Common Dental Photography Mistakes (and How to Fix Them for Consistent Clinical Images)
This article originally appeared on Dentistry.co.uk.
Dental photography plays a critical role in modern dentistry. From treatment planning and case documentation to patient communication and medico-legal records, clear and consistent images are essential. Yet despite the widespread use of cameras in clinics, many dental teams still struggle with inconsistent clinical photographs.
In part two of this three-part series, clinical photographer Laura Short, in collaboration with DB Orthodontics, explores the most common dental photography mistakes she sees in practice – and the simple adjustments that can dramatically improve image quality and consistency.
Why Do Dental Photography Mistakes Still Happen in Practice?
Dental photography is now an everyday part of clinical workflows. However, many practices still encounter the same issues repeatedly. If Laura had to summarise the most common problem in a single word, it would be compromise.
- Compromising on positioning.
- Compromising on retraction.
- Compromising on photography tools.
While these shortcuts may seem small at the time, they often result in clinical images that are difficult to compare, analyse or use for treatment planning. The encouraging news is that most problems can be corrected with small adjustments in technique and equipment selection.
How Can Using the Wrong Retractors Affect Dental Photographs?
One of the most common dental photography mistakes is using the same retractors for every clinical view. In reality, different photographs require different retraction techniques.
Anterior and lateral views
These views require careful lip retraction to ensure the full dental arch is visible. A useful approach is:
- Anterior views: one large retractor for the upper lip
- Lateral views: a combination of small and large retractors to suit cheek size and lip shape
Retractors naturally pull the lips laterally rather than vertically, so using the wrong size or configuration can cause several problems, including:
- lip creep into the frame
- soft tissue covering posterior teeth
- inconsistent framing between photographs
Getting the correct retraction combination helps produce clear, repeatable clinical images.
Occlusal and mirror views
For occlusal photographs, positioning two small retractors at approximately 45 degrees often produces far better results. This angle prevents the upper lip from covering the incisal edges – a common issue seen in many “before” photographs that fail to match the “after” image later in treatment. Small adjustments like this can significantly improve photographic repeatability and documentation accuracy.
How Do High-Quality Dental Retractors Improve Photography Results?
In busy clinical environments, photography accessories must withstand frequent cleaning and sterilisation. Over time, many retractors deform, lose shape or become discoloured, which directly affects photographic quality. The Gold Series lip retractors from DB Orthodontics are designed specifically for durability and consistent clinical performance. Key features include:
- resistance to deformation even after repeated autoclave cycles
- reliable retraction without excessive force
- a clear design that minimises visual obstruction in photographs
Clare Hutton from Suffolk Orthodontics highlights their advantages:
"These lip retractors are of lovely quality and retract the lips effectively, making them ideal for clinical use. They look beautiful in photos, as their clear design doesn’t obstruct the clinical view. They clean and autoclave beautifully, maintaining their integrity even after constant use."
When photography accessories maintain their shape and clarity, clinicians can achieve more consistent clinical images over time.
What Happens When the Wrong Size Retractors Are Used?
Another frequent issue is adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to retractors. Different patients require different retraction solutions depending on anatomy, comfort and mouth opening. Using the wrong size retractors can cause two main problems:
- Larger retractors may prevent the patient from biting down correctly
- Smaller retractors may fail to retract the lips effectively
Choosing the correct retractors
A more adaptable approach includes:
- V-shaped retractors for patients with larger cheeks during lateral views
- Large metal retractors for most adult patients
- Smaller metal or larger plastic retractors for children or limited mouth opening
- Plastic retractors for patients with mouth ulcers or oral sensitivity
Selecting the correct retractor size improves patient comfort, clinical visibility and photographic consistency.
How Does Mirror Choice Affect Dental Photography?
Not all intraoral mirrors produce the same photographic results. Using the wrong mirror can introduce several problems that compromise image quality. For clinical photography, child and large palatal mirrors without handles are often preferred. While handles may appear convenient, they frequently cause issues such as:
- encouraging levering, which can be uncomfortable for patients
- allowing the mirror to rest on molars, creating shadows
- increasing the risk of fingers appearing in the photograph
A long-length chrome-coated palatal mirror provides better access and produces clearer intraoral reflections. A useful clinical tip is to warm mirrors before use to prevent fogging and maintain image clarity during photography.
Why Should Clinicians Avoid Holding Equipment While Taking Photos?
Another common mistake is attempting to hold retractors or mirrors while simultaneously operating the camera. Whenever possible, patients should hold retractors themselves, allowing clinicians to stabilise the camera and focus on capturing the image. If patients cannot manage this due to age, communication barriers or disability, an assistant should help with retraction.
Positioning is important. The assistant should stand to the side of the patient, not behind them. This ensures retractors pull forward rather than pushing the cheeks inward. It is also important that staff place retractors themselves, rather than asking patients to insert them, as patients cannot accurately judge correct positioning.
What Small Details Make a Big Difference in Dental Photography?
Sometimes the smallest details have the biggest impact on clinical photography. Common issues that affect image quality include:
- Dry retractors: running retractors under cold water helps them slide comfortably into position
- Limited mouth opening: patients must open wide enough to capture flat occlusal mirror views
- Assistant positioning: correct support dramatically improves palatal and posterior retraction
Paying attention to these small adjustments can elevate photography from “good enough” to consistently high clinical quality.
What Dental Photography Products Help Achieve Consistent Results?
Dental photography does not need to be complicated, but it does require the right combination of technique and equipment. Clinicians can dramatically improve image quality by focusing on:
- the correct retractors for each view
- suitable mirror design and size
- proper patient and assistant positioning
- small but critical preparation details
Using durable photography tools such as Gold Series lip retractors and chrome-coated palatal mirrors from DB Orthodontics helps ensure consistent performance in busy practices where equipment is frequently sterilised and reused. When compromise is removed and precision becomes the goal, dental photography evolves from a simple record into a powerful tool for clinical communication and treatment documentation.
Explore Dental Photography Tools from DB Orthodontics
Clinicians looking to improve the quality and consistency of their clinical photography can explore the full range of dental photography retractors, mirrors and accessories from DB Orthodontics.
About Laura Short
Laura Short is Senior Clinical Photographer at Birmingham Dental Hospital. She captures high-quality clinical images that support diagnosis, treatment planning, education and medico-legal documentation, ensuring every photograph is both accurate and clinically meaningful.
Laura has developed and delivered training programmes for clinical photographers, dental clinicians, consultants and nurses, helping teams improve their imaging techniques and maintain professional standards. Her unique combination of creativity and healthcare precision makes her a respected authority in clinical photography and an inspiring mentor within the dental community.
Coming Next in the Series
In Part 3, Laura will explore why consistency is the most important principle in dental photography, and the simple techniques clinicians can use to take their clinical images from good to exceptional.