Magnification in Dentistry: Useful tool or another gimmick?

Since I started my practice in dentistry as a dentist I haven’t tried using a clinical microscope or magnifying loupes. Although I’ve heard about it but I never think of using it. Maybe it’s because I still have clear eyesight and no need to use a clinical microscope. I used to see elder dentist using this kind of tool during their procedure. Out of curiosity, I ask one of a senior dentist what’s the purpose of using a clinical microscope? Is it because of a vision defect? Partly it’s because my eyesight is getting blurred and I want to see the structures of the teeth as closer as I want he said. But even I used to have a good vision I already use clinical microscope in my practice. This microscope is not only for elder dentist with defect in vision but to all dentists who want to improve their work and to have a higher quality.

Although he has a good reason for using this kind of tool but still I’m not convinced using this clinical microscope in my practice. Until one day a dental representative visits my office and has a product presentation and to found out his product is magnifying loupes. He started to present his product and try to convince me to try so that I will know what he talking about. Out of curiosity I tried it, the lens is dropping on my nose and its quite heavy, I am not comfortable wearing it in front of my patient, I said to him. But I realize that my senior colleagues is right, even though it is I have a clear vision it is needed to see more clearly some of the aspect of dental practice.

Right now I get to use to this clinical microscope and I am sure that my restorative treatment is in high quality. Many dentists are afraid to use clinical microscope because it may harm their eyes and their normal vision will be affected. This is not true because after wearing it for a long period your eyes will get used to see more detailed than with your ordinary vision and after several hour your eyes require time to adjust to its natural vision.

Clinical microscope is not necessarily to use it all the time so that your eyes will have a time to rest. Use only on some procedure that really need this kind of tool and use your normal vision in ordinary procedure. While using a clinical microscope dentist should sit properly and comfortably with a normal posture to avoid backache and eyestrain. This requires a proper selection of focal length and declination angles, as well as proper alignment of binocular loupe optic. The selection of optical loupes has a designated relation to physical characteristics which can cause poor posture, backache, eyestrain, neck and back pain. Theirs nothing to worry about when using a magnifying loupes, just follow the correct positioning of a lens and proper posture, you will have an easy and comfortable work throughout the day. read more...