See Better & Work Pain Free Trisha O’Hehir, RDH, BS, Editorial Director, Hygienetown Magazine

Are you using magnification? Thinking about it? Not interested? Wherever you stand on the subject, it’s a hot topic in dental hygiene these days. Everywhere you look at dental meetings today, there are people selling magnification products. Loupes are slowly becoming the standard of practice, enhancing vision, promoting good posture and even making a fashion statement.

The history of dental magnification started with jeweler’s loupes attached to eyeglasses. Today, the industry includes a variety of surgical telescopic loupes and is moving, albeit slowly, toward more sophisticated magnification products. For instance, the endoscope provides a magnified view inside the pocket. There also are cameras that attach to the operatory light that magnify the view inside the mouth. Both the endoscope and the light-mounted cameras transmit their images to either a computer or television monitor. This means you remain upright looking at the screen, and not leaning over to look into the mouth. The question is no longer: “Do you want magnification or not?” The question is: “What type of magnification do you want?”

Frankly, there are two reasons to use magnification. The obvious one is seeing better. The less obvious reason is to ensure proper posture; avoiding the neck and back problems caused by leaning and slouching over patients. Proper ergonomics is why all dental hygiene students should begin with some form of magnification to avoid developing the bad habits of leaning and slouching. If you have developed bad posture, adjusting to magnification is difficult because it also means adjusting to a new working position – the ideal position. Students who begin with magnification are likely to experience less neck and back pain associated with years of clinical practice.

More dental hygienists each year are purchasing eyewear with magnification, such as loupes. In fact, the Hygienetown.com Townie Poll on Magnification showed a 13% increase in the number of hygienists wearing loupes during the past year, with 35% of the participants reporting they’d been wearing loupes less than 12 months. However, hygienists are easily adapting to wearing loupes, with 27% reporting that the adjustment period is a couple of days.

Magnification is still considered the greatest benefit of loupes, followed closely by correct posture. Additionally, through-the-lens loupes are gaining in popularity, being preferred by 67% of hygienists responding to our poll, compared to 59% last year.

We invited the leading eyewear magnification companies to answer a few questions about their companies and products. Their answers and a list of magnification aspects to consider will help you understand the field of dental hygiene magnification, and assist you in making a decision on what type of eyewear is right for you.

HT: What is the history of your company?

Orascoptic: Advanced Dental Concepts, the original name for the company, was founded by Charles H. Caplan, DDS in 1981. In 1992, the company’s name was changed to Orascoptic Research. The new name (“Orascoptic” is a “made-up” word, a hybrid of the words “oral” and “telescope”). In 1996, Dr. Caplan sold Orascoptic Research to Surgical Acuity, Inc. In 2002, Surgical Acuity was sold to Sybron Dental Specialties (SDS). Orascoptic is part of the Kerr division and remains committed to enhancing the performance and comfort of dental practitioners.

SurgiTel: Since 1932, General Scientific Corporation has designed and manufactured precision optics for medical, military, and scientific applications. By interviewing many surgeons and dentists during the last 13 years, the company has identified clinicians' major frustrations and incorporated this feedback into the design of its loupes.

Palmero Health Care: The Palmero Health Care is a family owned business that was started by Joseph Palmero nearly 60 years ago. The family is dedicated to expansion with innovative and effective products at affordable prices. It is not strictly a dental supply firm, as its products have applications in health care, public safety, and sanitary supply maintenance.

SandyGrendel Design: The name SandyGrenel comes from two nick names for Dr. Alex Grendelmeier, the Swiss dentist who founded the company. He is committed to surgical telescopes, but wanted them to be light, without straps, providing maximum protection from splashing, while also having a modern design and a modular approach. Ten years of development led to three patents and the most multifunctional eyeglasses/loupes in the world.

SheerVision: SheerVision was founded in 1999. Its business model is based solely on the proposition of providing the highest quality optical loupes in the marketplace, at a value price.

PeriOptix: Perioptix was established in 1999 to provide improved magnification and illumination systems for dentistry. Specifically, the company focused on improving the comfort of loupes with improved frame systems that are specifically designed to distribute the weight of optics and light sources.

Designs for Vision: Designs for Vision was founded in 1961, by Dr. William Feinbloom. Since 1974, the company has designed custom built optics for surgery and dentistry.

HT: Where are your products made?

Orascoptic: Middleton, Wis.

SurgiTel: Ann Arbor, Mich.

Palmero Health Care: Most of the manufacturing of these products occurs overseas with a small amount of assembly work done in Connecticut.

SandyGrendel: Switzerland.

SheerVision: SheerVision loupes are made in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

PeriOptix: All of our products are designed and produced here in the US.

Designs for Vision: All Designs for Vision products are designed, engineered and manufactured in Ronkonkoma, New York.

