title: Effects of dental magnification lenses on indirect vision: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of magnification lenses on the indirect vision skills of dental hygiene students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study examined the accuracy and efficiency of dental hygiene students' indirect vision skills while  using traditional safety lenses and magnification lenses. The sample was comprised of 14 students in their final semester of a dental hygiene program. A crossover study approach was utilized, with each participant randomly assigned to a specific order of eyewear. The study included evaluation  of each participant taking part in 2 separate clinical sessions. During the first session, each participant completed a clinical exercise on a dental manikin marked with 15 dots throughout the oral cavity while wearing the randomly as signed eyewear, and then completed a similar exercise on  a differently marked dental manikin while wearing the randomly assigned eyewear. This procedure was repeated at a second clinical session, however, the dental manikin and eyewear pairings were reversed. Accuracy was measured on the number of correctly identified dots and efficiency was measured  by the time it took to identify the dots. Perceptions of the participants' use of magnification lenses and the participants' opinion of the use of magnification lenses in a dental hygiene curriculum were evaluated using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the mean of the efficiency  scores, students are more efficient at identifying indirect vision points with the use of magnification lenses (3 minutes, 36 seconds) than with traditional safety lenses (3 minutes, 56 seconds). Comparing the measurement of accuracy, students are more accurate at identifying indirect vision  points with traditional safety lenses (84%) as com pared to magnification lenses (79%). Overall, the students report ed an increased quality of dental hygiene treatment provided in the clinical setting and an improved clinical posture while treating patients with the use of magnification lenses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not produce statistically significant data to support the use of magnification lenses to enhance indirect vision skills among dental hygiene students, however, students perceived that their indirect vision skills were enhanced by the use of magnification lenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Specialties, Mayo Clinic, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hoerler
authors.forename: Bonnie G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Branson
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: High
authors.forename: Tanya Villalpando
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000592:standards; D004526:Efficiency; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008348:Manikins; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012649:Self Concept; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult