Photography Settings - Intra & Extra Oral
Part of the Orthodontics Poster Collection
Dental photography requires a very basic knowledge of proper equipment, settings and accessories.
Consistency is key for successful clinical photo documentation so that the results or stages of the treatment can easily be compared.
Documenting shouldn’t stop, even when a failure occurs, because of its high educational value for oneself. It also works as evidence for litigations.
GDC requires documentation of photos as a part of records
General settings
Properly configuring your camera settings is essential for consistent and high-quality dental photography. Start by ensuring the date and time are correctly set for accurate record-keeping. For optimal color accuracy, switch the color space to Adobe RGB.
Use RAW + JPEG for maximum image quality, whether you’re using Canon or Nikon cameras. When using Nikon, set the image quality to NEF + JPEG, with a white balance of flash or 5500K and an ISO of 200 to minimize noise.
Utilize the appropriate metering system — Evaluative for Canon or 3D Matrix for Nikon — for consistent exposure. Finally, select a single autofocus point to ensure precision in capturing sharp details of the teeth and oral structures. These settings will help produce professional, standardized images that support accurate documentation and analysis.
Camera Lens
Lens are critical for getting the best results when taking dental photography. A macro lens is a camera lens designed for photographing small subjects at very close distances.
Nikon DSLR camera:
Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
Canon DSLR camera:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens / Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Len
Ring flash
A ring flash is a top choice for any surgery. Its compact size and the position of the flash tubes next to the lens make it possible to perfectly illuminate all the areas in the limited space of the oral cavity.
Recommended flashes for Canon:
Canon MR-14EX II Macro Ring Lite
Recommended flashes for Nikon:
Metz 15 MS-1 Macro Ring light Digital Flash
(wirelessly controlled flash)
Nikon models with a wireless controller built-in include: D70, D70s, D80, D90, D200, D300, D300s, D7000, D7100, D7200, D600, D610, D700, D750, D800 / D800E and D810.
If you have one of them, then you do not need any other equipment to work with the Metz 15 MS-1 flash.
Other camera models require Nikon’s
SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander.
Dual flash
A dual flash can also be used during surgical procedures, but essential in this case is the close position of the flash heads next to the lens axis. Such a position can be set on the dedicated mount ring for the specific flash models (Canon MT-24EX and Nikon R1C1) or with dual flash on a bracket. By controlling the distance and flash head position, you can easily capture many more details.
Recommended flashes for Canon:
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash / Canon Speedlite 270EX II.
Recommended flashes for Nikon on the bracket:
Nikon R1C1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
You need two of them + bracket. If your camera doesn’t have a built-in wireless controller, you will need a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.
External flash
Better for Portraits. An external flash is a camera flash that is not built into the camera body. They can be mounted on a camera via hot shoe, or remotely triggered to fire off-camera.
Recommended flashes for Canon:
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT
Canon Speedlite 430EX II
Recommended flashes for Nikon Portraits:
Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight
Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight
Mirrors
Mirrors come in different shapes and sizes.
However, in daily practice, two shapes are used most often: Occlusal and Lateral.
Buy mirrors in different sizes to fit different individuals. For some mirror shapes, separate handles are offered. This is helpful in holding and positioning the mirror.
Retractors
Ensuring all soft tissue is not present in photos generates better photo results.
Self-retracting retractors:
Used for frontal views and also for occlusal shots.
Single-sided retractors:
Used for lateral views targeting 90 degrees to the caines.
Contrasters
Contrasters allow photos of the teeth to be taken with a black background.
They are made from black anodized aluminium or from metal plates covered with soft black silicone.
They come in different shapes and sizes. Three types are available: anterior, occlusal, and lateral.
Select contrasters coated with black silicone.
It’s more durable, will not scratch and is more pleasant for the patient. The anterior contraster is used most often.
Brackets
Brackets are used to mount the flash heads at a distance from the lens and camera body.
The bracket is mounted to the tripod socket of the camera body with the fixing screw.
The arms can be positioned in various ways and enable control over the distance and angulation of the light source from the object and the lens.
The most common suppliers on the market are Photomed and Agno’s.
Settings for intraoral photos
Mode: A (Aperture priority mode. In Canon it is described with the letters Av. In Nikon cameras, it’s with A).
Aperture f22 or higher – depends on the construction of the lens.
Shutter speed will be set automatically by the camera (in Nikon by default it is 1/60 of a second; in Canon cameras, you have to change the flash synchronization speed in Av mode to the fixed value of 1/200th of a second).
Flash setting: TTL mode (the fully automatic mode – the camera will measure and calculate the proper amount of light for the exposure).
With some of the flashes, Manual mode is necessary and requires individual tests to determine which settings will be appropriate for the final exposure.
Settings in the manual mode
M Aperture: f22 or higher
Shutter Speed: 1/200s Flash: Stay with TTL
Settings for extraoral photos
Aperture Priority Mode: A (Nikon), Av (Canon) or Manual (M)
Aperture f11
Shutter Speed: will be set automatically by the camera in A/Av Mode.
Flash setting: TTL mode Auto Focus mode
In Manual Mode
Shutter Speed: 1/200s
Flash setting: TTL mode Auto Focus mode
Further shots can be taken as well with more documentation:
Front views with lips apart and full smile
45-degree views (left and right) with lips apart and full smile
90-degree views (left and right) with lips apart and full smile
Frontal views
Equipment:
DSLR Camera set with 100mm macro lens and ring flash or dual flash
Accessories:
Self-retracting retractor
Anterior contraster
Advice:
Hold the camera with the back of the camera parallel to the plane of the front teeth.
Focus on the front teeth.
Shots:
Retracted view in the MIP position: upper and lower teeth are in full contact.
Upper and lower teeth are visible at least from the first molar to the first molar.
Retracted view with teeth apart.
Upper teeth from canine to canine (with and without contraster).
Lower teeth from canine to canine (with and without contraster).
Occlusal views
Equipment:
DSLR Camera set with 100mm Macro lens and ring flash or dual flash
Accessories:
Self-retracting retractor
Occlusal mirror
Advice:
A 45-degree angle between the mirror and the camera for the occlusal shot is recommended.
Focus on the occlusal surface of the first bicuspids (premolars).
The full-arch should be visible from the central incisors to the mesial of the second molars.
Eliminate the fog on the mirror (air blow or heat the mirror).
Shots:
Full upper arch
Full lower arch
Lateral views
Equipment:
camera set with 100mm macro lens and ring flash or dual flash
Accessories:
Single-sided retractor
Buccal mirror
Advice:
Upper and lower teeth should be visible from the central incisors to the mesial of second molars.
Focus on the canine (cuspid).
Eliminate the fog on the mirror (air blow or heat the mirror)
Shots:
Right lateral retracted view in the MIP position: upper and lower teeth are in full contact.
Right lateral retracted view with teeth apart: upper and lower teeth are not in contact.
Left lateral retracted view in the MIP position: upper and lower teeth are in full contact.
Left lateral retracted view with teeth apart: upper and lower teeth are not in contact.
Portrait photography is used to analyse the aesthetics and symmetry of the face.
There are 4 basic shots with a full face from the top of the head to the neck.
Equipment:
DSLR Camera set with 100mm macro lens and external flash
Accessories:
Solid/uniform background (black, white, or grey)
Flash diffuser
Advice:
Full face from the top of the head to the neck
The patient should look into the lens or straight ahead (in 45- and 90-degree positions)
Autofocus on the eye
Shots:
Front views in 3 positions (lips together but not forced)
45-degree views (left and right) in 3 positions (lips together but not forced)
90-degree views (left and right) in 3 positions (lips together but not forced)