Implant dentistry requires specific motor skills with intense and focused vision for several hours consecutively. However, the conditions and obstacles that we usually encounter in the oral cavity can add a considerable burden to our vision and limit our ability to perform at our best.
As a clinical professor and dental hygienist, I have experienced firsthand the process of purchasing loupes. Style is often a key factor in the purchasing decision, along with magnification power, weight, and cost. But what about the headlight?
Imagine working with a scratched patient mouth mirror. The scratches on the mirror prevent the clinician from easily evaluating the oral cavity. Therefore, the clinician’s eyes are left straining to identify the details needed to diagnose the patient.
When first purchasing loupes, it is recommended to select the lowest magnification that meets your needs. A 2.5X magnification is most common for first-time loupe wearers as there is a larger field of view which is easier to adjust to and use in delivering patient care.