The impact of loupes and microscopes on vision in endodontics. (19th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perrin, P.; Neuhaus, K. W.; Lussi, A.
• Is Part Of: International endontic journal. Volume 47:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 425
• Page End: 429
• Publication Date: 2013-08-19
• Subjects: Endodontics -- Periodicals; 617.6342
• DOI: 10.1111/iej.12165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-2885

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="iej12165-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="iej12165-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To report on an intraradicular visual test in a simulated clinical setting under different optical conditions.</p> </sec> <sec id="iej12165-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methodology</title> <p>Miniaturized visual tests with E‐optotypes (bar distance from 0.01 to 0.05 mm) were fixed inside the root canal system of an extracted maxillary molar at different locations: at the orifice, a depth of 5 mm and the apex. The tooth was mounted in a phantom head for a simulated clinical setting. Unaided vision was compared with Galilean loupes (2.5× magnification) with integrated light source and an operating microscope (6× magnification). The influence of the dentists' age within two groups was evaluated: <40 years (<italic>n</italic> = 9) and ≥40 years (<italic>n</italic> = 15).</p> </sec> <sec id="iej12165-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Some younger dentists were able to identify the E‐optotypes at the orifice, but otherwise, natural vision did not reveal any measurable result. With Galilean loupes, the younger dentists <40 years could see a 0.05 mm structure at the root canal orifice, in contrast to the older group ≥40 years. Only the microscope allowed the observation of structures inside the root canal, independent of age.</p> </sec> <sec id="iej12165-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Unaided vision and Galilean loupes with an integrated light source could not provide any measurable vision inside the root canal, but younger dentists <40 years could detect with Galilean loupes a canal orifice corresponding to the tip of the smallest endodontic instruments. Dentists over 40 years of age were dependent on the microscope to inspect the root canal system.</p> </sec> </abstract>