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Question: “Dr.
Arnold, I noticed at my last dental appointment that my
dentist was wearing unusual “magnifying glasses”.
Do you think that he has a problem with his vision?”
Answer: Many
dentists use magnification in order to see better into patients’ mouths.
I used to think that it was a sign of weakness (or old age)
to use these special glasses, so I resisted the temptation
to purchase them for several years. I had no idea what I
was missing!
I began using magnification “loupes” four years
ago, and it has absolutely changed the way that I practice
dentistry. I can see things much more clearly, my posture
is much better, and they allow me to do better work. Initially,
I utilized glasses that magnified teeth by 2.4 times. There
was a significant learning curve associated with this new
technology, but it got easier to use every day. Within a
year, I transitioned to new glasses with 3.3 times magnification.
This also improved my visibility and ability to do a good
job for my patients.
Two years ago, I purchased loupes with 4.8 times magnification
and a bright xeon light that points at the area being examined
or worked on, and the results have been phenomenal! Now,
every time I work on a tooth, it looks almost five times
as big as it actually is, and it is well-illuminated. This
allows me to see more clearly and further refine my work.
It also enables me to be a better diagnostician because
conditions that I might have missed previously are now visible.
Treatment is generally more conservative because I can more
easily remove decay without encroaching into the healthy
tooth structure. Microdentistry, or doing minimally invasive
procedures, is much easier when dentists have greater visibility.
There are even a handful of dentists practicing dentistry
with the use of microscopes. A typical dental microscope
will enlarge one’s view up to sixteen times what the
naked eye will see. That’s a very exciting development
for dentists and patients!
You should be happy that your dentist is using magnification.
It means that he can see more clearly and will be more
likely to do a great job for you.
Dr. Jim Arnold is a practicing dentist in Chesterton and Valparaiso. He is also a clinical mentor with the Hornbrook Group and serves on the Advisory Board for the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics as the Fellowship Chairman. You may send questions to his office at: 1830 South 11th Street, Chesterton, IN 46304 or email them to: drarnold@SmilesByArnold.com. More information on this or many other dental topics can be found at www.SmilesByArnold.com.
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