Dental Loupes fogging up .. best anti fog spray ??

[coldburr]

Hey guys.. my loupes have been fogging up like crazy.. I've tried to twist the figure 8 on my mask on both sides and tried anti fog sprays and even rain x. Have had no luck with any of these solutions..

A lot of my classmates have been buying Fogstops .. and it seems to be working for them. Have any of you guys tried them? If so, is it worth the $19.99 to buy?

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[jeffity]

Hey guys.. my loupes have been fogging up like crazy.. I've tried to twist the figure 8 on my mask on both sides and tried anti fog sprays and even rain x. Have had no luck with any of these solutions..

A lot of my classmates have been buying Fogstops .. and it seems to be working for them. Have any of you guys tried them? If so, is it worth the $19.99 to buy?

I've never heard of fogstops. Interesting. There are several older threads about this, but for me, I just focus on breathing normally and it's not a problem. I did figure eights for a while and that worked, but it hurts the ears after a while. Sometimes I just make sure the mask is really conformed to my nose and curl just the very tips out a little bit. That makes a small vent, just like the figure eight method. A classmate gave me a sample mask to try that's supposed to help. It did. It just felt like a larger mask and had an extra piece of material along the top. I guess that helps trap moisture or something. I don't know. And I don't remember what they're called. So that's of no help to you. But I'm not interested in purchasing my own masks. I take what's free these days. Summary: what ultimately worked for me was better breathing.

Search some of the old threads for other ideas.

 

[edneum2]

one thing that changed my clinic life: tape. I take a piece of the autoclave tape and run it across the whole length of the top part of the mask, and then I add a couple smaller pieces in the middle the width of my nose. I can breath however I want and I get absolutely no fog.

 

[coldburr]

Thanks! But does this mean I have to do this every time I wear a new mask? How do you apply the tape? Against your skin? Do you find that this reduces your productivity? I ended up just ordering a pair of fogstops.. will let you guys know how it goes!

 

[coldburr]

I got them for 14.99 as opposed to 19.99 that they are usually.. looks like they are on sale

 

[edneum2]

Yes I do have to add tape each time I change masks and yes I tape it right to the skin. I am a perio resident and I'm usually doing only 1 or 2 surgeries in a clinic session so not having to change masks often, so for me it increases productivity bc I see so much better and not having to stop and defog

 

[DrJeff]

Step #1 - find a mask that properly fits your face!!! If you're using a "cup style" mask, then try one of the "flat" style masks and vice versa.

Step #2 - REALLY make sure that the moldable metal strip at the top of your mask (whatever style it may be) as properly adjusted to your face! Tape can help with this

Step #3 - practice, practice, practice!! With time and experience, your respiration rate (and likely pulse too 😉 ) will come down when you sit down to work on a patient and you're fogging issues will likely go away

Step #4 - think about if you're exhaling through your nose or mouth. I tended to find that if I exhaled through my mouth that the incidence of fogging was lower than if I exhaled through my nose

Myself personally, the cup style masks just don't fit my face. Never have, never likely will. So I use a flat style, ear loop mask, and I do still too this day spend 5 to 10 seconds everytime I put a new mask on really making sure that the metal strip is properly fit to the shape of my cheeks/nose.

The "best" anti fogging solution that I ever used, was the good 'ol diver's trick. Just take a little of your saliva and rub it on your lenses. Why exactly it works 😕 It just did for me, and I didn't have any of the sometimes "chemically" vapors that anti fog products can emit near my eyes