Dental loupes can make certain dental procedures easier for the dentist by providing a magnified view of your mouth.  This can help him do a better job on the procedure that he does for you.  They are basically a magnifying lens attached to an eyeglass style eye shield.

When purchasing dental loupes, the dentist needs to have a few things in mind for choosing the right tool.  He needs to know the magnification he is looking for, as well as the depth of field.  The depth of field will determine the range of distance in which the instrument provides additional benefit.  He’ll also want to consider the working distance, which will be the ideal distance for comfort for the dentist while doing the procedure.

The dental loupes come in a number of styles, and there are even micro versions that offer similar visibility boosting in a much lighter weight frame.  These can come in useful for a dentist who chooses not to use the other type due to the weight on the head.  There are types you wear with head straps, and types you can wear just like eyeglasses, without the addition straps.  There are also a number of accessories that you can purchase to go along with those instruments.  You can buy carrying cases in different materials that are also meant to be protective cases for them.  You can also get lens protectors for the lenses on the instrument.  Some may also be outfitted with a light, since the dentist’s head may block the overhead light which he would normally use for illumination.  This way there’s a light source that won’t be obstructed, so there’s continuous light when needed.

Some dental loupes are designed so that the magnifying lenses can be flipped up and out of the way for clearer viewing through the eyeglass part of them.  Others are through-the-lens (or TTL).  The weight of them was the main advantage of the TTL type for some time, but that’s starting to change now that there are lighter weight flip up styles available.  Flip up styles do have the advantage of being easier to keep hygienic.  As these are designed to be adjusted by the flip of a paddle that can go in the autoclave, there’s an easy to grab spot for adjusting the frames without having to de-glove and then re-glove after adjusting the position of the frames. 

Dentist appointments, especially when more complex procedures are being done, can be anxiety-producing enough to begin with.  Knowing that the dentist is properly outfitted to be able to best attend to your dentistry needs can be a calming thought and may be able to make you feel even slightly more comfortable with the procedure.

If you’re someone training to go into the dentistry field, whether as a dentist or as a hygienist, it may even be beneficial to you on the job front to have been trained in how to properly use dental loupes in your practice.  Be sure to have all the proper measurements taken so you can be sure to get something that works perfectly for you.