Dental photography in support of patient documentation and communication

Intraoral conditions, which in the course of dental treatment are subject t o change, can be recorded in detail by means of photography. Pictures provi de an improved documentation and the option of monitoring particular situat ions over longer periods of time. We propose a standardized preoperative 35 -mm photographic series. For intraoral photography, special intraoral mirro rs and lip-and-cheek retractors are modified as needed. Macro 35-mm cameras with macro flash are by now well-established. Such equipment combined with the technique outlined in this report make standardized photographic docum entation possible without mouth-angle retractors and mirror rims obstructin g the view.