Modern Hygienist - September 2008 - (Page 30)

career | MAGNIFICATION Magniﬁcation in focus Understanding your options when choosing a new set of loupes. by Renée Marchant-Turner, RDH Magnification is the standard of care for the modern dental clinician. If you think you can see with safety glasses alone—because you have 20/20 vision—or with your reading glasses, you are missing the focus of magnification. Using magnification, in the form of loupes or telescopes, has proven to reduce posture problems by placing the clinician into proper posture. It also reduces the learning curve for new clinical procedures. The more you can see, the better your clinical outcomes. nifying power is denoted by an ‘X’ or Roman numerals depending on the manufacturer. Field Depth: Also referred to as the depth of field, as in photography. It is the amount of focus you have, in inches, from your eyes to what you are viewing. Higher magnification makes for a shorter field depth. The mouth is approximately 4 inches from the lips to the last molar. Ideally, this entire 4 inches is in focus. If the field depth is narrow, or shorter than 4 inches, the clinician may hands-on hygiene Tips that make the day run smoothly and comfortably for you and your patients are the key to longevity in clinical practice. Hands-On Hygiene offers simple tips that Ms. Turner has learned from 28 years of full-time practice and from teaching beginning to advanced ultrasonic techniques and ergonomics. The small stuff matters, and this column will showcase the details that help make your day more comfortable and efficient. Available on a titanium frame or Rudy Project sports frames, HiRes high-definition loupes from Orascoptic offer optimal resolution and maximum depth-of-field. Visit orascoptic.com. CHOICES ABOUND With a multitude of options from different companies, how does a person choose? If you already have loupes, should you increase the magnification you already have? Is more always better? What about choosing between flip-up and through-the-lens (TTL) styles? Should you have an eye exam before ordering? Considerations when purchasing loupes include: resolution, magnifying power, field depth, field width, weight and angle of declination, among others. Understanding those terms will allow you to find the magnification option that fits you best. Resolution: The degree of sharpness with which you will see through the loupes (also known as scopes). As with high-definition televisions, more pixels equate to superior clarity. When looking through the loupes, the entire view should be clear from the center to the edges of the field. Higher-quality, precision lenses provide sharper clarity . Magnifying Power. The size of the image viewed through the loupes. There is no standard measurement among loupe manufacturers. Mag- need to lean forward to see the posterior regions of the mouth when the anterior area is in focus. Or, if the posterior is in focus and the anterior is out of focus, the clinician would need to lean backwards to bring the anterior into focus. Field Width: The size of the area you see when looking through the loupes. Bigger is better for dental hygiene purposes. Most loupe-wearing dental hygienists have 2.5X magnification. Many dental hygienists ask themselves if more mag- tip It is important to understand the differences between the variety of available magnification aides in order to find the option that fits you best. 30 modernhygienist.com | September 2008 PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHER/GETTY IMAGES http://www.orascoptic.com http://www.modernhygienist.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - September 2008

Modern Hygienist - September 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Letters Modern Solutions Access Denied Kids First: Creating Comfort Worn Out? Voice of a VIP Hands-on Hygiene: Magnification In Focus Digital Persuasion That "Other" Female Cancer Ad Index Classifieds Moonlighting

Modern Hygienist - September 2008

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