HT: Do you offer a trial period with your products?

Orascoptic: Orascoptic offers a 45-day trial to ensure that the fit, working distance and all measurements have been correctly customized to the user.

SurgiTel: We offer a 45-day trial period on all purchases.

Palmero Health Care: Palmero Health Care offers a complete satisfaction guarantee on all of its products, but no free trial period.

SandyGrendel: Because of the difficulty with importing and exporting, SandyGrendel does not offer a free trail period.

SheerVision: Yes, SheerVision provides a 30-day trial period on all its loupes.

PeriOptix: PeriOptix offers a 30-day trial on all of its products.

Designs for Vision: Yes, Designs for Vision has a no obligation 45-day trial period.

HT: Do your loupes require individualized fitting by a company representative?

Orascoptic: Our flip-up loupe models can be adjusted by the user and do not require individualized fitting. Through-the-lens loupes require individualized fitting to place the telescopes in the correct position in the glasses.

SurgiTel: The adjustable SurgiTel product line can be ordered over the telephone because its patented mounting mechanism allows users to customize their working angle (declination angle and interpupilary distance), although individualized fitting can help ensure customer satisfaction. If customers want fixed through-the-lens loupes, SurgiTel recommends individualized fittings.

Palmero Health Care: Palmero Health Care currently manufactures eyewear with a bifocal built into the lens – these do not require individualized fitting.

SandyGrendel Design: Individualized fitting is very important. Swiss-Loupes are fully adjustable by the consumer. The pure titanium frame can be bent to fit. No head-bands or straps are needed. The nosepads are not attached to the eyeglasses and are therefore fully adjustable to different nose shapes. If corrective lenses are needed the rims can be detached from the frame within seconds and worn as eyeglasses. The basic frame can be worn with or without corrective lenses or with contact lenses. The declination angle can also be adjusted. Working distances of 300 / 350 / 400 / 500 mm are available and can be exchanged if necessary. If users send SandyGrendel their interpupillary distance the company will pre-adjust the loupes. This can also be done by the clinician following easy instruction sheets.

SheerVision: SheerVision products include a flip-up design, through-the-lens, and new wrap-around sports frames that have snap in rimless plain or prescription shields. SheerVision flip-ups and sports frames can be ordered in your desired working distance. The company recommends and requires individualized fittings for its through-the-lens loupes. Although not required, SheerVision also recommends individualized fittings, whenever possible, with any of its styles of loupes. The company has a national, dedicated sales force, staffed exclusively by registered dental hygienists who are available to fit customers in their offices.

PeriOptix: All PeriOptix loupes are a flip-up design that is easily and quickly adjustable by each user. The company has recently introduced a patented “Set and Forget” system for its loupes. Once the intrapupillary distance is set, it automatically locks it in place for a stable alignment. The only necessary “measurement” is the working distance which is the distance from the loupes to the patient. PeriOptix has four working distances: Short (10-14”), Regular (10-16”) Long (15-19”) and X-Long (16-20”). Most hygienists will work at a regular working distance from the patient.

Designs for Vision: Designs for Vision loupes require individualized fitting, which the company absolutely recommends. Individualized fitting is the only way to properly ensure looking through the optical center of the system. To accommodate you the company has 50 representatives located in North America.

HT: What do you recommend for infection control with your products?

Orascoptic: Our loupes can be wiped down with a cotton cloth or a 2x2 gauze pad. Acceptable cleaners include: CaviCide, KleenAseptic, MadaCide, Sporicidin, Lysol and isopropyl alcohol.

SurgiTel: All SurgiTel loupes are waterproof; therefore, spraying down or wiping with a surface disinfectant can easily accomplish infection control. They can be cleaned following disinfection using a soft bristle toothbrush and a mild detergent and rinsing under water. The lenses are then wiped dry with the provided lens cleaning cloth. Also, SurgiTel provides flip-paddles to allow moving the optics out of the line of sight while wearing gloves to prevent cross contamination.

Palmero Health Care: Palmero Health Care manufactures a lens-cleaning wipe designed specifically for the care of its products. Outside of that a mild soap and water.

SandyGrendel: SandyGrendel’s products are washable under running water and can be disinfected with all standard disinfection solutions.

SheerVision: SheerVision loupes have several specialized coatings including anti-glare and anti-fog. The company recommends alcohol or Lysol on a disposable lens cloth to disinfect the loupes, then any commercial lens cleaner to polish the lenses. The only part that is touched during a procedure is a "flip paddle" for changing the declination angle (if needed) and flipping the loupes up and out of the way. This flip paddle may be autoclaved or sterilized using other methods.

PeriOptix: Wipe loupes, frames and lenses with a disinfectant or alcohol swab. Do not soak lenses.

