Dental photography and digital shade selection

PRESENTER | Dr Chen Chen, Prosthodontist

Dr Chen Chen is a specialist Prosthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, practicing in Glen Iris and Melbourne CBD. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008 and worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service before entering private practice. Later, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry at the University of Melbourne. In 2020, she moved to Los Angeles, USA, for a three-year Advanced Prosthodontics residency at USC, followed by a Fellowship in Maxillofacial Prosthetics at UCLA. 

Alongside private practice, Dr Chen lectures and supervises postgraduate residents in Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics at the University of Melbourne, and collaborates with the OMFS team at University Hospital Geelong in the rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients.

DENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL SHADE SELECTION

This presentation offers a practical introduction to dental photography and demonstrates how high-quality photographs can improve diagnosis, treatment planning, communication, and case documentation. It will cover the techniques and armamentarium needed to produce consistent and clinically useful images.

The fundamentals of shade science will be introduced, including how colour is understood in dentistry through value, chroma, and hue, and how factors such as lighting, translucency, and surface texture can influence shade perception. The eLAB protocol will be presented as a tool for a more objective and predictable approach to shade selection, with the use of calibrated photography and standardised references to enhance accuracy and strengthen communication between clinician and laboratory. Overall, the presentation will provide clinicians with practical insights that can elevate both the quality and predictability of their aesthetic and clinical outcomes.