dental loupes

Dental loupes have been proven to offer a variety of benefits. But in order for you to enjoy all these benefits, you need to get the right loupes first. Here are a few things that you need to avoid when purchasing a new pair of loupes.

The work of a dental clinician includes dealing with small, hard to see objects inside the oral cavity. In order to see these objects, your eyes need to exert extra effort. Forcing the eyes to see beyond it’s normal capacity when diagnosing patients can leave the eyes straining. Not only will eyestrain affect your visual acuity but it can also affect your performance. Wearing the right hygienist loupes can substantially help reduce eye strain.

The use of dental loupes in clinical setting is continuously increasing. With many dental hygienists now experiencing the many benefits this optical device offers, more and more dental professionals are being convinced to also use them in their practice. Dental hygienist loupes do not only help solve eye pain and visual acuity issues but they also offer other benefits such as improved work posture, reduced occupational musculoskeletal pain, improved stamina, and better performance. They can also greatly help dental professionals come up with more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
To be able to enjoy all these benefits, however, you need to first find the right pair of loupes. Regardless of whether it is your first time to get your own optical device or perhaps you are planning to replace your current dental loupes, you have to keep in mind those things that you need to avoid when purchasing a new pair of loupes.

Buying without knowing the basics first

The biggest mistake you need to avoid when buying a new loupe especially if it is your first time purchasing one is to just buy whatever is offered to you without knowing the basic first. Loupes are a huge investment not only because it will cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars but because they will play a great role in your health and career.

It is empirical to do some research first before you buy loupes. Ask your fellow hygienists and some dentists about their experience using their loupes. Check out a few brands and compare different models to see which one fits you best. Also try to ask some professionals who are knowledgeable about loupes or perhaps seek assistance from different manufacturers or sales agents. Be extra cautious when dealing with agents, though, as some may tend to sugar-coat their words just to get a sale.

You also need to equip yourself with the basics of loupes especially the features that you need to consider as these can help you find the right pair. Weight, frame, lens, magnification, measurements, and style are just some of the factors and features that you need to know about.

Thinking that all loupes are the same

Dental loupes are made differently. Even those that are offered by the same manufacturer and those that seem to look the same differ from each other in many ways. For instance, they differ in weight, quality, and features. All these can affect the performance of the loupes and how they fit you well.
There are a lot of factors that you need to consider when buying loupes and all these factors can make each loupe different from the others. Loupes are available in different magnification powers (2.0x to 6.0x), styles and designs (flip-up, through the lens, prismatic, or galilean), frame material (plastic, titanium, aluminum, carbon composite, and nylon), and weight. Loupes also differ in working distance, declination angle, field of vision, interpapillary distance, and depth of field.

Not considering weight

Many dental professionals don’t seriously consider the total weight of the optical device when buying loupes. The fact is, weight is a critical feature that you need to take into account when deciding which loupes to pick. The weight of the loupes will have an impact on your overall experience, performance, and comfort.

Weight can build up over time. Though loupes seem to weigh less at first, the longer you wear them, the more they feel heavy. As weight build-up, it can put pressure on the bridge of your nose, temples, and neck. This can not only cause discomfort but it can as well affect your focus, and make you suffer from neck and back pain at the end of the day.

The best dental loupes for hygienists are the lightest ones as they allow you to use them continuously for an extended period without straining your neck, temples, and nose bridge.

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Buying a pre-made pair of loupes

When it comes to loupes, there is no such this as one size fits all. Just as loupes are made differently, people also have unique features and needs. And so, you can’t just buy any pre-made pair of loupes especially those that are offered at a bargain price.
One best way to find the right loupes is to have them customized to your needs. You need to consider your personal measurements like your interpapillary distance and working distance. And if you need to add a prescription to the lenses, it is advisable to get a quick eye examination first so you will know your latest prescription. It is important that you add your most recent prescription to avoid costly, and lengthy replacement later on especially if you opt for a TTL loupe.

Loupes are indeed a great addition to your dental practice and they have been proven to be beneficial as well. Take all the above-mentioned notes in consideration when buying new dental hygiene loupes to avoid getting the wrong one and to ensure that you will enjoy all the benefits these magnification devices offer.