Loupes: Better Ergonomics and Better Vision

Loupes first began to appear on the dental scene in the 1980s and are now a routine purchase for dental and dental hygiene students as part of their “instrument package.” 

Dental loupes are now lighter in weight and come with accessories such as lights, corded, or cordless. The question answered in an article published in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene was whether clinical skills were improved by their use. In a study done in the mid 1990s, 52 dental students were randomly assigned to wear or not wear loupes during a pediatric amalgam preparation. Self-evaluations yielded no difference; however, when 155 students treated simulated patients, the results were markedly different. Students wearing loupes of magnification between 1.5 and 2.0 performed better clinically. When posture is evaluated, loupes decrease ergonomic issues and reduce musculoskeletal injury. A randomized study of 22 dental hygiene students evaluated by overhead camera indicated that there was less posture deviation from ideal when loupes were worn during patient care. In addition, students evaluated noted that the loupes were comfortable to wear, and commented that wearing loupes improved the quality of their work. Loupes come in magnification ranges of 1.5 to 5.5, though most are purchased at 2.5 or 3.0 for dentistry. Working field is decreased as magnification increases, so proper fitting is essential. Field depth and declination angle are important to initial measurements as convergence of the telescopes produces a clear focal point. Weight of the device is reduced with titanium frames. Finally, prior to purchase, infection control, illumination features, and lens covers should be discussed for each design.