Use of digital photography to improve composite resin selection and material placement.

Pract Proced Aesthet Dent 2008;20(6):359-364 359 Digital photography has become essential in modern dentistry. In addition to providing enhanced communication between collaborating dentists, high-quality imagery can also be a valuable diagnostic tool in direct composite procedures. There are many composite systems currently available with various opacities, shades, tints, and physical properties, which can replicate almost any natural situation. As advances in material science have improved the performance of composite resins, it is the skill of the clinician that primarily influences the restorative outcome. The greatest obstacles lie in determining where to layer the various composites and envisioning the final result prior to placement. Digital photographs taken prior to and during treatment may assist the practitioner in shade selection and composite layering for natural-looking restorations.