A colour photograph of the teeth, which includes a shade tab, provides the laboratory with better information to proceed than a simple description. These photographs not only show the colour, but also the size of the teeth and its features. This has encouraged dentists to acquire digital camaras and colour printers, enabling them to have faster, easier results and the possibility to reprint them if needed.
The following comments refer to the ideal characteristics of the photographs submitted to the laboratory and which will enable better communication.
Critical elements of the photograph:
- Show adjacent and opposite teeth.
- Include a shade tab which matches the colour shade of the main body.
- Place the shade tab's incisal edge on the incisal edge of the tooth which requires correcting Hold the shade tab over the area which requires correcting. Ensure that the shade on the shade-tab and that of the tooth is under the same lighting.
- Reduce the light reflection over the teeth and the shade-tab changing slightly the position of the camera, the patient or/and the shade-tab.
- Show the shade's number identified on the shade-tab if possible, alternatively write it on the photograph.
For the above purposes, digital cameras are ideal, as one has immediate access to the image and can take another one if required.
If the teeth have any of the following features; translucent incisal edges, exposed dentin, gaps, stains, colour variations inside the tooth, etc, it is necessary that these features are clear from the photograph.
