Getting into Digital Imaging

Two of the most common questions we hear are “How do I get started in Digital Imaging?” and “What digital camera should I buy?”. By providing answers to these questions, we hope to break down the perceived barriers that stop people from getting into digital imaging.

Assumptions vs Fact

The prevalent assumption is that you need to invest a lot of money and learn complicated technologies to do effective dental imaging.  Guess what? That is simply not true. Why do people feel this way? Probably because the first person they ask is the wrong person, namely, their dental supply rep. The typical response will consist of an Intraoral camera. What if I told you that for the cost of many Intraoral cameras, you could purchase software, a good camera and a computer? You can, and here is how.

The Right Software

Our ChairSide Imaging Lite (CSI) software is the perfect software to get started. Don’t let the word ‘Lite’ fool you, this program can do very impressive things. Considering that our ChairSide Imaging Lite is only a little bit more than the cost of a bridge to a 3rd party software (a cost your dental rep usually won’t tell you about), it’s pretty much a no-brainer. Beyond the cost, the integration you will get with Tracker, ChairSide Charting and T-Word is not available any other way. Together with our Wi-Fi capability, CSI gives you the Work Smart features you simply can’t get anywhere else.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Seasoned dental imaging users know that the key to great dental images is in the lighting. They also know that the traditional methods of getting the right lighting are very expensive and not user friendly. We have done a great deal of research to bring our clients different options. The traditional thinking is that you need an expensive SLR camera with a ring flash to do it right. True, this is one way, but it is not the only way. If you plan on having your staff take the pictures (and really, your time should not be wasted by taking pictures) then you need to provide easy-to-use solutions for doing this. Here are some options:

Cameras

For ease of use, you want to use point and shoot cameras. All of the camera options we have listed below are point and shoot cameras. But, we have gone out and specifically picked out models that work best for dental imaging.
Pentax Optio –The M20 was great because the flash was centered over the lens as well as the macro feature. The current model is the M30 and the flash has been moved but it still does a nice job. Retails around $220.
Nikon Coolpix s600 –Flash is centered over the lens. Macro. Great quality camera that works great for dental imaging for around $300. We feel this is the best value.
Canon PowerShot G9 –A client of ours who has been doing cosmetic imaging for quite some time had rave reviews for this camera. Retails for about $550.
Something that you can do to diffuse the flash and reduce the ‘hotness’ is just use a layer or two of 3M clear tape. We heard this trick from some old pro’s in the imaging field. Apparently, this can mimic the enhancements that some dental imaging companies charge big bucks for!
Also, don’t forget that today’s cameras come standard with 8 to 12 MegaPixel resolution, which is way more than you need. Don’t forget to change the settings on your camera down to 4 or 5 megapixels. More on the megapixel craze.

Lights!

Constant LED lighting is far superior to a flash. This is because the lighting is activated as you line up your shot rather than blasted out (such as a ring flash). This means that you can preview the shot and what you see is what you get! Proper lighting means that your image will be in focus all the way from the front to the back of the patient’s mouth.

For beginners, the camerabright LEDs are an inexpensive way to shine a little more light on the area.

If you want to take it to the next level, then we recommend the doctorseyes system. This comes in two levels, the compact system and the professional system. The compact system mounts to your camera via the tripod screw and provides adjustable LED and diffuser. It can fit many different cameras on the market.

The professional system is paired with the Canon Powershot A650 and is our high end solution. This is simply the best solution we have seen.

Please contact John Legourdas at The Bridge Network if you are interested in any of these lighting systems.

Efficient Acquisition – Wireless and Instant

ChairSide Imaging is the only system that allows you to use a digital camera with the revolutionary Eye-Fi wireless memory card. Imagine being able to take a picture, seconds later it appears on your screen, and is saved to your Imaging software for the current patient. ChairSide Imaging does this! We’ve worked with dentists to make the digital imaging experience as effective as possible and found that one of the biggest obstacles encountered was transferring images from the camera to the computer. It is this type of forward-thinking that puts The Bridge Network at the forefront of dental software. Contact John Legourdas at The Bridge Network if you are interested in taking advantage of this awesome functionality.