loops

[dc-10]

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I see all the 3rd year dental students wearing these magnifying glasses called "loops". I was thinking about getting a pair. Are they worth it (they're like $800 i've heard)? Do you need them at all during your second year? Where could I get a pair?

 

[ewsmith1]

Hell yes they are worth it....get them now and do not wait.

www.designsforvision.com

 

[Yah-E]

$675.00 plus shipping

Orascoptics
2.5 X
Through-The-Lens (TTL)

It's helping me tons in restorative courses!!

BUY, BUY, BUY!!!

 

[Kung Foo]

Mine are the same as Yah-E's: 2.5x TTL from SurgiTel (www.surgitel.com)

They were $645 with $10 shipping, because they gave our school a group discount, which most of the optics companies are willing to do. We've had different companies come in and give demos - sometimes they'll even come on a lab day so you can try them out "in action." Some people claim they're not useful, but as someone who wears really strong glasses (lol - meaning i have vision issues anyway) i think they're SO HELPFUL for seeing detail (note: they only make things bigger, and don't take the place of your glasses/contacts unless you get prescription safety glasses behind them)

In addition to improving the amount of detail you see, they also increase your workign distance SO you're not craning your neck as much (ouch!)... as least once you figure out the whole indirect vision and chair position thing.

I think $655 is not too much to pay in order to avoid becoming a blind, disabled (think chronic neck/back pain) dentist at 40 =)

Besides, once you're in the clinic, your patients will obviously think you're a pro b/c you've got the super cool technical looking glasses

If you call or email the optics companies, i'm sure they'll be more than helpful, and would probably come to your school to do a demo. Else, hand the project off to your student government and emphasize "group discount"

 

[organic]

Hi
I am also thinking about getting a pair of loupes, I agree with you guys that eventually, it is better for the eyes and the neck..

I have a few questions regarding to the loupes. I was more aiming at X2.5 or X3.5. But X3.5 offers a viewfield of only 1.7 ''
which I think is a little bit too narrow, the X2.5 offers a field of 2.5"
since I have no previous experience of wearing these loupes, I was wondering if it makes a great difference between X2.5 and X3.5. I will use them mostly for class II preparation and crown/ onlay preparation, Could anyone share their experiences of using these loupes? any advantages and drawbacks? any recommended brand?
lastly, is there anyone here who uses Eagle loupes? how are they?

any input would be very helpful
thanks a lot

 

[AzianCwRU]

i have Orascoptics 2.5X flip-up... love them and can't imagine working without them... but i'm seriously thinking about getting a higher mag like 3.5X 😀

 

[cusp of carabelli]

just did my taxes today and am gonna use it all for a pair of oroscopics...😀 😎

 

[ddstothecor]

I spoke with my father who is a dentist, and he recommended that I just go to a fishing supply store to buy a pair of magnifiers rather than spending close to $700. He said many of his colleagues use these budget flip-downs instead, and so did he until he decided to become sophisticated. What opinions does anyone else have on this matter?
BTW, the lenses at the fishery are much cheaper $20-50..cn

 

[Kung Foo]

ddstothecor (e?):

a few people in my class use the flip down magnifiers in the pre-clinic lab - the techs in the fixed and removable labs use them too. You're entirely correct that they're SO MUCH cheaper, however there's no way you can really use then when you're with a patient... so i would imagine it gets a little sticky when you're used to seeing a cavity prep at ~2.5 mag. and suddenly have to delve into a dark wet oral cavity and can only rely on normal vision. Anyway, personally, i thought (1) better to use any advantage i can get now to do better quality work (bad enough when you don't know what you're doing in lab - worse when you can't see it well either) (2) student discount - loupes are cheaper now than they will be when i'm in practice (which seems 10,000 years away) and I'll have that many years additional use from them. (3) they're lighter and more professional looking than the magnifier headgear, and are aligned specially to help with ideal chair positioning -- (and they've helped out with my back hurting after lab a lot!) That said, it's really a matter of personal preference. I've assisted upperclassmen in the clinics who said (a.) need loupes (esp. for endo, etc) or (b) they don't help

Compared with the cost of your dental education, the cost is negligable, however i've also decided to stop buying groceries (lol - j/k) to pay for them ...

good luck!

 

[Big_Poppa DDS]

i bought my loupes when I was a freshman, I hate them - never could get used to them always ended up looking through the normal lense instead of the magnification - other people can't work without them

 

[ddstothecor]

Kung Foo and Big_Poppa DDS,
thanks for your comments. It looks like this may be a matter of personal preference. I'm sure school will be challenging enough that I will use any advantage that I feel is neccessary.
It sounds like there are good deals on loops for students, though. I still may choose the option to purchase loops!😉