WHY LEARN DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY?

The millennial dentist needs to learn how to take incredible dental photos for a number of reasons. I've listed my top 3 reasons below: 

• Laboratory Communication
• Patient Education
• Dental Marketing 

Lab Communication

The most obvious reason to learn dental photography involves your ability to enhance communication with your dental laboratory. Inaccurate shade selection is one of the primary reasons for lab remakes which will cost your practice an invaluable amount of chair time.

Patients expect work to be done efficiently & simply taking a photo w/ the shade guide tab dramatically increases your ability to accurately shade match restorations. 

Now, there are a variety of dentists that work almost completely digitally, so this reason might not be enough to purchase a dental camera setup. So, let's move onto the next one. . .

Patient Education

This is by far my favorite reason to learn how to take incredible dental photos. We live in the "Information Age" where transparency is essential to building trustful long-lasting relationships with your patients.

You would be surprised at how grateful patients will be if you take the time to show them photos of their teeth as a tool to explain your diagnosis & support your treatment plan. It's not unreasonable for patients to doubt our treatment plans if they have had bad dental experiences in the past.

Use dental photography as an educational tool that will help you stand out as a doctor who cares about their work.

Now you may be thinking that a small intraoral camera will get the job done. You may be right, but intraoral photos does not match the incredible resolution that a proper DRLR setup allows for.

Dental Marketing 

Everyday consumers purchase products through photography & videography. It’s the same in dentistry. Incredible before and after photos of porcelain veneers will make the difference between someone choosing your dental practice or going to the dentist across the street. 

If you understand how to operate dental photography settings & how to use light to capture beautiful images of your work then you will gain recognition in your community  

If you understand how to operate dental photography settings & how to use light to capture beautiful images of your work then you will gain recognition in your community. Patients know when stock images are used in dental advertisements. It would be much more powerful to put your own work on these mailers / fbook ads. 

DO I NEED A DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE?

The simple answer is no. . . 

I learned dental photography primarily through dental blogs & YouTube videos that clearly go over photography settings, lighting & lenses.I took everything I learned & applied those principles to my dental office.

The best way to learn is through application. I set a goal to take a minimum of 2 dental photos a day. Eventually I got more proficient at taking these photos until it became second nature. I have attached some YouTube videos below which have helped me get better at taking dental photos.

Dental photography courses are incredibly useful for those that don’t know where to begin. I’ll share some links of dental photography courses that I trust. Feel free to google “dental photography courses near me” to find local instructors that will be able to teach you photography techniques.

BEST CAMERA FOR DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY?

Step 1: The Best Dental Photography Camera 

Step 2: Dental Photography Lens Options

Step 3: Dental Photography Flash System

That's it! 

This is all you need to start taking incredible dental photos at your practice today. Purchasing proper dental photography equipment has changed the way I practice dentistry & is a must for anyone trying to elevate their dental career. The next section is dedicated to specialized accessories to aid in your photography techniques

Step 4: Dental Photography Mirror Kit & Cheek Retractors 

Step 5: Dental Photography Contrasters

Dental contrasters give that sleek black background seen in before & after photos. Its a bit of a novelty but it really looks nice for dental marketing purposes. There are many way to achieve a black background but the easiest way is to use a contraster to block out the oral tissue like the throat/tonsils. Check out these popular contraster dental kits below:

Well, that goes over all the different accessories to take awesome dental photos. I hope you take the time to review all options before purchasing anything. I tried to make the equipment guide as easy to follow as possible & I hope it helps.

Now let's put it into action

MINI DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Dental Photography Settings  

A DSLR camera gives you the ability to change aperture, shutter speed & iso. As you become a more experienced dental photographer, you will be able to change these settings with ease when trying to achieve a desired outcome.

However, the vast majority of photos will be taken w/ a particular setting for intraoral photos & a particular setting for extra oral photos. I have attached a table that will help you quickly identify the photography settings for each:

Sometimes, it may get confusing on how to adjust the settings on the physical camera. So I've attached a video that clearly goes over how to access the settings mentioned above. If you already know how to access those settings then skip this step and move onto the next part

How to Take Dental Photos for a Comprehensive Examination

Taking a full series of dental photos accurately can be incredibly difficult. The more photos you take the more natural it will come. Persistence is the key to taking perfect intra-oral photos every single time 

I always start with the full face & smiling photographs first. These are the easiest to shoot and give you a bit more confidence moving forward. I then move on to more difficult shots until I finish with my maxillary & mandibular occlusal photographs. 

I haven’t made a YouTube video on this just yet so please take the time to watch a video I found which highlight this technique perfectly.

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support.

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND