How to photograph a case properly
UniDent editorial team · July 28, 2026
Medically reviewed by: Dr Aleks Aleksiev · reviewed July 28, 2026
Photographs show what a description leaves out, which is why they help with follow-up and with discussing a case. But a photograph of a patient is personal data, and in a dental context it is health data. The rule is simple: shoot with a clear purpose, store it in the right place, publish only with explicit consent.
What the photograph is for
- The starting state, before anything is touched.
- Following a case across several visits.
- Discussing with a supervisor when words are not enough.
What makes an image usable
Steady light, a dry working area, a clean background, and the same angle on repeat images. If the angle changes each time, the comparison shows nothing. A phone is adequate for documentation — consistency matters more than equipment.
Consent is separate from treatment
Consent to treatment does not cover photographs. Taking one is asked separately; publishing one is asked again and explicitly. The patient needs to know where the image will appear, for how long, and how to withdraw permission.
Where the files live
Not the camera roll, not a personal chat, not a cloud drive shared with your family. If the faculty has a storage procedure, it is not optional. Delete once the purpose is served — keeping images "just in case" is not a reason.
What to do next
- Ask what the procedure for clinical images is in your department.
- Ask for photo consent separately from treatment consent.
- Move any existing images off your phone to where they are allowed to live.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), Article 9