Why should a dentist illustrate or annotate patient images by hand or tablet before the case presentation?
Because well-chosen visual annotations dramatically lift the patient’s understanding of what is wrong and what needs to be done about it. The doctor takes the patient’s photos and radiographs, then adds arrows, circles, brief labels, and highlights that direct attention to the specific anatomical features the treatment plan addresses. The annotations can be done digitally on a graphical tablet or by hand on a printed copy that gets scanned back into digital format. The goal is not artistic. It is communicative. The patient looking at an unannotated radiograph sees a confusing grayscale image with no idea where to look. The same radiograph with three clear arrows and brief labels showing the bone loss, the failing root, and the proposed replacement becomes a self-explanatory teaching tool. The visual aids become slides in the case presentation deck. The patient retains the information far better than they would retain a verbal description. Comprehension converts into commitment. Cheap technique. Significant lift.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.
