I have learned a few constant lessons about dentistry during my career. First: if I think I am going to have a nice, normal lunch break, I won’t. It never happens. I will get four and a half minutes to scarf down a few bites while I wait for anesthesia on the patient we worked in. Lunch is a myth. Second: never judge another dentist solely by a restoration they did. You can never tell when that poorly contoured restoration was an absolute miracle because of a gag reflex, behavior issue, or limited opening.
And finally: the only way to improve our dentistry is by looking at photos of our cases. That is by far the most valuable tool I have in improving my work, and as such, I recently decided to upgrade my camera setup. Instead of trying to piece a system together, I decided to go to an expert—PhotoMed.
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Sidekick Basic by Smile Line USA
PhotoMed has been in the dental photography game for years, and they excel at putting together camera systems for dentists. I went with a luxury choice: a mirrorless Canon EOS RP with the Canon 100 L macro lens and twin Godox MF12 flashes. I had always wanted a full-frame mirrorless system, and I felt like this was my chance to make it happen. Now, PhotoMed isn’t just dental Amazon for camera stuff. What sets them apart is their dedication to dental photography. They take the time to assemble, test, and program each system specifically for dental providers.
My Canon EOS RP came with three modes programmed by the folks at PhotoMed. The first mode, C1, is set up specifically for dental portraits. Mode C2 is set up for macro views inside the mouth. Finally, mode C3 is available for you to program for any other use you want. The camera comes fully programmed with the right settings like F stop and shutter speed for that specific type of photo. I was able to simply unpack the camera and start using it right away. There was almost no learning curve! The Canon EOS RP system that PhotoMed built for me takes amazingly beautiful photos, and it did so right out of the box.
You might be a Nikon person. You might be looking for a DSLR system instead of mirrorless. Maybe you want just a point-and-shoot. Regardless of what type of camera system you’re looking for, PhotoMed is a great place to get it. I was impressed with the programming and have been more impressed with the service. Any time I have a question, an expert at PhotoMed has been a quick call or email away. I was also impressed with the add-ons that came with my system. Included was any charger or adapter I might need, as well as a beautiful and rugged Pelican case set up specifically for my camera. This is a full, bespoke dental camera setup. I wish I would have ordered this years ago!
Looking at photographs of my cases has made me a better dentist. In addition, it’s great for content for Instagram or the web. The photos are beautiful, and all I have to do is pick one setting or the other. It couldn’t be easier.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the December 2022 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
