dental loupes

Dental hygiene loupes offer many benefits. However, you can only enjoy these benefits if you find the right loupes. To help you find the right loupes, we have here some of the important factors that you need to consider when purchasing hygiene loupes. 

Loupes offer many benefits. Dental hygiene loupes offer better visibility of the oral cavity which is critical in accurate diagnoses of any oral conditions. Enhanced visibility also helps improve precision when performing and completing dental treatment

But you can only be able to enjoy the many benefits this dental equipment offers if you find the right loupes. If you happen to pick the wrong pair, you might end up struggling to stay focus and to keep up with your pace. Not to mention, it can also make it harder for your eyes. Thus, you need to ensure that the hygienist loupes that you are interested to buy are the right one for you. 
If this is your first time purchasing loupes, chances are, you are still trying to learn about the different factors that you need to consider. On that note, we have here some of the important factors that will help you find the right loupes for you.

Magnification

Loupes are available in different magnification levels, ranging from 2.0x to 6.0x. Each of these magnification levels has a specific application. 
Loupes are classified into different types according to style or design and magnification power. 
Types based on magnification power:
 
  • Galilean loupes – the type of loupes that feature lower magnification power. Generally, Galilean loupes only have 2.0x to 3.0x. They are perfect for general dentistry, dental hygiene, and implantology applications.

  • Prismatic loupes – are those loupes that are made with 3.5x to 6.0 x magnification power. Dental applications like bridge work, endodontics, and crown often require optical aids with 3.5x to 6.0x magnification power. Loupes with 4.0x, 5.0x, or 6.0x magnification power are suitable for surgery, dental lab work, and technicians.
These are just generic recommendations based on specialty, though. You can always pick any magnification power based on your personal needs and preferences. 

Working Distance

It is important to know your working distance first before you start looking for loupes to buy. The working distance is the distance between your eyes and your work area. The right working distance allows you to see the area you are working on without the need to bend forward or stay in a hunch-back position. 
To achieve a healthy working posture while using loupes, make sure to get the right figures for your working position. To do this, you need to sit down or stand up in a comfortable, upright, and ergonomic position and then take the measurement between the upper bridge of your nose and the oral cavity of your patient.

Weight

Weight can build up over time. The more you wear your loupes, the more they get heavy. And when they do, both your focus and comfort will be affected. Heavy loupes can also increase your risk of neck pain. To ensure utmost comfort and focus, choose the best dental loupes for hygienists with the lightest weight. 

Resolution

The resolution of the magnification loupes will affect the quality of the image you see when looking through the optical barrels. Ideally, the loupes should allow you to see a defined, clear, and crisp image of the area of focus from edge to edge without any distortion, blurring, or fuzziness. 
hygienist loupes

Depth of field and field of view

The depth of field refers to the depth of the area or range of focus that is visible when looking through the optical lenses of the loupes. Whilst, the field of view refers to the size of the area you can see when using the loupes. Hygienist Loupes with greater depth of field offer a deeper area of visibility, a wider field of view, and longer working distance.

Design and style

Loupes are also classified according to design and style. For dental applications, two designs of loupes are used- the through the lens (TTL) loupes and the flip-up loupes.

  • TTL Loupes

The TTL loupes are custom-made, user-specific loupes that are specially designed to align with the facial features of the user. These precision-made loupes opt to provide maximum comfort, ease of use, performance, and visuality. The TTL loupes offer a wider field of view and lighter weight making it a perfect choice for those looking for lightweight optical aids.

This lightweight optical magnification device is designed with telescopes or oculars embedded inside the lens. Its optical barrels are installed and fixed in place and cannot be manually adjusted, modified, or removed. If you are not using the loupes, you will have to take it off completely. Prescriptions can be placed either in the carrier lens or the optical barrels. This can become a problem when you need vision updates because you will need to have the loupes re-modified to accommodate the new update. And this can be really costly. 

  • Flip-up Loupes

The flip-up loupe is a type of portable optical aid that is designed with optical barrels mounted on a hinge mechanism located above the carrier frame’s nose bridge. The optical magnification barrels are not fixed in place, making it possible for you to flip them out of your sight quickly when not in use. This makes it more convenient than the TTL loupes. Applying prescription updates is also cheaper and quicker since prescriptions are not placed in the optical barrels. 

Since flip-up loupes involve lesser customization works, they are generally way cheaper than the TTL loupes. The pupillary distance and the angle of declination can manually be adjusted. 

The major downside of the flip-up loupes, though, is the weight. Flip-up loupes are quite heavy. They offer a narrower field of view as well.