There are still some dental students, professionals, and hygienists that are curious about dental loupes even if many of you are already familiar with them. This is the basis for the blog post that we have created. Below are some frequently asked questions concerning dental loupes and the answers to those queries.

  1. How does one loupe compare to the others?

Mostly the dental loupes brands will try to justify their higher rates by advertising features that some loupes might have had for a longer time. Check for features like weight, the dental arch, depth of field, frame material, etc.

  1. What do you mean by dental loupes field of view?

This is the specific area you can see through the loupes' optics. The loupes with a broader view are much easier to use as any instrument can be put inside the working area quickly, and you don’t even need to reposition yourself or the patient. 

A broader field view also allows a better angulation and perspective of the instruments relative to side structures, like the angulation of drills during access cavity preparation. 

  1. What does the depth of field or depth of focus mean?

The depth of focus or field is the distance the dentist can move towards or away from their patients, and it still retains focus. If the depth of focus is significant, it will be more comfortable throughout the day.

Meanwhile, if the focus depth is low, it would be restrictive and result in muscle and joint pain over a period. Hence, the surgical loupes with a more considerable depth of focus are chosen.

  1. How do I know if it’s the time to change my dental loupes?

You may initiate to feel some symptoms indicating that it’s finally the time to change your dental loupes. There can be personal vision change, which may lead you to change loupes, especially if you feel headaches wearing them, a decrease in clarity, or high neck strain. 

These things may be experienced as visual acuity starts to decrease with age, and even an eye examination is recommended every two years. 

  1. What to look for before buying a dental loupe?

Before buying surgical loupes, always check for their magnification, resolution, depth of field, a field of view, light, weight, and style. If you can get all these things at their optimum values, you can buy them, and they will last longer than expected.

dental loupes

  1. What is the best range of magnification for dental loupes?

There is a range of magnification available in the market, the most common being 2.5x and 3.5x. The higher the magnification, the higher the detailed working site will be. But it has some downsides like it decreases the field of view, and the field of view becomes darker.

  1. Does wearing loupes damage eyes?

Eyes naturally start to weaken over time, and the visual acuity declines. Dental loupes prevent eye strain and don’t weaken or affect the eyes. Instead, it helps with vision as well as body posture.

  1. Can you wear contacts with dental lenses?

There has been observed success for loupe users with the available single vision contact lenses and those with reading prescriptions installed in the loupe system. So, if you have prescription glasses, you should install the correction in the loupes. Now, you won’t have to manage two things individually as everything is in a single loupe.

  1. How do I clean my loupes?

Cleanliness is an essential requirement when it comes to dental types of equipment. You can clean your loupes with alcohol, phenol, bleach, lint-free cloth, or solvent-free glass cleaner. Remember to sanitize your hands before cleaning the loupes.

Carefully clean around the lens, loupes, and frames. Make sure that there are no scratches on these and store them in their case when they are not in use. Remember to not apply the cleaning solutions directly onto the lenses, and don't use cloths made of cotton or wool.

  1. How to calculate the working distance with the loupes?

To calculate the perfect working distance of loupes, measure the distance between your eyes and your patients’ teeth, and hold an ergonomic position. To calculate the inter-pupillary distance of surgical loupes, note the distance between both pupils of your eyes. 

  1. Can I change my working distance on loupes?

Yes, you can modify the working distance on dental loupes. You need to adjust the working distance cap according to your requirements, and voila, you are done. 

You may want to order your next custom dental loupe and a pair of working distance caps. With the help of working distance caps, you don't need to compromise your proper posture during the procedure.

  1. How do I stop fogging on my dental loupes?

The main reason behind fogging of the lens is the temperature and breathing. These are very annoying when a dentist is working on their patient.

There are different ways in which you can prevent fogging on your dental loupes like bya using a band-aid or any other nose band, washing lenses with cleanser and water, check if the mask is fitted properly, putting a tissue inside the highest point of the cover, or by warming up the hardware before using it.

To make sure that fogging does not occur, try not to use toothpaste, try not to spit on the lenses, and wear a cover with a movable noseband.