Designs for Vision: Use an alcohol wipe to clean the loupes and glasses. Do not immerse in liquid.

HT: Do you sell a light to be used with your products?

Orascoptic: Orascoptic’s headlights are coaxial, meaning they are positioned right between the eyes. This feature removes shadows that are present using an overhead light or using a headlight which is too high on the loupe system. The halogen is preferred by many hygienists because of the warm hue over the more stark whiteness of the metal halide. Tissue appears more natural under the halogen light.
a) Zeon Illuminator (halogen fiberoptic)
b) Zeon LumenArc (metal halide fiberoptic)
c) Zeon LEDPortable (battery powered LED)

SurgiTel: SurgiTel offers three different light systems.
a) Mini-Halogen Light System (optional portable configuration)
b) SurgiTel LED Portable Light System
c) Fiber Optic Light System
The portable systems seem to be the most popular among hygienists.

Palmero Health Care: Yes, Palmero Health Care offers lights in clip-on, headband and ear attachment that all work extremely well with its eyewear as well as other eyewear and loupes.

SandyGrendel: “To see or not to see” is SandyGrendel’s slogan. Illumination mounted in line with the loupes is crucial for effective vision and comfort. SandyGrendel sells a LED-Light that works with rechargeable batteries, thus no tether. The head-light is easy to clean (no slots, holes, etc.) and does not get hot.

SheerVision: SheerVision sells both a portable LED and a metal halide fiberoptic light source. Both lights are state of the art and can be worn on either loupes or a headband.

PeriOptix: Yes, we have the PeriLUX portable LED system. It features a rechargeable battery pack that will last all day on a single charge. It can be mounted on loupes or on the Freedom Headband.

Designs for Vision: Designs for Vision offers the Daylite Metal Halide that produces 18,000 foot candles of perfect neutral daylight. DFV also offers the Daylite LED, a portable LED headlight. Both systems simply clip on to the loupes or can be worn with a light-weight headband and provide 3,000 foot candles of untethered color corrected illumination.

SheerVision: Two things differentiate SheerVision from their competition. One is its "value proposition," offering a superior quality loupe combined with value pricing. Secondly, SheerVision is the first loupe company with a separate dental hygiene division, staffed solely by RDHs, which allows interaction with other dental hygienists on a peer level, providing information and services specific to them.

Designs for Vision: Designs for Vision manufactures a precision coated, precision optical system and lets you decide how far from the patient you want to work. The company manufactures ergonomically correct dental visual enhancement devices. Designs for Vision claims to currently have the largest share of the dental loupes market.

SurgiTel: SurgiTel is committed to ergonomics, including a patented adjustment for the declination angle. Lenses are of high-index glass with multi-layered coatings. The company also offers lightweight Oakley frames. All loupes are completely waterproof.

Palmero Health Care: Palmero’s unique approach is offering several low cost styles of magnification for clinicians looking for a simple and inexpensive solution to magnification. The company offers bifocal safety eyewear and clip on as well as headband loupes.

PeriOptix: PeriOptix offers products that are truly unique in design. The Hogies have a wrap-around frame design, magnetic attachment of loupes, shields and nosepads. The unique Hogie bands come in 10 colors. PeriOptix is the first company to develop a truly portable LED light system to complement the loupes.

SandyGrendel: The Swiss Loupes are extremely lightweight, modern design, titanium frames that don’t require straps or headbands to hold them on. The lenses are hand-made of mineral glass and aluminum, with no plastic. Integrated into the modular system is a LED light powered by three standard AA rechargeable batteries, providing over five hours of continuous use.

(Not Pictured)
Orascoptic: Orascoptic offers quality, high-resolution light-weight lenses providing a wide-field of vision. To enhance magnification, coaxial light systems are integrated with the loupes. Ergonomic chairs complete this approach to practice.

HT: Join the magnification revolution in dental hygiene! See better and work pain free. For more information on the companies mentioned in this article, please visit them online at the addresses listed below.
Designs for Vision – www.designsforvision.com
Sybron Dental Specialties (Orascoptic) – www.orascoptic.com
Palmero Health Care – www.palmerohealth.com
PeriOptix – www.perioptix.com
SandyGrendel – www.sandygrendel.com
SheerVision – www.sheervision.com
General Scientific Corp. (SurgiTel) – www.surgitel.com
Op-d-Op, Inc. – www.opdop.com
Quality Aspirators – www.qualityaspirators.com
Carl Zeiss, Inc. – www.zeiss.com

Other Magnification Companies
Heads-Up Dentistry - www.headsupdentistry.com
Magnified Video Dentistry - www.magnifiedvideodentistry.com
DentalView, Inc. - www.dentalview.com