What loupes are you using?

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What loupes are you using?

  • through the lens / attached to the lens

    Votes: 36 40.0%

  • flip-up

    Votes: 27 30.0%

  • not using any more; my eyes are better than loupes

    Votes: 1 1.1%

  • don't have one

    Votes: 17 18.9%

  • What's "loupes"?

    Votes: 9 10.0%
  • Total voters
    90
As a first year who hasn't gotten any yet and is currently looking to buy some, can you also include how much you paid? Thanks
 
I'd strongly recommend 2.5X and through-the-lens (for weight) Orascoptic or Surgitel makes no difference.

I'd also suggest waiting a semester or so until you actually begin operative. Loupes for waxing is pointless in the beginning at least. No beginner waxer is THAT good IMHO.

Mine cost around $750? with a student discount.
 
adamlc18 said:
As a first year who hasn't gotten any yet and is currently looking to buy some, can you also include how much you paid? Thanks
Click to expand...
I agree with DDSSlave's comments. Mine were $650 with student discount. I got them at the beginning of D1 even though I knew I wouldn't use them for a while, since I happened to have the money lying around.
 
I've got the Orascoptic newest model - Hi-Res flip ups (2.5x), though it cost me $735 with the student discount. If you want a (3.0x) which I don't think is necessary in dental school, it will cost you $1200.
 
Do you buy those using your loan or pay out of you pocket? Spending, say $750, is kinnda pricey :scared:
 
I've noticed no one has mentioned Designs for Vision. I use those and am very pleased. I have friends that are pleased with Orascoptic, Surgitel, and Zeiss, as well. It seems to just come down to preferences.
 
Would any of you D2?s recommend getting loupes for preps on dentoform teeth? I?d like to hold off as long as I can? What was your payment plan like?

Ryan
 
Zurik5 said:
Would any of you D2?s recommend getting loupes for preps on dentoform teeth? I?d like to hold off as long as I can? What was your payment plan like?

Ryan
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You can use them for operative, but they're not necessary. On the other hand, they're not necessary at all, but they're pretty helpful. The payment plan is typically just letting you spread the cost out across three months; pretty wimpy if you ask me.
 
Operative is the main thing I use loupes for. The only things I don't use them for is oral surgery. And yes, I highly recommend using loupes in preclinic operative. If you learn to use them in the beginning (and it does take getting used to) you will be much more likely to use them in the clinic.
 
DDSSlave said:
Operative is the main thing I use loupes for. The only things I don't use them for is oral surgery. And yes, I highly recommend using loupes in preclinic operative. If you learn to use them in the beginning (and it does take getting used to) you will be much more likely to use them in the clinic.
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I couldn't have said it any better!

grtuck
 
I have orascoptics, 2.5 I think and through the lens. I love them, I have the new elliptical field ones which are nice because I can look over the lens and talk to my patient without having to tilt my chin down to see over the lens.

For me, as someone above said, I chose not to get the flip ups because the increased weight of them is a huge disadvantage IMO. I didn't get them until clinic but the transition for me was pretty easy.
 
SurgiTel Flip Ups. Use them everyday I have a handpiece in my hand.
 
As a D-1 (that is negative one), I was wondering why you need loupes if you guys are still D2s and not seeing patients? Why are they so damn expensive? From the image, it looks like they are attached to glasses. What happens if someone already has glasses (or contacts)? Thanks.
 
edkNARF said:
As a D-1 (that is negative one), I was wondering why you need loupes if you guys are still D2s and not seeing patients? Why are they so damn expensive? From the image, it looks like they are attached to glasses. What happens if someone already has glasses (or contacts)? Thanks.
Click to expand...

In some schools, you will be seeing patients in your second year, with some even starts as early as first year.

They are expensive for various reasons, because they basically incorporate microscopes in the glasses and microscopes are expensive. Also, each loupes are custom made to your own specifications and that take time and money. Also for the company to made a profit knowing that dentists (not dental students) would be able to afford it.

For 'through the lens' type, yes they are attached to the glasses, however you can still see through the area where the microscope is not attached to the glasses, and the glasses can be prescription glasses. This type may reduce your normal viewing range, so companies like Orascoptic are developing loupes with elliptical microscopes to increase the normal viewing range. Another choice is to buy flip-ups which allows you to flip the microscope out of the way when you don't need it.
 
The Musketeer said:
In some schools, you will be seeing patients in your second year, with some even starts as early as first year.

They are expensive for various reasons, because they basically incorporate microscopes in the glasses and microscopes are expensive. Also, each loupes are custom made to your own specifications and that take time and money. Also for the company to made a profit knowing that dentists (not dental students) would be able to afford it.

