Darren Gardner DDS Provo Dentist
High Power Magnification
| No magnification Most commonly used magnification High power magnification |
Dr. Gardner performs dental procedures and exams using high power magnification. This aids in diagnostic accuracy and allows him to restore your teeth with a high level of precision for long lasting, quality restorations. The majority of dentists who use magnifying loupes are magnifying the tooth between two and three times, and cannot see the level of detail available through high power magnification. There are still some dentists that use no magnification at all. Dr. Gardner uses magnifying loupes that enlarge the tooth almost six times.
This extra magnification allows:
- Higher quality restorations. Dental restorations rely on a precise fit to give a good seal between the tooth and the restoration for longevity and protection from sensitivity. In addition, tooth colored restorations require that the tooth be uncontaminated by saliva before placing the restoration for a good seal. Dr. Gardner will see contamination that would otherwise go unnoticed and corrects it before placing the restoration. An inadequate seal leads to premature failure of restorations.
- Early detection and complete removal of dental caries (cavities). Caries may be missed without magnification which may lead to sensitivity, toothache, and root canal treatment.
- More precise and conservative preparations of the teeth. Without high power magnification, tooth structure may be removed unnecessarily to allow the dentist to see where he is working.
- Prevention of adjacent tooth damage. If the tooth next to the one being worked on gets nicked while drilling, the nicked surface is much more likely to develop decay. This means that the adjacent tooth will need a filling in the future that would not have been necessary otherwise. Without magnification, teeth can be nicked without the dentist even even being aware of it.
- Visualization of cracks or fractures that may be weakening the tooth; or causing pain and discomfort.
- Visualization of nerve exposures that may lead to pain or inadequate treatment if left undetected.
- Visualization of hidden canals when doing root canal therapy- ensuring that all nerve canals are treated. Missed canals are one of the most frequent causes of root canal therapy failure and is a more common occurrence without high power magnification.
