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Capture Clear Patient Images for Better Digital Treatment Plans

Take consistent, high-quality clinical photos that support clear patient understanding.

Clear, well-lit patient images help patients better understand their oral health and treatment options. They also make Digital Treatment Plans more engaging and easier to follow.

This guide covers simple setup tips and techniques to help you capture consistent intraoral photos.

What you’ll need

  • Cheek retractors

  • Intraoral mirror

  • DSLR camera

  • Ring flash

Camera setup (one-time setup)

Using manual camera settings helps keep images consistent across patients and appointments. You only need to set this up once.

Recommended settings

  • Shutter speed: 1/100

  • Aperture (f-number): f/35

  • Focus mode: Autofocus

  • Flash setting: E-TTL

Good to know:
If your lens has adjustable zoom, take all photos at the same zoom level. Using either the minimum or maximum zoom consistently helps improve image consistency.

Preparing for the photo

Before taking images:

  • Warm the intraoral mirror by submerging it in hot water

  • Ask the patient to hold the cheek retractors themselves

  • Position yourself close to the patient so the teeth fill more of the frame

These small steps help reduce fogging and improve image clarity.

Taking the photo

  • Position the camera close enough so teeth appear large and clear

  • Keep the camera steady and centred

  • Ensure the teeth are well lit and in focus

Taking arch photos

  1. Ask the patient to lean back into the headrest

  2. Lower the chair so you can stand comfortably above them

  3. Insert the warmed mirror to the back of the mouth

  4. Use the lip retractors to ensure an unobstructed view

  5. Angle the camera and mirror so they are as close to perpendicular as possible

This positioning helps reduce distortion and improves accuracy.

Saving and organising your photos

After taking photos:

  1. Import them into your imaging software

  2. Save them in the patient’s file

  3. Orient arch photos correctly:

    • Rotate 180° clockwise

    • Flip horizontally

Correct orientation helps ensure images display clearly in Digital Treatment Plans.

Best practice tips

  • Use the same camera settings for every patient

  • Keep lighting and positioning consistent

  • Review images briefly before moving on

  • Clear, simple images are more helpful than taking many photos

Summary

Clear patient images help your practice:

  • Improve patient understanding

  • Create more engaging Digital Treatment Plans

  • Support confident treatment conversations