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Clinical Dental Photography

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Photography in Clinical Medicine

Abstract

This chapter describes how to take a series of images for dental use, irrespective of the modality or speciality. The discussion starts with selecting photographic equipment and configuring it for obtaining optimal results. This includes camera settings, flashes and ancillary armamentaria for achieving predictable and repeatable photographs. In addition, theoretical aspects of photography are discussed and applied to practical clinical situations. As dental photodocumentation serves as a dento-legal record, monitoring treatment outcomes, and communicating with colleagues and patients, standardization is mandatory for achieving these objectives. Two basis portfolios are outlined, the essential dental portfolio (EDP), which includes both extra- and intra-oral images, and the essential portrait portfolio (EPP) that caters for facial pictures for a variety of dental disciplines. All the set-ups are conveniently graphically illustrated with accompanying tables summarizing guidelines for expediting a dental photographic session. Furthermore, aspects such as intended use of images, clinical and non-clinical photography, dissemination and delegation are emphasized to safeguard patient confidentiality and ensure proficiency. The chapter concludes with image processing and offers suggestions for ethically permissible editing for maintaining standards and avoiding unwarranted manipulation.

After reading this chapter, and perhaps combined with a hand-on course, the operator should be able to incorporate dental photography as a routine procedure for complementing and enhancing dental care. Also, the text provides a solid platform for those wishing to expand the uses of dental photography and take it to the next level.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter is adapted from the author’s book Essentials of Dental Photography, Wiley, Oxford, UK, 2019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Substitutive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Irfan Ahmad

Authors
  1. Irfan Ahmad
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Pius Hospital de Valls, Tarragona, Spain

    Paola Pasquali

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Ahmad, I. (2020). Clinical Dental Photography. In: Pasquali, P. (eds) Photography in Clinical Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24544-3_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24544-3_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-24543-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24544-3

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