1,2,3,4,5,6Himachal Dental College, Atal Medical and Research University, Himachal Pradesh.
Corresponding Author: meghaashwini96@gmail.com
Background: There is a widespread use of dental digital photography in the current practice of dentistry as a means of diagnosing and documenting, as well as communicating with the patient and conducting research. The developments and advancements in the technologies of camera, AI, and digital workflows have increased their usage in various specialities.
Aim: This article is a review of the principles, equipment, protocols, ethical and future aspects of dental digital photography.
Methods: A wide range of literature reviews has been done over the period of the last 25 years as given from 1997 to 2025, on the basis of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Critical evaluation was done of the articles on the principles, equipment, clinical applications, and innovations of dental photography.
Findings: Dental digital photography necessitates standard protocols: ideally, camera settings, lighting system and accessories to obtain reproducible and high-quality dental digital images. Its uses are applied in the field of prosthodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, forensic dentistry, and oral surgery. New technologies like smartphone imaging, artificial intelligence, 3D photogrammetry and augmented reality are contributing to precision and patient-centred care. The considerations of legal, ethical and consent are vital in clinical application.
Conclusion: Digital photography in the dental practice is a built-in clinical process that is used to improve patient communication, as well as bolster medico-legal healthcare records. With ongoing advances in AI and advances in imaging technology, it is on the verge of changing dentistry through diagnosis, treatment planning and learning.
Keywords: Dental digital photography, clinical documentation, Artificial intelligence, dental imaging, forensic dentistry, shade matching
How to cite this article: Kumar A, Kumar V, Arora S, Thakur S, Aakriti, Katoch V. Dental Digital Photography. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(13s): 823-836. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.13s.90.
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None