Practice

Nothing in dentistry takes just two minutes???

June 24, 2013

Welcome back! Until just a few months ago, I did not think that my assistant could accomplish anything in dentistry well in two minutes.

by Joseph J. Massad, DDS

FIG. 1 – Camera and wide angle, extraoral lighted accessory.

Welcome back! Until just a few months ago, I did not think that my assistant could accomplish anything in dentistry well in two minutes. Keep reading and you will see that I was too critical too soon. From my first day in practice I have always been a proponent of practitioner photo-assisted diagnosis and patient photo-assisted understanding of proposed treatment recommendations. The old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words is the premise of most patient case acceptance. Patients may not always believe that they need our recommended treatment plans, but instant photos of their problem areas definitely improve our chances of positive honest communications.

FIG. 2 – Camera with wide angle on setting F taking frontal shot with patient smiling. Note the photo instantly appears on the computer screen for both patient and me to view simultaneously if desired.

So what can my dental assistant or even I do effectively in two minutes? The answer is to take 12 or more photos both intra- and extraorally and have them instantaneously integrated into any dental software for my patients to view. Even though digital camera technology has been around for many years, it has just gotten better, and some systems will operate on any dental software a dentist may be using. With the use of my new digital camera system that includes a wide-angle attachment (Glow Light), my assistant or I can take 12 pertinent photo views necessary to diagnose most of my prosthodontic cases – in two minutes! The learning curve is very short, especially with instant focus and when you follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.

FIG. 3 – Taking wide with patient lips touching

Many of you know me as a presenter. The photographs that I use for my presentations generally take significantly longer in both taking and processing. However, in everyday practice I use a fast, high quality, dual extra- and intraoral camera system to save time and cost so I can make a living. So now I will stop with the words and let the pictures speak a thousand words.