A photographic method of assessing swelling following third molar removal.

No objective method for measuring postoperative swelling both simply and reliably is known from the literature. The method described in this article measures the degree of swelling indirectly by comparing tracings of pre- and postoperative photographs printed full-size. The photographs taken are standardized and full-face. The head is reproducibly fixed by means of a bite impression and two rings. One ring is mounted on a table on which the camera also is fixed. At the other, mobile, ring the bit impression is fixed. Three-point contact in the correct position between the two rings is signalled electrically, so that the head is in the correct position and the photograph can be taken. The advantage of this method over a rigis connection between bite fork and fixation stand on the table is that distortion or even bending of the fork and connecting bar is not possible. Experience with this method shows that in 95% of the patients photographed the picture was exactly reproducible. Measuring non-operated test persons revealed the reproducibility of the cheek contour to be better than 0.2 mm. The error made when tracing the photographs is of about the same magnitude.