THE NEED FOR DENTAL DIGITAL
troduction
In 1984 the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) was formed by a group of forward
thinking individuals dedicated to continuing education in the rapidly evolving fields of dental
materials and cosmetic dentistry. Within a short period of time, the AACD developed a credentialing
process in cosmetic dentistry designated “Accreditation”.
developed, the Accreditation examination has continued to set a standard for clinical excellence.
Successfully achieving Accredited status from the AACD requires dedication to continuing education,
strict adherence to the protocol, and a resolve to produce exceptional dentistry.
PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION
THE NEED FOR DENTAL DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION
I write in regard to Louise Brown’s article ‘Inadequate
record keeping by dental practitioners’.
1 I wholeheartedly agree that newer technologies such as digital intraoral and extraoral photography and audio recording
of patient interactions may offer a solution to record
keeping problems. Clinicians with decades of experience or a student of dental history can look back at
advances in dentistry and affirm that the dental profession has experienced an enormous amount of technological expansion. One is the advent of dental digital
photography. Photographs have always been emblematic of memories and with the initiation of digital photography, it has become much easier to bring images
together in a more inclusive and qualitative approach.
Scientific upgradation in the field of digital photography
has revolutionized the perception of photography as an
influential means of expression and communication.
Moreover, it offers a variety of perception, analysis and
execution. Photography and dentistry go hand in hand
for the disclosure of concealed and unnoticed defects in
teeth and other parts of the cavity.
2 The use of cameras in dentistry has added signifi-
cantly to clinical knowledge and protocols. Dental
digital photography is an incredible tool for communicating with our patients, laboratories and our colleagues. The benefit of digital cameras is the instant,
digitized accessibility of photos with image quality
surpassing that of traditional photography. Similarly,
images can be instantly included into a practice’s
software and stored for future reference.
3 To address the increasing health challenges and aesthetic demands of a growing population, undergraduate
students in dental schools should be given comprehensive and holistic training in photography as it plays a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as
evaluation of various treatment steps. Viewing intraoral
and portrait shots in still life form generates diagnostic
protocol considerations for colour, soft tissue and tooth
form. Accurate composition assists in precise study and
assessment, and makes it possible to predict and manage mid and post treatment complications up to the completion of dental care. Post treatment photography is
also imperative for a critical appraisal of treatment results
and for educational uses.
4 Digital records have paramount significance to prevent litigation and to resolve
tedious forensic cases.
5 Looking over these advantages,
digital technology has changed the outlook of a dentist
toward data collection in academia. A novel innovation in
the field of dentistry called photogrammetry through
which the geometric properties of objects can be determined from photographic images and has proved its
effectiveness in studying the three-dimensional occlusion
of dental arches, teeth and their dimensions in dentistry.
6 The practice of dental digital photography is a type of
macrography and with the arrival of digital cameras,
photography has become a simple and accessible way
of educating and documenting our patients. Digital
images can be effortlessly stored and kept for possible
use for legal or academic purposes. Hence, digital cameras must be considered as indispensable tools for dentists. It is time academics and policymakers promote
photography in dentistry education and incorporate its
use in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.