A Beginning Guide for Dental Photography

Validity and Reliability of Polarized vs Non-Polarized Digital Images for Measuring Gingival Melanin Pigmentation

“…Several factors, however, need to be considered while taking an intraoral non-polarized picture, including white balance, color rendition, color temperature, image resolution, light source, light glare, and specular reflection. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 18 , 21 , 26 Studies have also suggested using a grey reference card to help standardize colors. 24 , 26 , 30…”

“…However, the image quality largely depends on the type of camera and the photography technique used. 1 , 4 , 5 …”

“…This polarization of the light waves makes surface details more visible. 4 , 5 , 9 This technique is particularly useful for capturing images of dental implants and reflective surfaces (eg, enamel and ceramic restorations). However, the use of a polarized filter can create color distortion, making it difficult to assess the gingiva’s true color.…”

“…However, the image quality largely depends on the type of camera and the photography technique used. 1,4,5 Intraoral photography is a popular method for assessing gingival pigmentation. Non-polarized and polarized photography are two commonly used techniques for capturing intraoral photographs.…”

“…7,8,10 Studies suggest that polarized intraoral photography is probably more reliable for capturing images of enamel and ceramic restorations, [11][12][13] while non-polarized intraoral photography may be more appropriate for photographing the gingiva. 1,4,5,8 Some authors also suggested that cross-polarized photography is probably the best method for visualizing hyperpigmentation while concealing hypopigmentation and subsurface features like vascularity. 7,10,14 However, more research is needed to establish the clinical relevance of these techniques.…”