CLINICAL MANUAL IN DENTAL

PHOTOGRAPHY

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
LUPO VILLEGA, D.D.S. ,
Type to enter text
 Forward

The importance of dental photography can be found in the need to

create educational material for the various levels of dentistry. From the
undergraduate students into the clinical field, to the continuing educational
courses. However, the need to maintain some type of clinical /legal record
has also emerged. The introduction of the digital camera, made clinicians
start to realize the great impact that dental photography can have on their
daily practices. Dental photography has become a powerful and
indispensable tool for treatment plans, presentations, and patient
education as well as legal documentation.

Preface

The clinical manual is intended to be practical, simple, accessible,

and readily usable for daily clinical use. It is also intended to simply help
undergraduates, and all specialties that need to take a digital photograph
for documentation and or case presentation. The goal is to provide a quick
reference guide for students in all area to have a predictable and constant
guide to clinical photography.

Note: this clinical manual, focuses on the problem that we face in the
clinic , like light conditions and or other clinical situations.

“Life is one to enjoy yourself, with respect, your family, and others”
Lupo Villega
 Dental Photography
Practical Clinical Manual

Lupo Villega D.D.S, Oral Design

Clinical Assistant Professor
New York University College Of Dentistry

All rights reserved

Editor: Lupo Villega, DDS

Table of Contents

A. Forward
B. Preface
C. Section I-Basic concepts and methodology
D. Technical elements
E. Requisite equipment for image capture
F. Section II-Photographic setups
G. Facial composition, lateral and horizontal view
H. Dental-Facial composition
I. Dental composition
J. Close up photography
K. Laboratory communication
 Camera Selection
Digital single length reflex (DSLR)
you will need a camera that has ...

A. At least 8 mg pixel
B. Capable of accepting macro lengths
C. Capable of having manual control
D. Has a JPG to raw format
E. Able to connect an external electronic flash ( specialty ETTL flash)

Important Camera Tips for Constant and

Predictable Photography

A. Focal point
B. Magnification
C. Aperture ( F-stop - depth field)
D. Isso, sensitivity (WB)
E. Shutter speed
F. Picture frame

Tip: Set up your magnification before you take the picture, and do
not move the lens anymore, only move yourself until you are in focus, then
shoot the photo. This gives you a constant frame at all times.
 FLASH IN DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Please note: that there are two kinds of electronic flashes,they are ring flash
and dual point flash.I highly recommend the dual point flash in that way you
can see three dimensionally in dental photography, for enamel texture,
dentin strata incisal hallow and translucency,

Electronic Flash

Electronic flash wether it may be compact (mounted in the camera), ring

flash, or dual point flash; their light outputs are corrected to photography.
Day light at 5,500k is ideal for photography, because it is only at this color
temperature that the three addictive primary colors (red, blue, and green)
are present in equal proportions.

“I believe in good luck, the harder I work the luckier I get.”

DUAL POINT FLASH RING FLASH

 Set-up Your Camera

Magnification: will be depending on the distance that you decide to work

(1:1 to 1:10)

Portrait Pictures: Is a 1:10 magnification

Dental facial frame: 1:2 to 1:5 magnification

Close-up: (1:1) magnification takes 4 to 6 teeth depend of the lens.

Aperture [ F -stop] Portrait from 9 to 11 dependent on light condition

Close-up and dental facial photography:(F-stop 22-32)

Iso sensitivity:[ 100 to 200]

Shutter speed:1/125.S

Manual Mode: ( M )

When we are able to maintain a constant and predictability, In our photography,

this allows us to better communicate with our patients, dental labs, and other
specialties in our field.
 ARTISTIC DOCUMENTED
PICTURE PICTURE

Artistic picture is not recommended for legal documentation

because it does not show the face details that we need to see
in esthetic. Therefore we recommend a documented picture
that you are able to see face details by retracting the hair
behind the ear.
 PORTRAIT PICTURE

To check for lip support, muscle tonality, the 3 third of

the face, face symmetry

MAGNIFICATION : 1:5
PICTURE FRAME: Forehead line and 3 cm above the chin

FOCAL LENTH: (F STOP 8 TO 11)

FOCAL POINT: Tip of the nose,

CAMERA POSITION: 90º

 VERTICAL VIEW

This picture is to analyze bipupillary line with incisal plane, face

mid line in relation with dental mid line, amount of teeth exposed

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:10

• PICTURE FRAME: Top of the head line and 3 cm above the chin

• FOCAL LENTH: (F STOP 9 TO 11)

• FOCAL POINT: Tip of the nose , camera 90°

• SHUTER SPEED: 1/125s

LATERAL VIEW: WITHOUT SMILE

To study the Ricket E plane also Nasal labial angle

• CAMERA POSITION :VERTICAL

• MAGNIFICATION:1:10
• FOCAL LENTH ( F STOP ) 9 to 11
• FOCUS POINT :CHEEK BONE
 LATERAL VIEW CLOSE-UP SMILE

Buccal- Lingual position of anterior teeth in relation with the lower lip

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• CAMERA POSITION: VERTICAL POSITION
• FOCAL LENTH: ( f stop 22 )
• FOCUS POINT: CANINE
DENTAL FACIAL FRONT VIEW

Amount of gingiva display, zenith point relationship of the

anterior teeth, papilla relationship with teeth position and
size, negative space of buccal corridor, teeth contact point
position over bite how many are expose.

