The Best Dentistry Professional Visual Acuity Measured under Simulated Clinical Conditions Provides Keplerian Magnification Loupe: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Visual acuity plays an important role in dentists' vision in their daily clinical routine. This study aimed to determine dental students' visual acuity without optical aids and when using magnification devices in simulated clinical conditions. The participants were forty-six students at the School of Dental Medicine with a visual acuity of 1.0 in decimal values or 100% in percentage. The central visual acuity was tested using a miniature Snellen eye chart placed in the molar cavity of a dental phantom, in simulated clinical conditions under five different settings (natural visual acuity, by applying head magnifying glasses x1,5 and binocular magnifying devices using Galileo's x2,5/350 mm, Keplerx3,3/450 mm and Keplerx4,5/350 mm optical system). The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test shows that the distribution of measurements of the visual acuity undertaken by the application of magnifying devices (VNL, VGA2,5, VKP3,3, VKP4,5) contained higher values of visual acuity than those received by the use of natural vision (VSC) (p < 0.001 for the comparison to the VNL, VGA2,5, VKP3,3 and VKP4,5 groups). The highest and statistically most significant increase in visual acuity is achieved using the Keplerian telescope x4.5/350 mm. The application of magnifying devices provided dentistry professionals with better visual acuity, improving detail detection in an oral cavity during dental procedures by magnifying the oral structure. The use of magnification devices means much more precise work, decreases the operating time, improves posture and reduces muscle pain in the shoulder during dental treatment.

The Effect of Transcoutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Control during Dental Procedure in Children 9-14 Years Old.

INTRODUCTION: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological method widely used by medical specialists to manage acute and chronic pain in different circumstances. It can be used to manage pain during many dental procedures, as well as pain due to various conditions affecting the maxillofacial region. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the clinical research evidence for the analgetic application of TENS in pediatric patients. The hypothesis was that TENS device will achieve analgetic effect on teeth during dental procedure. METHODS: This study included 125 patients treated at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb clinic during two-year period. After diagnosis of caries and need for restorative treatment, patients were randomly selected in three groups. Group 1 received local anesthesia, group 2 had no anesthesia and group 3 used TENS device. Level of pain was measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Research was conducted by one therapist that was calibrated. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant difference between TENS group and group without anesthesia(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: TENS device is not as efficient in achieving analgetic impact during dental procedure as local anesthesia.

Measuring tooth vibrations induced during cavity preparation with time-averaged holography and its influence on near vision acuity in dentists.

The aim of this study was to quantify vibrations and their influence on visual acuity. The study consisted of two parts, laboratory and clinical. Time-averaged holographic interferometry (TAHI) method was used in laboratory for measuring the amplitude of tooth vibrations induced by dental handpiece. The amplitudes of tooth vibrations were measured for the three diameters and three speeds. The larger diameter coupled with increasing speed resulted in greater vibration amplitudes, whereby a maximum amplitude of less than one micrometer was detected. For quantifying the natural visual acuity for the corresponding tooth vibrations, we have used the clinical condition approach with miniaturized Snellen optotype as an assessing tool. Central visual acuity did not display variance in visual acuity at rest or under load. Results indicate that the vibrations induced during cavity preparation are not sufficient to negatively affect visual acuity of dentists.

Measuring the Influence of Galilean Loupe System on Near Visual Acuity of Dentists under Simulated Clinical Conditions.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare near visual acuity of dentists without optical aids (VSC) with near visual acuity of those using the Galilean telescope system (VGA2) with magnification of x 2.5, and the distance of 350 mm in simulated clinical conditions. METHODS: The study included 46 dentists (visual acuity 1.0 without correction). A visual acuity testing was carried out using a miniaturized Snellen visual acuity chart which was placed in the cavity of molar teeth mounted in a phantom head in simulated clinical conditions. Near visual acuity for the vicinity was examined: 1) without correction at a distance of 300-400 mm (VSC); 2) with Galilean loupes with magnification of x2.5, focal length of 350mm. RESULTS: The distributions of near visual acuity recorded using VSC and VGA2, 5 systems were compared by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The results obtained by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test pointed to a statistically significant difference in the distribution of recorded visual acuity between the VSC and VGA2 optical systems (W = - 403.5; p <0.001). CONCLUSION: If using the VGA2, 5 systems, higher values of the near visual acuity were recorded and subsequently compared to near visual acuity without magnifying aids (VSC).