Can you all weigh-in on this: it is best that a dental hygienist or a periodontist wear loupes when performing a deep maintenance cleaning. yes or no?

Depends..: ... On their eyesight and how comfortable they feel treating you without them. You have posted many questions on healthtap, asking the panel to critique most aspects of your dental care, down to how an exam should be performed. We are not treating you... A local dentist is going to. Find one that you are comfortable with and trust, and leave your dental health in their hands.. . All the best.

Either way is fine: When performing a deep cleaning, a great deal of the cleaning is done under the gum tissue. Most of this type of cleaning is done by feel since a large portion is not in a direct sight line. Therefore, i see no huge benefit from using loupes.

Periodontal health: In my opinion yes. I have been practicing for almost 20 years, and during that time my eyesight although still good, has not improved. Having worn loops for ten years, i wonder how i did my job before them. There is just no way to be as accurate when looking for tarter deposits (calculus) on teeth, especialy on the root surfaces.

And the answer is...: I once had a master carpenter renovate my office. With his basic old worn saw, a pencil and a ruler, he did a better, faster more accurate job than many young whippersnappers with all their fancy tools. Of course seeing better (if necessary) can't hurt. Knowledge, experience, diligence, technique are all important for the dentist. Trust, cooperation, patience, respect make you a better patient.