminate brands and models one by one with the right strategy, hardware that can serve us for many years can be easily installed.
Cameras are divided into 3 main classes:
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Compact and film SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras are not suitable for routine use.
DSLR (Digital-Single Lens Reflex) cameras are most suitable when Macro shooting is required. constitutes the option. If we are going to build a set on DSLR cameras, the number of options will already be reduced to 202.
“First we need to buy the camera body; There is a misconception like "then we have to choose the lens and flash". However, lenses and flashes play a bigger role in our photo quality.
In a few years, the body we have will be outdated; but lenses and flashes will still be in fashion.
Our new strategy will be in the following order:
1- Lens selection
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2- Flash selection
3- Camera selection
1 - LENS SELECTION
For dental photography, a macro lens with a focal length of around 100mm and a magnification factor of 1:1 is required. These lenses are distinguished from other lenses by their magnification factors.
For example; Let's assume that the vertical crown length of a central tooth is 10 mm. If we can determine that the image on a 36x24 mm sensor is also 10 mm, this image is a 1:1 macro image. Macro lenses have focal lengths such as 60mm, 85mm, 90mm, 100mm, 105mm, 180mm, 200mm. The most suitable lenses for dental photography are lenses between 85mm-105mm. These lenses allow us to take 1:1 photographs without getting too close to or moving away from the patient.
Tele-zoom lenses also have There is a cro shooting mode; However, since their magnification factor is up to 1:4, they are not suitable for use in dentistry. All other non-macro lenses are not recommended for intraoral shots as they cause distortion in the image.
2- FLASH SELECTION
Photography, in a sense, is “painting with light”. A clear photograph as below cannot be taken with any camera (without a light source) in pitch darkness.
The camera can be used for intraoral (front, side, occlusal surface, etc.) and extraoral in a clinical environment. It can be used to take photographs (face, profile, plaster model, prosthetic works, etc.). When focusing inside the mouth, insufficient light is often encountered. This is where external flash systems come into play. Two types of flash systems are generally used in dentistry: Ring Flashes and Twin Flashes
Ring flashes: They produce a light that surrounds the lens circularly. Thus, they can illuminate the focused area from every angle. They provide serious ease of use in the fields of Orthodontics, Surgery and Periodontology, where the surface character of the teeth, color distribution and 3-dimensional perception are less important. They do not create deep shadows, especially when shooting the lateral and posterior areas. Their biggest disadvantage is that they make the photographed area dimensionless and flat.
Twin Flashes: This system, consisting of 2 independent flashes, is placed on the right and left of the lens. The position of the twin flashes can be changed using the handles on them. One of the flashes can even be removed from the side of the lens to provide closer light to the patient. Thanks to the twin flashes, photos with high contrast and 3D details can be taken. It is the most suitable type of flash for anterior teeth where we need to evaluate color distribution, surface characterization and translucency.
The use of this system, which provides countless shooting opportunities, requires experience. It is more suitable for use in prosthetic dental treatment and conservative dental treatment. When used in the posterior area, the flash reflected on the cheek or teeth can create a shadow in the desired area. To eliminate this problem, they have a semi-permeable white device that can be attached to their ends. If we determine that it fits our lenses, the right choice can be made easily.
3- CAMERA SELECTION
The cameras from which we can get the best image quality are DSLR photographs. are machines. The biggest reason for this is this: A macro lens should be used in intraoral shots, and it is desired that both the central tooth and the second molar tooth appear clearly in all the arch photographs we take. In other words, the aim is to increase the depth of field as much as possible and to increase the value we call f: (focal length).
For intra-oral shots, between f/22 and f/32 is considered the ideal aperture. is done. Thus, all teeth displayed are clear. These values cannot be reached in compact machines and the desired image clarity cannot be achieved. For example, if we bought a macro lens with a focal length of 100mm, the f value is 100mm. When the lens is focused at infinity, the image falls clearly on the sensor, 100mm behind the lens. Aperture is found by dividing by this value and f:8 means 100/8mm. In other words, light enters the lens through a 12.5mm gap and then falls on the sensor.
Different sensor sizes between compact and DSLR cameras are another factor that affects image quality. Small image sensors are used in compact cameras due to their small size. DSLR cameras with APS-C (Advanced Photo System type-C) class, that is, an average sensor size of 24x16mm, are very suitable for dental photography. We generally do not need expensive cameras that are called full-frame and have a sensor size of 36x24mm.
CONCLUSION
Digital dental photo diagnosis is an outstanding tool for communication and documentation. With appropriate training, equipment, technique and practice, dental photography can support the physician in making an accurate diagnosis and providing treatment recommendations. Each physician must create his/her equipment in line with his/her own expectations. Thus, the benefit obtained from the hardware to be installed can be maximized.
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