For 'through the lens' type, yes they are attached to the glasses, however you can still see through the area where the microscope is not attached to the glasses, and the glasses can be prescription glasses. This type may reduce your normal viewing range, so companies like Orascoptic are developing loupes with elliptical microscopes to increase the normal viewing range. Another choice is to buy flip-ups which allows you to flip the microscope out of the way when you don't need it.
Click to expand...
Just as a minor quibble, loupes are more along the lines of telescopes than microscopes. I only point this out because there *are* dental microscopes on the market, most commonly used for endo if my understanding is correct.
 
aphistis said:
Just as a minor quibble, loupes are more along the lines of telescopes than microscopes. I only point this out because there *are* dental microscopes on the market, most commonly used for endo if my understanding is correct.
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I must appologize for the misrepresentation. I just couldn't find the correct word at the time when I wrote the message.

Sorry, telescope is the a much better description of the loupes.

Also, to add a point about flip-ups, although they can flip up which will give you a complete normal viewing range, people have said that they are heavier than TTL.
 
edkNARF said:
As a D-1 (that is negative one), I was wondering why you need loupes if you guys are still D2s and not seeing patients? Why are they so damn expensive? From the image, it looks like they are attached to glasses. What happens if someone already has glasses (or contacts)? Thanks.
Click to expand...

We saw patients as a D1 and had our own family of patients that we provided comprehensive care for in fall of D2.
 
Not to get too off subject, but what were you allowed to do fall of 2nd yr? Just curious. We start operative and perio spring of 2nd yr and most everything else in the summer.

More on topic, one reason to buy them first yr is to get used to using them in operative in preclinic.
 
DDSSlave said:
Not to get too off subject, but what were you allowed to do fall of 2nd yr? Just curious. We start operative and perio spring of 2nd yr and most everything else in the summer.

More on topic, one reason to buy them first yr is to get used to using them in operative in preclinic.
Click to expand...

At Case, you will be starting to see patients for cleanings in the fall of second year.
 
DDSSlave said:
Not to get too off subject, but what were you allowed to do fall of 2nd yr? Just curious. We start operative and perio spring of 2nd yr and most everything else in the summer.
Click to expand...

These are the semesters we were able to start performing these procedures on patients in clinic (meaning we completed the class the prior semseter).


Summer Year 1: Cleanings/Recalls
Fall Year 2: Operative, SC/RP (own patient pool begins)
Spring Year 2: Fixed single units,
Summer Year 2: Fixed bridges, Full removable
Fall Year 3: Endo, Partials, and Oral Sx (exts) at the end of the semester
 
I'm gonna be buying loupes soon, probably Orascoptics. Does anyone have the new Orascoptic HiRes 2.7? Do you think they are worth the extra money (about 100$) over the 2.5?
Also, how do the elliptical lenses compare to the round?
Thanks
 
I have the hi-res, but really can't say if they are worth the money because I have nothing to compare them to. I figured for how much I was spending, what's another 100 bucks. What I like about the elliptical lenses is that you can look directly over them and talk with a patient or pick up an instrument without having to dip your head to look over the lense.
 
when you're looking through the scopes, does it matter if you're wearing your contacts or not? in other words, would it make no difference looking through the scopes with my contacts on, versus looking through the scopes without my contacts? either way it will be clear?
 
Yes, it matters. You'll have to buy two separate sets of loupes (for through-the-lens type) or two sets of frames (for flip-up type). One with prescription glasses, and one without.
 
why is this so?

if i look through a microscope without wearing my prescription glasses, and focus it... then take my glasses off and leave the microscope focus at the same setting, i still see clearly.



the big wand said:
Yes, it matters. You'll have to buy two separate sets of loupes (for through-the-lens type) or two sets of frames (for flip-up type). One with prescription glasses, and one without.
Click to expand...
 
Jone said:
why is this so?

if i look through a microscope without wearing my prescription glasses, and focus it... then take my glasses off and leave the microscope focus at the same setting, i still see clearly.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that the microscope is at a magnification setting higher than 2.5x. Your loupes will be at the 2.5x-3.5x range, which is vastly different from using a microscope.

When I used microscopes, 100x was the minimum magnification I ever used.
 
Did anyone try those Atwood Loupes?
LOUPES-1.JPG
 
Mine are Orascoptic, 2.5x, through the lens. I bought mainly on overall weight - these were lighter than others I tried.
 
Mine are 2.5 X Surgitel. Nice loupes. I have been very happy with them. They are about 2 years old no problems.
 
