Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Simon Vogel — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 10:42:07 GMT

Case of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’?

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Bob Russell — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:11:41 GMT

I have real issues with ours which are Keeler x3.5. My contact lens prescription is complicated by astigmatism and a 'good idea' to have a compromise between vision and reading!

They are only going to be good for one person unless everyone has 20:20 vision.

Without the band around the head they would be a non-starter!

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Yantha Smyth — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:25:54 GMT

Thank you for the input. It is clear for the cost involved the proper fitting is wise rather than best guess and buying online hoping for the best

I find it frustrating as a locum that many places have poor lighting for theatre and dentistry, which is now being made worse with my ageing eyes! I think having something like this will revolutionise my life.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Paul Cooper — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:10:20 GMT

Hi Yantha, I recommend these https://voroscopes.co.uk/loupes/eye-mag-pro/ with Zeiss lenses, and comes with 2 long lasting batteries. The quality is superb, and they are used by a large number of human dentists. They are definitely not cheap - but are tax deductable! If you are ever my way again, you are welcome to try them. The company rep will measure you for them, and they will put your own sight prescription in the glasses part.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:12:53 GMT

[quote userid="5083" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dentistry/f/discussions/29197/reccomendations-for-dental-light-source-loupe/225191#225191"]not clear on what working distance would be recommended. [/quote]

As Norman says, get them fitted by a company rep if you possibly can. Try before you buy and be sure you are happy..

Failing that, you could get comfortable in a working position and get somebody to measure your working distance.

If all else fails, it's not a bad rule that the distance will always be longer than you might think.

Get something with a band over your head, not just supported by your nose and ears.

It's a big investment so you might as well get it right.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Norman Johnston — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 10:27:55 GMT

2.5x is generally best for general dentistry and oral surgery. There are a good few on the market - Keeler, Designs for Vision and Orascoptic are just a few of the popular brands. My advice is to buy them with a fitting and not on line. If you wear specs they can incorporate your prescription into the lenses. A light can be added to clip on or wear on a head band.
Big thing to look for is ability to focus on a small area with them on. I bought a set at a conference and had to go cross eyed to focus. I eventually got them sent back with a big fight. Second is weight because you might wear them for hours. Thidly is how tidy the battery pack is and how long Iasts.
None of this is cheap so expect to pay well into four figures. Think of it as a lifelong professional tool. It's not a toy.
A good set will improve your work markedly - tell us how you get on.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Yantha Smyth — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:43:30 GMT

I am also looking at options for a loupe/light. I want it for dentistry and also soft tissue surgery. Looks like 2.5x is the most suitable magnification but not clear on what working distance would be recommended. The costs are scary!- also self-funding.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:17:02 GMT

All good recommendations.

I'd just add that, while not disputing Mr. Partridge's comments, 2.5x is the most magnification you want for general purposes, especially if these are your first loupes. Higher magnifications will frustrate you as you try to get used to the restricted area of vision and the restricted depth of focus.

If you boggle at the prices of some of these recommendations, see what Opticlar have to offer – a very fair compromise.

Get something that's supported with a band over your head. If you take the cheaper option of something that just fits on like spectacles, you are going to suffer severe pain in the bridge of the nose after a while! He speaks from bitter experience.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Rob Davis — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:21:43 GMT

I use Heine 2.5x loupes and love them. The LED light is brilliant and I use if for ALL ops, not just dentistry (fantastic for seeing deep into the abdomen etc). As others have said, you get what you pay for so spend as much as you can afford and definitely try them before buying. Once you get used to using them you will feel naked without!

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Bob Partridge — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 16:55:14 GMT

Actually - I think I would go so far as to say that without magnification and illumination you probably should not be doing feline dentistry.....

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Bob Partridge — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 16:52:29 GMT

The Bryant loupes look v smart.

I have had 3 loupes from ExamVision (sold in UK by www.evident.co.uk 0808 1000 888 - also run by a dentist) - excellent customer service, qualified team to ensure fitting. Prescription lenses - becoming an old fart I actually have bifocal lenses in my loupes as well.

The latest pair of loupes allow me to vary magnification 3.6x, 4.5x, 5.5x, 6.4x from the one loupe. They also allow me to have a video camera attached to record every op - or display to a screen.

Do ensure that you have a good light with a long lasting battery - or an easy change system as the Bryant one appears to be. iM3 also have a nice bit of kit for this.

You will get what you pay for & vice versa. My original loupes were Keeler & I purchased them on qualifying in 1984 and used them for decades. My first ExamVision (3.5 TTL) are 20 years old & still in use.

Remember to offset the purchase as "necessary equipment" and put against your income tax (if it is not going through your business)

Bob

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Simon Vogel — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 23:43:38 GMT

Connor (Bryant) is UK based, and a qualified Dentist. His desire for usable, wearable, practical loupes lead him to develop these, as a student, and continue onwards.

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Simon Vogel — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 23:35:38 GMT

I have to recommend Bryant Dental - lightweight 3D scanned fit, and supportive

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Norman Johnston — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 20:41:24 GMT

My advice is only buy from a company that has good local customer service. Trying out a number of types is viral but having someone fit them and if necessary adjust over time is so important. I bought a pair from Designs for Vision at a conference in the USA. The rep fitted them and all seemed well. A month later they arrived and I could not work with them. They had a rep based around 100 miles away who was reluctant to help much because I didn’t buy them in the uk. Eventually I got my money back but it could have been an expensive mistake

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Martin Hamilton — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 19:47:37 GMT

I use 2.5x through the lens loupes from Eclipse - the loupes themselves are great, however the customer service is awful and it took them 4 months to actually build and ship my loupes. Like Alex's pair from Orascoptic, they have my prescription milled into the loupes which makes things a little easier. They're based in New York so may take an additional week or so for shipping

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Alexander Geddes — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 19:38:33 GMT

I use orascoptic who I believe supply in the UK even though they’re based here in Wisconsin. I really like my pair and if you’re a glasses wearer they are one of the few who mill the prescription into loupe and frame. I think as long as you ensure you’re measured properly by the rep many companies will provide a great product. Expense will reflect quality :) and agreed it’s worth it!

RE: Reccomendations for dental light source/loupe?

Rachel Perry — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 19:14:58 GMT

I wear a pair of 2.5x through-the-lens SurgiTel loupes with LED light integrated. I can't imagine working without them, and worth every penny. These are American, and I'm not sure if they currently have a distributor in the UK. Perioptix is another good brand, and I believe IM3 are currently supplying these. It's worth trying on a pair. When I bought mine at a US conference, I tried several on from different distributors, and assessed how well I could read writing on paper. It was scary how some cheaper versions distorted a line of text. So beware about spending too little on a set.

Go with the best you can afford, preferably have your own so no-one else uses or abuses them. Strongly recommend integral LED light.

They can initially feel funny to wear, but stick with it for the first day, then you won't look back.