Associate dentist Tehseen Khan talks about the positive impact a loupe and light can have on a clinician’s working practice and overall wellbeing.
Accurate vision is essential for any dental professional, and for many, especially the younger generation, it is something that is often taken for granted. Spending the day working within the confines of the oral cavity can make even those with 20:20 vision suffer from eyestrain and headaches, something that is only made worse by poor lighting.
Loupes, especially combined with a loupe-mounted light, have become one of the most valuable tools for today’s dental professionals to help to overcome these problems. The increased magnification allows clinicians to see a far more detailed working area and identify critical details that allow for better diagnosis and treatment to a much higher standard.
Having worked as a dentist for over 20 years I was well aware of the advantages loupes could bring to the quality of my work. Unfortunately, I was under the misapprehension that as I need to wear reading glasses with vario-focal lenses I was not really a suitable candidate for wearing loupes, and as my vision continued to change and get weaker over time, it was hard for me to work out which loupe, if any, would be suitable for me.
Wearing glasses is no barrier
On attending a dental conference I noticed Evident loupes were on display and realised that then was my opportunity to speak to a representative and see first-hand the benefits of loupes. It was most reassuring to learn that despite the fact I wear glasses, this was no barrier to wearing loupes!
I immediately arranged for an in-practice visit so I could have a consultation where the representative could see me at work in my own surgery set-up to assess my posture. As a loupe and light specialist, Lisa Caley took all the time necessary to ensure the correct measurements were taken and was extremely thorough. Her professionalism and knowledge was second to none and it was particularly useful to discover that the importance of taking precise measurements is to ensure that the oculars are in the correct place and that the working length (the distance from your eyes to the patient’s mouth) and working angle is accurate. Each of these elements are key to ensuring as dental professionals we work in a more comfortable, ergonomic position.
Magnification
I discovered that the recommended starting magnification is between 2.5x and 3.5x, as these levels give an optimal depth of field allowing freedom of movement whilst keeping the subject in focus, helping you to maintain a relaxed working posture throughout the day. This is ideal for general dental and hygiene work and the field of view is also widest at these magnifications. Upgrading to a higher magnification should be done over time and some specialities, such as endodontic and restorative treatments, require magnification up to 5.7x.
I often think if I’d started wearing loupes much earlier in my career I would probably re-do a lot of my own work! When you compare life before loupes you quickly realise how little you used to see and wonder how you ever managed to practise without them. Using correctly fitted loupes and light should be considered a must for all dental professionals of any age and at any stage of their dental career.
To read Part 2 of this blog, click here.
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