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• CAMERA POSITION: 90°
• FOCAL LENTH: ( f stop 22 )
• FOCUS POINT: TIP OF THE PAPILA IN BTW
CENTRALS
 LATERAL VIEW

RIGHT

LEFT

Buccal-Lingual position of the anterior teeth

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL LENTH :( F STOP ),22
• FOCUS POINT: LATERAL TOOTH
• CAMERA: 90°
 REST - POSITION

TO ANALYZE INCISAL EDGE DISPLAY

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT: CONTAC POINT BETWEEN CENTRALS
• CAMERA: 90°
 PHONETIC

F AND V SOUND

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT: CONTAC POINT BETWEEN CENTRALS
• CAMERA: 90°
 PHONETIC

S - SOUND

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL LENTH:(F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT: CONTAC POINT BETWEEN CENTRALS
• CAMERA : 90°
 E - SOUND

To analyze the occlusal plane in relation to the lower lip

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS : TIP OF THE PAPILA
• CAMERA: 90°
RETRACTED VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY
 FULL RETRACTED VIEW

To see the occlusion in maximum intercupation in anterior -

posterior relationship

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:5
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : TIP OF THE PAPILA
• CAMERA: 90°
 TO check for angle classification
canine and molar

RIGHT

LEFT

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:5
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CANINE
• CAMERA: 90°
 DENTAL CLOSE-UP

To analyze enamel surface, proportion W-L ratio

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : IN BETWEEN EDGES UPPER AND LOWER
• CAMERA: 90°
 DENTAL CLOSE-UP

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CANINE/LATERAL
• CAMERA: 90°
 DENTAL CLOSE-UP

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CANINE/LATERAL
• CAMERA: 90°
DENTAL CLOSE-UP WITH BLACK BACKGROUND

To analyze enamel characterization,

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : TIP OF THE PAPILA
• CAMERA: 45°
 DENTAL CLOSE-UP

WITH BLACK BACKGROUND

RIGHT

LEFT

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STOP ):22
• FOCUS POINT : LATERAL
• CAMERA: 45°
 OCCLUSAL ANALY SIS

PROTRUSIVE MOVEMENT

•MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
•FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
•FOCUS POINT : BTW UPPER- LOWER INCISALS
•CAMERA: 90°
 RIGHT

LATERAL MOVEMENT

LEFT
verify the curve of speed and wilson

RIGHT

LEFT

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:2
• FOCAL POINT(F STOP): 22
• FOCUS CANINE
• CAMERA 90º
 OCCLUSAL VIEW UPPER

To analyze the arch form occlusal were from parafunctional

habits

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:5
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CENTER OF THE PALAT
• CAMERA: 45°
OCCLUSAL VIEW LOWER

•MAGNIFICATION: 1:5
•FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
•FOCUS POINT : CENTER OF THE PALAT
• TIP OF THE TONGUE TOUCHING THE PALAT
 LAB COMMUNICATION

•SHADE SELECTION
•STUM SHADE
•ENAMEL EFFECT
•INCISAL HALLOW
•INCISAL TRANSLUCENCY

SHADE SELECTION

• MAGNIFICATION:1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• • FOCUS POINT : IN BETWEEN EDGES UPPER AND THE SHADE
• CAMERA: 45° HORIZONTAL.
 STUMP SHADE

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : IN BETWEEN EDGES UPPER AND THE SHADE
• CAMERA: 45° VERTICAL DIRECTION.
 INCISAL HALLOW

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CONTAC POINT IN BETWEEN CENTRALS
• CAMERA: 90°
• USE DUAL POINT FLASH ONE LIGHT 45°ABOVE THE NOSE
INCISAL TRANSLUCENCY

Highlight the incisal transparency

• MAGNIFICATION: 1:1
• FOCAL LENTH: (F STO):22
• FOCUS POINT : CONTAC POINT IN BETWEEN CENTRALS
• CAMERA: 90°
• USE DUAL POINT FLASH ONE LIGHT 45°BELOW THE CHIN
 REFERENCES
Digital and Conventional Dental Photography, Irfan Ahmad, quintessence publishing
Mastering Digital Dental Photography, Wolfgang Bengel, quintessence publishing.