Dental photography using DSLR cameras vs smartphones

Abstract

Background: 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 profession. This study aims to determine if there is a significant difference in quality between facial and intraoral photographs taken with DSLR cameras and smartphones.Method: 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's exact tests were used to evaluate potential differences across image sources and respondent types.Results: Three hundred twenty-nine 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 compared to smartphone facial photographs (P<0.05). Intraoral photographs taken with a smartphone had significantly superior overall quality, color, sharpness, and depth of field compared to DSLR photographs (P< 0.01).Conclusions: This study suggests that intraoral photographs taken with a smartphone could provide a superior image quality compared to 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 to DSLR cameras.