Magnification is making big waves in dentistry. Over 25 years ago, dental microscopy was still an emerging technology, primarily associated with assisting endodontic procedures such as root canals. Today, more and more general practitioners are “seeing” the benefits of a dental microscope in their practice, both for clinical and ergonomic purposes as well as significant visual enhancements for restorative cases and other detailed procedures.

In the field of dentistry, vision is everything. Obviously, you cannot treat what you cannot see. Your ability to visualize the fine details of your patients’ anatomy is definitely improved by the use of a microscope during clinical procedures. However, most dentists only think of magnification when it comes to the integration of microscopy into their practice. The improved illumination a dental microscope provides can be just as important. 

As a dental professional, you want the very best tools and equipment so you can provide the best patient care possible. Chances are, you’re familiar with many types of dental technologies that have been developed over the last few decades, designed specifically to make your work more effective and efficient. 

When dentists and dental specialists speak with us about investing in a dental microscope for their practice, the conversation invariably turns to cost. After all, you want your purchase to be the best value for your money. And, it’s important that you’re getting all of the details regarding included features, warranty, and accessories in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison of the different brands and models available. 

Dentistry has seen many innovations over the years, from the introduction of film radiography to today’s 3D digital imaging technologies. In the last couple of decades, magnification has grown in popularity among dental and specialty practices, allowing clinicians improved visualization compared to the naked eye.

As a dental professional, you are probably somewhat familiar with dental microscopes – after all, this technology has been around for several decades. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists was an early advocate for microscopy in dentistry back in 1998, when we were starting to build our first generation microscopes.

More periodontists are realizing the visual enhancement and ergonomic benefits of using a dental operating microscope for Periodontal Microsurgery. Use of a microscope and microsurgical instrumentation (including instruments typically used for ophthalmic surgery) allows for surgical accuracy that is unparalleled to what is possible with conventional techniques.

Since the early 1990s, training in microscopes has become an important component of endodontic education, and their use is now universally taught at the graduate level in all CODA-approved endodontic specialty programs.