Say Cheese! Pt 4 (Photography Reflection)

Hello all.

The following is a list of steps for taking intra-oral photos that I have subconsciously developed over my last few sessions. It’s pretty obvious but I’ll post it here in case it helps anyone.

1. Choose a type of photograph you want to take and refer to the related images in the Bengel Wolfgang texts (available on MyUni) to clarify how the photo should look.
2. Set the patient in position and apply any mirrors and retractors required.
3. Stand in the ideal position, point the camera at the patient’s mouth and adjust the focus until you can see clearly (the focus does not have to be exact at this point).
4. Use the crosshair in the viewfinder to centre to view on the area recommended in the texts (e.g. for frontal view: the contact point of the upper central incisors).
5. Keeping the view centered, move the camera towards or away from the patient until the borders of the image match what is recommended in the texts (e.g. for frontal view: the lateral borders are the vestibulum oris beside the last molars).
6. Now that the view shows all the required features, check that the orientation is correct (e.g. for frontal view: the horizontal plane of the photo should be parallel to the occlusal plane).
7. Finally, keeping the camera steady, adjust the focus until the depth of field is centered on the point recommended in the texts (e.g. for frontal view: the canine / first premolar)
8. Take a short burst of photographs.
9. Check the last image on the camera’s screen for any errors and adjust accordingly.
10. Keep trying until a good quality photograph is taken.

Let me know if this helps anyone!

I have noticed that the extent of horizontal angulation achievable in buccal mirror shots can differ from person to person, depending on the size of the mouth and the flexibility of their lips.
I have also remembered another tip. This was suggested to me and Jasmina by our photography assignment interviewee. To prevent the mirrors from fogging up in the patient’s mouth, put them in a bowl of hot water a few minutes before use. We have used this in our own photography sessions and it works quite well. Give it a try!

Nick