|
LOUPES
There are many reasons that loupes are important
to dental hygiene practice. Loupes may be one of the most
important parts of your patient care system.
Loupes provide incredible visual acuity as well as allow you
to sit in an ergonomically correct and comfortable position.
Dental hygienists are subject to a myriad of musculoskeletal
problems. No one but a dental hygienist knows the physical
stress that clinical dental hygiene can put on your body.
Being able to work in a good ergonomic position from the beginning
of your career may extend the time that you will be able to
practice dental hygiene. We all know dental hygienists with
neck and back problems. Don't let this happen to you.
There are two basic types of loupe technology, Flip-Up and
TTL (Through-the-Lens). Here are some of the features of each
type.
|
Picture on left are flip up loupes
and picture on right are TTL's |
Flip-ups are recommended by ergonomic experts as the best
type of loupe for dental hygiene practice. As you know, dental
hygienists move around the chair, changing their position
as well as the patient's position many times during an appointment.
Flip-up loupes offer the most flexibility for dental hygiene
practice. With flip-up loupes you have the ability to change
your angle of declination to any operator or patient positioning
and you can also flip the optics up to write in charts or
walk around the office.
The issue of infection control is a big concern for dental
hygienists. With flip-up loupes you can easily change the
position of the optics or flip the optic totally out of your
line of vision by only touching an autoclavable flip paddle
designed for this purpose. You can change these flip paddles
between patients and always have a clean surface to touch.
You do not need to handle the loupes with your gloved hands.
Flip-up loupes may be placed lower on the lenses, therefore,
you have more over-the-top and peripheral vision. Even without
flipping them up, you can look right over the top and to the
side by just lifting your eyes. With a good quality optic,
you then should be able to look back down through the optics
and be immediately back in focus.
With flip-ups, initial prescriptions or changes of your prescription
are easily placed in the lenses. Your own optician can do
this for you, eliminating the necessity to send your loupes
back to the company, at considerable expense, to have the
prescription changed. This is a big money saver over the course
of your career. Flip-ups are much more easily and less costly
maintained. If you need a new frame, your optics are easily
changed to the new frame.
SheerVision just came out with a new flip-up XX Ultra Light
Loupe System that is lighter than most through-the-lens models.
I have used SheerVision loupes since school. I have their
original 2.5 magnification optics and I love them. Now they
have this new ultra light model which weighs only 1.5 ounces.
You won't believe how light they are!
TTL (through-the-lens) loupes |
TTL loupes are loupes where the optic is embedded right in
the lens of the glasses. The optics are closer to your eye
and therefore must be placed more in line with your pupils.
Measurements are taken and a "customized" working
distance and declination angle are built into the loupes.
"Customized" also means that you cannot change the
angle. Everything is fixed. Also, you cannot "look around"
the optic very well, since the placement has to be right in
front of your eye. You do not have as much over-the-top or
peripheral vision Since you cannot flip them up, you cannot
move them out of your vision. This presents an infection control
issue. To move the loupes out of your line of sight, you have
to either try to slide them down on your nose with your wrists,
or take your gloves off to remove the loupes.
Weight was
a reason cited for purchasing TTLs. This
was really the only advantage to TTL loupes. Up until now
they were slightly less weight than flip-up loupes. But now,
with SheerVision's new Ultra-Light Loupe System, you can get
all the benefits of the flip-up at a weight that is less than
most TTLs.
With TTL loupes, prescriptions must be done at the factory.
If you need a prescription change, you must send your loupes
back to the company, and, at considerable expense, have the
prescription changed. You will be without your loupes for
3 to 4 weeks, minimum. Believe me, when you get used to using
loupes, you never want to work without them. So what you may
have to do is purchase a second pair of TTL loupes so you
will not be without for prescription changes. This definitely
adds cost to your loupe usage.
___________________________
I did a thorough search for loupes when I purchased mine.
SheerVision loupes have superior quality optics and their
customer service is the best. I love where the optics are
placed on the lenses. I have great vision over the top and
to the side by just lifting my eyes. The other features I
love with my SheerVision loupes are the 4.5 field of vision
and the extended depth of field. I can move all around the
patient, closer and farther away, and I am always in focus
and have a great field of vision. This is very important when
choosing your loupes. I think SheerVision has one of the longest
depths of field. I have had my loupes for 2.5 years and they
are great. SheerVision is one of the fastest growing loupe
companies and, in my opinion, has the best product for dental
hygienists. The price is a bonus with this company, too. You
are buying direct so you save money that way. You are buying
one of the best quality loupes at direct sale prices. Most,
if not all, of the bigger companies sell through independent
reps and dealers and that is one of the reasons you pay more
with them.
SheerVision is the only company that has a separate dental
hygiene division that is staffed by only registered dental
hygienists! When you call to order, or have a question, you
can talk to a dental hygienist. They understand all of the
applications particular to dental hygiene and they can help
you incorporate magnification into your practice.
It is important to consider all of the features when purchasing
loupes.
-Quality is number 1. You must purchase quality loupes, your
eyes are important. You do not want to compromise on quality.
-Company reputation and customer service
-Field of view
-Depth of field
-Proper working distance
-Flexibility in changing the declination angle
-Peripheral and Over-the-Top vision
-Comfort
-Fit
-Ease of Prescription placement, you do not want to have to
be without your loupes
-Cost to purchase and maintain
Many dental hygiene schools are now requiring loupes for their
entering dental hygiene students. Right at the beginning of
dental hygiene school is a great time to get your loupes.
While you are learning your instrumentation skills, you can
be sitting in a good ergonomic position and be able to see
what you are doing!! You will be amazed to see how clearly
you can see the markings on the probe. You are never guessing
if the pocket is a 4mm or a 5mm. You can see those probe markings
perfectly with your loupes! And, now that most dental board
examiners are wearing loupes, wearing loupes will make you
more prepared for your boards. Being able to tell prospective
employers that you wear loupes is a plus on your resume.
Be proactive in your dental hygiene career. Many loupe companies
offer a trial period where you can see for yourself how much
loupes can help you. Loupes are rapidly becoming the standard
of care for dental hygiene practice. Loupes can definitely
change the way you can practice and can extend your career.
Try some loupes and see what you are missing!
SUPERIOR
QUALITY ULTRA-LIGHT OPTICAL LOUPES
SheerVision Inc, Rollings Hills, CA, introduces their new
“XX” ultra-light optical loupe system. Combined
with your choice of designer titanium frame, this new “XX”
ultra-light optical loupe system weighs only 1.5 ounces, less
than many through-the-lens loupes. Enjoy all of the flexibility,
versatility, and comfort of a flip-up loupe in the weight
of a TTL. SheerVision’s optical loupe systems are designed
to allow optimal ergonomic posture, decrease fatigue, reduce
eye strain, and provide unsurpassed optical clarity. Ask about
their 30-day in office trial period. Buy direct and save.
Call toll free (877) 678-4274; www.sheervision.com.
|
