As a dental professional, there are undoubtedly many tools you consider essential. Whilst you may have stocked up on vital dental instruments, hand pieces and curing lights; have you considered your optical magnification?

Often overlooked, dental loupes are an essential piece of dental equipment; offering a wealth of benefits for both patient and practitioner. Here, we explore 5 of the top benefits dental loupes can bring to your practice.

1. Better Visual Acuity 

One of the many challenges faced by those working in the dental field is viewing the microscopic details of the teeth; from dark holes to almost invisible stains. Tackle this challenge with the human eye alone, and you are setting yourself up for failure. Even if you boast 20:20 vision, such details require magnification, and dental loupes provide the user with vision which is far superior to that which could be achieved naturally.

With the use of dental loupes, users can view all details of the oral cavity with enhanced magnification; improving your visual acuity and allowing for a more precise interpretation of the details. This can be particularly important in specialised fields which require a great deal of precision and accuracy, such as endodontics. For example, loupes provide accuracy when locating root canals; resulting in improved success rates for endodontic procedures[1]

2. Improved Posture & Reduced Back Pain

It is commonly acknowledged that dentists are at high risk of musculoskeletal pain, with a recent study reporting 70% of dentists experiencing lower back pain[2]. To many, these findings are no surprise; as the dental profession naturally incorporates repetitive movements, along with excessive exposure to vibration and exertion of force. These stressors are repeatedly felt throughout the duration of a dental professional’s career, with many developing pains or even injury as a result.  Shockingly, statistics show that nearly a third of dentists are forced into premature retirement due to a musculoskeletal disorder[3].

Fortunately, maintaining an ergonomic posture is easy with a good fitting set of dental loupes. Allowing the user to significantly improve their working conditions, dental loupes provide a magnified view of the mouth; eliminating the desire to move closer to the patient to gain an enhanced view of the oral cavity. Short term, this ensures better posture (as loupes are customised and will blur if too close to the patient), and long term, this promotes a long and healthy career (encouraging a proper working posture).

                  Before Loupes (Incorrect working Posture)                                              With Loupes (Correct working Posture) 

3. Reduced Eye Strain

Eyestrain is a common condition that arises when your eyes get tired from intense use. The symptoms can be unpleasant, resulting in fatigue, sore eyes and headaches at the end of the day. Working in the dental field, you are required to concentrate for long periods of time, often causing you to exert effort when focusing on the small details you see on the teeth.

Made to measure dental loupes (pictured right) reduce eyestrain, magnifying all aspects of the mouth; ensuring eye muscles have no need to strain. For maximum eye comfort, many dental loupes are fitted with a light; providing the ultimate user experience, simultaneously illuminating and magnifying the oral cavity.

4. Save Time

Enhanced magnification not only assists with your vision but also allows you to do more in less time. Allowing you to work with precision and accuracy, a high-quality set of dental loupes will allow you to work at a faster pace; ensuring enhanced vision and better eye-coordination.

Maximising outcomes for both patient and practitioner, dental loupes allow dental professionals to work with reduced stress levels, safe in the knowledge that their eyesight is taken care of.

5. Improved Diagnosis

To provide your patient with the most accurate diagnosis, it is vital that you can view your working field with clear, crisp vision. As dental loupes magnify the image greatly, users can easily see details which are not visible to the naked eye; resulting in improved diagnosis and clinical outcomes. Overall, treatments are less invasive, more effective and facilitate tailored treatment solutions.

Univet Dental Loupes

As one of the global leaders in surgical magnification, Univet dental loupes provide an exceptional example of premium loupes which incorporate the benefits you would expect from a leading brand.

Famous for their distinctive character, exclusive style, fit and superior optics; all of Univet’s Dental Loupes offer extraordinary visual comfort for all users.

To discover how Univet Loupes can improve the way you perform in your dental practice, arrange a free consultation with the Optident team, by calling 01943 605 050 or alternatively fill out this quick and easy form.  

 [1] Garcia (2018) Expanding the Operating Field in Endodontics: From magnification loupes to microscope, accessed 02 May 2019,  https://www.sciencerepository.org/expanding_the_operating_field_in_endodontics_DOCR_1-101#Conclusion  

[2] J Phys Ther Sci (2015) Prevalence of and risk factors for low back pain among dentists, accessed 02 May 2019, < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4616098/> 

[3] Burke FJ, Main JR, Freeman R. (1997) The practice of dentistry: an assessment of reasons for premature retirement, accessed 02 May 2019, < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9134812>