Digital Photography: What Are You Waiting For? By: Robert Maher, DDS

Today’s dentists are rapidly embracing digital technology. One of the most valuable of these technologies is digital photography. Digital photography not only gives us improved ways of doing things, it allows us to do things never before possible such as case presentation and electronic transmission of photos to dental laboratories and patients. If you did nothing else with a digital camera and photos other than use them for case presentation you would revolutionize your practice. This is simply the best method to communicate the need for dentistry that I have ever found in my 30 something year career in dentistry. Practice management consultant Gary Takacs says; “This is the closest thing to a magic wand that I have ever seen in dentistry!”

Many dentists would like to get involved with digital cameras and digital case presentation but don’t know quite how to go about it. What camera should they get? How much should they pay for one? How do you take the photos? Who takes them? What do you do with them? A camera system must be realistic and practical. It does no good to have a camera system if you don’t use it.

This article will attempt to answer these questions without overloading you with technical information.

The first question to be answered is what kind of camera do you need? There are three basic choices currently available. As one would expect, quality and price are closely related.

The first level of camera is the DX4900 system Kodak has put together for dentists. They have assembled an accessory kit for one of their consumer cameras that makes it a very useful camera for dental practices. While the quality of the camera and its photos are less than the other two choices available, it has some features that make it stand out from the pack in terms of simplicity (Fig. 1). The dental kit, which sells for about $1,000, has a world class instruction manual that explains everything extremely clearly in a graphic manner that leaves nothing to the imagination. The features that really set this system apart have to do with its docking capabilities. One stumbling block that offices encounter after they get a camera is getting the photos into a computer. Kodak has solved that dilemma

Fig. 1 Kodak DX4900

in an elegant fashion. After taking the photos you simply place the camera into a docking station. Just placing the camera into the dock is all you have to do. The dock is connected to your computer and putting the camera into the dock starts the photo software program on the computer and the photos download automatically; nothing to do but wait. There is an available printer with a dock also, same method; put the camera in the printer dock and it prints pictures. This is the simplest system to use; the others are simple also but there is a greater learning curve to start with.

The next level of camera is the modified consumer cameras such as the Canon G5 (Fig. 2) and the Olympus 5050. These cameras produce a higher quality image than the Kodak and are available from multiple sources. They are available from companies that set the cameras up for dental use with either a ring flash or a custom fabricated light diffuser for a little under $2,000. Buying from these companies costs a bit more than buying piecemeal from other sources but you are paying for expertise and service just as your patients do. Buy it piecemeal and you will have to figure out how to use it on your own rather than having the camera set up for you. Currently, my preference in the 4-5 megapixel range is the Canon G3 or the new G5. The reason for this preference is its two custom settings; C1 and C2. No other currently available camera has this feature. The custom settings allow you

Fig. 2 PhotoMed International Canon G5

to have the camera “memorize” two settings of your choice. For instance; say you want to have consistency with before and after photos on whitening patients. You frame the photo the way you want it, showing a close-up smile. You then tell the camera that this is custom setting one (C1). To take the after photo and all subsequent whitening photos you just set the dial to C1 and move the camera back and forth until the green light comes on and then take the photo. The camera will have zoomed the lens, set the aperture and distance to the same setting as the original photo; it will reproduce this setting every time you turn the dial to C1. This level of camera can produce excellent 8 x 10 prints. You can use C2 for occlusal shots or something else.

The top-of-the-line cameras are the single lens reflex cameras. These cameras look like 35mm SLR cameras; they have interchangeable lenses and ring flashes. They are larger and heavier than the other two camera systems and sell in the $3,000 range. They are also the highest quality having 6 megapixels and can be used for large prints and publication. Current examples are the Canon 10D, the Fuji S2 and the Nikon1D. The differences in these three digital SLR cameras are largely subjective; they are all excellent cameras. Using one of these cameras is very simple once the camera is set up (again, buy it from a dental photo company); you only need to make one setting change to take all of your photos; one setting for full face and another for clinical. Many people are intimidated by these cameras but they really are very simple once you have it set up and the quality is the best.

How you plan to use the camera will help you to decide which system is best for your office. The systems could be ranked as good, better and best; they will all do the job for you, allowing you to do case presentations, communicate with laboratories and make before and after albums.

I believe that the single most important use of digital photography is to take a series of five or more photos on every new patient as part of the new patient exam. This is easily accomplished with any of the above cameras. It can be done by staff or doctor. If you look at these photos BEFORE you do your clinical exam, you will be constantly amazed at how much more you will see and how more comprehensive your diagnosis will be. Following the clinical exam, share these same photos with the patient. The patient will have an understanding of their oral condition that I don’t believe can be arrived at nearly as well by any other technique. You will find case acceptance dramatically increases. What are you waiting for?

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Dr. Maher is a continuing education provider who offers a unique one-on-one clinical mentoring program bringing hands-on esthetic courses to YOUR office treating your own patients.

Dr. Maher also lectures and presents “hands-on” workshops for dental laboratories, dental offices, study clubs and dental organizations on digital photography, PowerPoint and adhesive dentistry. Dr. Robert Maher was a founding faculty member of PAC~live and has taught adhesive cosmetic dentistry at the nation’s two premier teaching programs since 1995. He practices esthetic dentistry in Palm Desert, CA.

He has published a “How To” manual on digital photography entitled: How To Increase Case Acceptance The Easy Way. Visit his website: www.drbobmaher.com for more information.

He can be contacted at 760-836-0700 or by e-mail at elpaseodoc@msn.com.