Unrivaled Photography for Dental Teams
December 1, 2018
Volume 14
,
Issue 12
,
December 2018
Page(s): p. 76
Photography is important in dentistry, not only from a marketing standpoint, but also for documentation and treatment planning. "Taking specific photographs is absolutely critical if you're going to be able to treatment plan correctly," explains Leonard Hess, DDS, a senior faculty member at the Dawson Academy who maintains a private practice in Monroe, North Carolina. "One of the problems that we have faced in dentistry is SLR cameras, which are too large, bulky, and heavy to be used effectively."
In the past, companies have tried to retrofit cameras to be used for dentistry, but they haven't been completely successful. "Often, the flashes don't work correctly," Hess says in a recent interview with Inside Dentistry's Product Talk. "You get shadows where you don't want them or framing that is inconsistent. When you take before-and-after photographs, you want the teeth to be the same size and in proportion. If the camera lens is not capable of focusing at a specific focal length, the result is inconsistency in your photography. That was one of the challenges we always experienced."
To address this and other industry-specific challenges, Shofu designed the EyeSpecial C-III camera from the ground up for dental use-and dental use only. "Many of the problems we faced with other cameras have been completely solved by this one, simply by the intention that they had in the design of it," Hess says.
For example, Hess points to the great detail produced in a 1:1 photograph. "This type ofimage is invaluable. When communicating with the laboratory, in order to achieve lifelike restorations, you need to be able to match up incisal translucencies, look at chroma, and evaluate surface texture-all minute details that can make the difference between a good restoration and a great one. A photograph taken at a very tight macro-setting for communication with the laboratory technician is absolutely critical."
Another advantage of the EyeSpecial C-III is its isolate shade mode, which grays out the gingival tissue for optimal shade matching and allows the technician to see the nuances of the tooth. "This mode is extremely useful," says Hess. "Even with the shade tab included, it is still more precise when you remove the background color of the gingiva. This improves a dentist's ability to match the hue and the value of the chroma."
In addition to praising the EyeSpecial C-III for its technology, Hess notes other practice-friendly features of the camera. "Unlike the SLRs, this camera was designed to be disinfected," he says. "It's very resistant to moisture. That's one of the most beautiful aspects of it. We need a camera that is compliant with all government regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)."
In addition, the size and weight of the EyeSpecial C-III makes it more usable for people with smaller hands. Holding an SLR camera with one hand can be challenging. "This camera weighs about a pound, and that makes all the difference in the world regarding the ergonomics and strain on your wrist," Hess says.
"Camera technology has evolved so much," he observes. "With this camera's eight preset modes, you don't need to take a master class in aperture and shutter speed. It works intuitively. This is the technology that we need to support us in patient care-it makes our lives much easier."
Board Member Bio
Leonard Hess, DDS, is a senior faculty member at the Dawson Academy and maintains a private practice in Monroe, North Carolina.
Notable Features
User friendly
Fast autofocusing capabilities
Eight shooting modes
Built-in anti-shake mode
Water and chemical resistant
Large LCD touchscreen with built-in grid lines
Exceptional depth-of-field range
High-performance 49-mm close-up lens
HIPAA compliant
To hear more from Hess about the benefits of using the EyeSpecial C-III, check out the entire Product Talk interview online at: www.insidedentistry.net/go/ product-talk-11
For more information, contact:
Shofu Dental
shofu.com
800-827-4638
