What’s In A Smile?

Jason S. Olitsky, DMD, AAACD

THE CAPTURE OF EXPRESSION

A smile begins and ends with emotion. The appearance of our teeth has the potential to communicate our health and attractiveness. If an individual has “bad teeth,” it can be socially crippling. Studio photo-graphy is an opportunity to capture the feeling of a patient who has a new smile and leverage it to engage new clients, as well as affirm that patient’s decision to invest in their teeth.

Each portrait tells that individual’s story of how it felt to hide theirsmile and their feeling about having an attractive smile for the firsttime in their lives.

Adapted from the full article, which originally appeared in the AACD’s

Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Spring 2013 issue.

For more information, visit www.AACD.com.

© 2013-2014 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, All Rights ReservedAll images © Jason S. Olitsky, DMD, AAACD

Inspiration for a studio session comes from the personality of the subject. Great portrait images of patients have a positive energy and displaya “feel-good” emotion that radiates from a confident smile.

High-quality portraits communicate that the dentist cares about the dentistry. “After” portraits help to affirm the patient’s decision to invest in a new smile.

A Canon MR-14EX macro ring flash is held off camera and diffused through the translucent material of an inexpensive umbrella. A silver reflector bounces light onto the opposite side of the model’s face to further increase shadow detail.

The addition of a silver reflector helps to increase shadow detail.

When using images for marketing and promotion, makeup artists and art directors often can contribute to the overall look.

Here, Whitney Thompson, 2008 winner of “America’s Next Top Model,” is photographed in studiowith a three-light setup.

Obtaining images that act as authentic testimonials requires proper communication with the patient. Simply telling the patient to smile does not communicate the same story as a picture of a patient truly enjoying a new smile.

Capturing full-face information and macro images with studio-modified light makes treatment planning more engaging for laboratory technicians, specialists, and restorative dentists. Smile design principles such as facial midline discrepancies and width:height ratios can also be shared withthe patient.

To read the full article andreceive the quarterly, peer-reviewed

Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, become an AACD member at

www.AACD.com/join