Surgical Operating Microscopy and Dentistry

The concept of microscopy is nearly more than centuries old, but it was only when advanced technologies were developed that practicality of the theory had been maximized. No wonder why the use of surgical operating microscopes in dentistry is now considered as one of the most effective and practical technological advancements ever made.

The Value
The importance of high magnification capacity in dentistry through surgical operating microscope has been well known for so many years. But as the years pass by, the significance of surgical operating microscope in dentistry has been recognized for more than 20 years in various fields of dentistry such as restorative dentistry, periodontics, and endodontics. The very core of using surgical operating microscopes in dentistry is its importance as documentation, diagnostic, and patient education tool.

Reverting back to history, it is a well known fact that the surgical operating microscope has already been a fundamental part of the medical field since its inception. Surgeries dependent on microscope cannot proceed because greater magnification of the affected area can only be seen clearly through a surgical operating microscope.
With this, technologists know that it is important to magnify certain object especially if it involves critical observation. And with greater demand for magnification and illumination, only the microscope is capable of providing such things. Consequently, experts in the filed of Dentistry know that with the growing demand for better quality image, the industry would need the services of a surgical operating microscope to supply the necessary illumination and magnification.
At this point, experts say that even the best vision may not suffice the required image quality. At some point, greater magnification and illumination can only be achieved through surgical operating microscope.

No wonder why many dentistry schools nowadays are collaborating with technology to enhance and improve the growing trend in advanced fields in dentistry. And even if many people say that the field of dentistry is more dawdling compared to the other fields in medicine, still, they are now incorporating such theory into practical use.
Hence, in the field of endodontics, area of dentistry focusing more on the morphology, diagnosis, and physiology of periradicular tissues and dental pulp, surgical operating microscope is commonly used because experts say that this device improves the visual perception through greater magnification and effective illumination.

At some point, people say that using magnification in the field of dentistry is a sign of weak spot because magnification was initially associated with aging, physical abnormality (concerning with sight), concern for patients who may feel claustrophobic, or simply the fact that they are now producing great results even without the use of surgical operating microscopes. However, as the years passed by and as technology continued to propagate the growing world of dentistry, more and more dentists are incorporating surgical operating microscope as their primary visual and documentation tool.
Generally, most dentists employ the services of low level magnification or loupes. And even if some restorative dentists may attest that they do not need high level magnification, still, the fact that they use magnification for restorative dentistry is a clear proof that utilization of surgical operating microscope cannot simply be underrated.
With this, the utilization and knowledge of operating surgical operating microscopes as applied in the field of dentistry is already a requirement for graduation in most aspiring dentists.

In the field of periodontics, or the study of alveolar bone, gums, periodontal ligaments, and cementum, or collectively known as periodontium (supporting structure of teeth), surgical operating microscopes have taken its importance by providing support and improvement on the field of assessment and evaluation. Through this device, periodontics are able to improve their activities with respect to more delicate handling of tissues, less patient discomfort, improvement in accuracy, more predictable functional and esthetic results, and improved healing times.

Summary
Given all these facts, the primary objective of using surgical operating microscopes in the field of dentistry is to facilitate the surgical operating procedure using the device with structures that will not obstruct the surgeon’s visual capacity while conducting such operation.
In using surgical operating microscopes in dentistry, the probabilities of clinical success will be relatively high. This is because magnification can objectively improve the visual capacity of the surgeon as well as refining the images seen and observed. Although some people may attest that control could be a problem due to the available angle, it is still important to consider the different microsurgical techniques that can be applied so as to simplify the procedure.
Indeed, one cannot simply say that the surgical operating microscope’s use in dentistry is just another development in the making. It is now considered as one of the most important section in dentistry and is considered to be very essential in various fields of dentistry.