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May 2009 | DentalProductsReport.com Specs that matter: Loupes When doing research for new loupes, there is a lot of data being thrown your way. We distill the advice of dental professionals and manufacturers to let you know what matters.  Chances are good that you’ve heard in a lecture or read in a magazine that magnification can improve clinical treatment as well as your ergonomic health. Walking the floor at any tradeshow, you’ll see numerous loupes companies lining up to tell you why their product is just the one to fulfill those promises. The question is: With all this information, how can you quickly and easily cut through the noise and make the right purchase? This article is no quick fix, but in bringing together voices from both the operatory and the factory, these are the points the majority agreed are most pertinent to finding loupes that work for you. The best place to start is to consider how you might shop around for another valuable possession. “I like to use the analogy of the four ‘C’s’ consumers consider when purchasing a diamond ring — cut, clarity, color and carrot,” says James Onderak, Director of Marketing & New Product Development for Orascoptic Surgical Acuity. “Sure, you can have a huge 5-carrot diamond ring, but do you really want that if it is yellow or cloudy? For the same money, wouldn’t you rather have a 3-carrot diamond that is crystal clear and sparkling?” Just like choosing a diamond, the dental professional has to weigh the four loupe features to decide on a pair that works for them: resolution, field width, field depth and magnification. The one you should consider first is magnification. Magnification “The most popular loupe on the market is 2.5x,” Onderak explains. “[This is] because it offers reasonable magnification while also maintaining a deep and wide field.” Dental professionals in the market for loupes with higher magnification are primarily those specializing in endodontics, oral surgery, or other exacting procedures. Adjusting to magnification can, according to Dr. Glenn van As, a dentist with a private practice in North Vancouver, BC who has lectured and written extensively on magnification, can be a challenge. “The issues that someone faces with his or her first set of loupes are different than subsequent higher magnifications,” he says, “but the most common hurdles are learning to overcome the magnification scotoma—or blind zone—that occurs as you bring instruments and your hands from the field outside to the view inside. This zone gets greater with higher magnification. [I’ve found] turning the head slightly one way and then the other helps. Resolution Of course, the right magnification can be compromised without proper resolution. “A large image is one thing, but it won’t matter if its blurry,” Onderak says. “Achieving magnification is easy…the more challenging aspect is to deliver a sharp, clear image across the entire viewing area. Most loupes are good at delivering resolution in a center ‘sweet spot,’ but few can maintain that resolution from edge to edge of the field.” Design There are two major magnification systems available: Fixed lens models (FLM) and Through the lens models (TTL). The primary difference between the two, according to B.J.Chang, PhD, president of Surgitel, is that with TTL, one lens is bonded directly through the carrier lens, while FLM is an adjustable system that allows the user to flip up the telescopes when needed. “It is a personal decision when selecting one of these models,” Chang says, “however, one needs to decide if they are purchasing magnification for better posture or just getting a bigger view… [The] FLM model with vertical adjustment of oculars gives the user more flexibility with adjusting viewing angles, and the TTL models provide the greatest field of view.” One drawback to TTL, notes Dr. van As, is that while lighter, they can be more difficult to change out if you need to change your prescription. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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