Dental photography using digital single-lens reflex cameras vs smartphones

Introduction

Smartphone photography has increased in quality with the advancement of technology. Dental photography using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera has been a critical tool for patient education, treatment planning, self-evaluation, and research in the orthodontic specialty. This study aimed to determine if there is a significant difference in quality between facial and intraoral photographs taken with DSLR cameras and smartphones.

Methods

Dental students and practicing orthodontists took an 18-question survey to compare facial and intraoral photographs taken with a DSLR camera and a smartphone. Participants evaluated the photographs based on color, sharpness, depth of field, and overall quality. Chi-square analyses and Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate potential differences across image sources and respondent types.

Results

Approximately 329 participants completed this survey with an overall response rate of 74.9%. Facial photographs taken with a DSLR had significantly superior overall quality, sharpness, and depth of field than smartphone facial photographs (P <0.05). Intraoral photographs taken with a smartphone had significantly superior overall quality, color, sharpness, and depth of field than DSLR photographs (P <0.01).

Conclusions

This study suggests that intraoral photographs taken with a smartphone could provide a superior image quality than those taken by a DSLR camera, but not for facial photographs. As smartphone cameras continue to evolve, they have the potential to provide superior photographic quality for intraoral photographs compared with DSLR cameras.