Darksunshine said:
Mine are 2.5 X Surgitel. Nice loupes. I have been very happy with them. They are about 2 years old no problems.
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2 questions. Why did you go with the Surgitels when they only have a year (maybe 2) warranty on them? Also, why have you had loupes for 2 years when you havent even started dental school yet?
 
anyone have Designs for vision?
 
Floss said:
anyone have Designs for vision?
Click to expand...

I haven?t bought loupes yet, but the Design for Vision rep that came to our school seemed very caddy and almost childish during her presentation. The entire hour that she spoke to our class, she bad mouthed the other companies, and complained about her job. They looked like good loupes, but following her presentation, you couldn?t pay me enough to buy their product, just something to consider, I?m sure they?re very good otherwise.
 
Floss said:
anyone have Designs for vision?
Click to expand...
I test-drove some DFV's alongside my Surgitels, and wasn't all that impressed. In addition to being even uglier than necessary, I thought they were pretty heavy. Also, their pretty wooden box only had this single, tiny little flip latch holding it closed. My Surgitels have a plastic case with a solid clamp keeping it from flying open if I drop it. I didn't notice anything about the DFV's to make them worth the extra $150 they would've cost me.
 
adamlc18 said:
2 questions. Why did you go with the Surgitels when they only have a year (maybe 2) warranty on them? Also, why have you had loupes for 2 years when you havent even started dental school yet?
Click to expand...

When I bought mine they had a 3 year warranty. Show special for hygienists.
And that should answer your 2nd question. I am a hygienist going on 6 years. Hygienist should be using loupes. You really don't realize what you are missing untill you get a pair. I am so glad I got mine. I have better posture and I can "SEE" much better.
 
I am just curious. I am thinking about surgitel flip up. Is there any significant difference between a 2.5x and a 3.0x magnification? Another question, for those of you who are using flip up, will the flip up portion tend to move around a lot or fix in place tightly?

Just a side note, the loupes people came to show our class their product. I probably got too excited or too late on friday that i accidentally dropped the surgitel loupe on the ground. It probably got scratched, but the lens didnt break.
 
ecdoesit said:
I am just curious. I am thinking about surgitel flip up. Is there any significant difference between a 2.5x and a 3.0x magnification? Another question, for those of you who are using flip up, will the flip up portion tend to move around a lot or fix in place tightly?
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a huge difference, a $500 difference!

If you are comparing the magification, 2.5x will allow you to see the tooth that you are doing plus adjacent teeth on each side, whereas 3.0x, you will have higher mag that gives you a field of view of just the tooth you are working on.

As for flip up, they usually stay in place pretty tight, and if you think they are starting to loosen up you can tighten back the screws on the hinge. (Screwdriver is included in the kit)
 
Getting the Zeiss 3.3x Prisms on monday. Didnt feel much different from normal sight -> 2.5x Gali lenses, The 3.3x had just the right amount of mag, great crisp field of view, no chromatic abberations on the edges because of the prism system. Surgitel, Orascoptic have comprable systems too, but the package of frames, weight of the telescopes, price and comfort has me choosing Zeiss. Mine are flipups, Zeiss doesnt sell TTL. Only problem I see with TTL is that they are custom made for you and you only. So if you plan to sell your loupes to upgrade to another, might be a little difficult.

Are loupes required? Well... depends how comfortable you want to be while you do your work and what your situation is. Getting used to them now in Dschool makes sense.

If your tall, (Im 6'5") I would strongly recommend you try out loupes. My upper back aches after every practical because im hunched over trying to get the job done in the time given. Im in Temple D2, we have 2 practicals every friday doing MC crown preps and provisionals. They help!!
 
ecdoesit said:
I am just curious. I am thinking about surgitel flip up. Is there any significant difference between a 2.5x and a 3.0x magnification? Another question, for those of you who are using flip up, will the flip up portion tend to move around a lot or fix in place tightly?

Just a side note, the loupes people came to show our class their product. I probably got too excited or too late on friday that i accidentally dropped the surgitel loupe on the ground. It probably got scratched, but the lens didnt break.
Click to expand...


My surgitels don't flop around and stay securely in place. I like the 2.5X being a hygienist I want to see more than one tooth. But I think I when I get into dental school and coming from a dentists perspective you might prefer the 3.0X or higher because of the narrower focus on just the work area (tooth specific whereas hygienist move around the mouth more, even in SRP.
I know an endodontist who has a 3.5X and he likes those, but I think it is all what you feel comfortable with and how much you feel the weight of the loupes are pulling down on your face, and what you like to see in your field of view.
 
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