Dental-Specific Camera Makes a Difference

The EyeSpecial C-III from Shofu Dental Corporation

Communication is key in restorative dentistry, and they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Regarding the field of dental photography, Shofu Dental Corporation continues to be a leader. Its EyeSpecial C-III camera has earned a 2018 Cellerant Best of Class award-the fourth won by a camera in the EyeSpecial line.

"There is no comparable option," says Payam Ataii, DMD, MBA, a general practitioner in private practice for more than 20 years. "The typical digital SLR cameras are too large, too heavy, and lack the lighting benefits. Many times, I have seen offices struggle just to take good before and after photographs. I believe we have succeeded tremendously with the EyeSpecial camera."

Designed exclusively for dentistry, the EyeSpecial C-III is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's (HIPAA) privacy and security rules and can be used for case documentation, diagnosis and treatment planning, patient communication and education, insurance verification, legal documentation, and dental laboratory communication. It is user-friendly and combines fast autofocusing capabilities with built-in anti-shake technology. It offers eight shooting modes to facilitate easier, faster, and more reproducible images. Water- and chemical-resistant, the camera features a large LCD touchscreen with built-in grid lines, so images can be easily lined up and cropped. It also provides an exceptional depth of field range and a high-performance, 49-mm close-up lens.

Ataii says his philosophy as a dentist is to treat every patient like a family member, so using the best tools at every stage of the process is important to him.

"You cannot treat what you cannot see," Ataii says. "Digital photography helps me identify areas of concern that otherwise would not be visible. It also allows me to present my findings using high-quality images that meet the expectations of patients who are seeking high-quality treatment options."

Ataii first used the EyeSpecial approximately 2 years ago. He wanted a superior point-and-shoot camera that was easy to use, lightweight, and waterproof. Initially, he was most impressed by the clean look of the camera and the fact that it was large but lightweight (ie, approximately 1 lb); however, he soon learned that there were many more advantages to using this camera than he had expected.

"My team not only fell in love with the light weight of the camera but also, most importantly, its ability to remove the side shadowing that most cameras produce," he says.

The EyeSpecial has the capability to provide shade guide information that Ataii and his team can share with the laboratory to improve the esthetics on a case, but he also shares the photographs with the patients.

"Once patients see their smiles from your point of view, you will save a lot of money in the long run and increase treatment acceptance," he says. "Teeth do not fix themselves; dental practitioners fix them. And I love capturing my postoperative results with a camera that enhances my work. For the past few years, all of the photographs in my presentations and journal articles have been taken with the EyeSpecial camera. It provides me with incredibly detailed before and after photographs without being too cumbersome to operate."

The EyeSpecial C-III can be helpful for a wide variety of dental cases. Its shooting modes include standard, surgery, mirror, face, low-glare, whitening, tele-macro, and isolate shade. With other cameras, users must manually configure the settings for specific dental purposes such as those.

Recently, Ataii has used the camera to document sleep treatment with the SleepArchiTx^™ system, for which he serves as an advisor.

"Dentists are getting more and more involved in treating patients who suffer from sleep disorders," he says. "I find that the flash/lighting options of the EyeSpecial make it perfect to capture the intraoral photographs that are typically required by comprehensive sleep programs. With previous cameras, we found it difficult to properly illuminate the patient in order to document the condition of the velopharynx, oral cavity, and adjunct structures."

Advanced features aside, the camera is simply easy to use for any member of the dental team, and it produces fantastic images. In addition to its four Best of Class awards, the EyeSpecial has earned several other prestigious honors, and Ataii believes they are all well deserved.

"Add an EyeSpecial camera to your office," he says, "and your team and patients will love you."

Payam Ataii, DMD, MBA, has maintained a private practice for more than 20 years and is the founder of the Elevate program.