Use of high-end microscopes for better dental diagnosis on the rise in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: As medical science keeps charting new courses, aided by improved technology, for more accurate diagnosis and treatment, an increasing number of dentists in the city are deploying microscopes for a better understanding of the oral cavity.
Out of the more than 7,000 dental clinics here, at least 25 are now actively using high-end dental microscopes that offer better visual accuracy in detecting hidden cavities or while performing root canal procedures.
Though the city got its first dental microscope a decade ago, it is only in the last five years that its adoption has increased and even now, only about 1% of endodontists use this high-end equipment, according to experts, who rue the limited attention entrusted to microscope dentistry in dental curriculum.
“Certain root canal procedures such as handling teeth with very narrow canals, complex anatomies and removal of broken instrument fragments are possible only while using a dental microscope,” said Dr Shylesh Shetty, micro-endodontist at Excellence Dental in Indiranagar.
In dentistry, there is far more than what the naked eye can see, said Dr Atavali Supritha of Smylife Dental on Sarjapur Main Road. “Dental operating microscope provides enhanced visualisation and minute detailing that increases the accuracy and success rate of dental treatment. It allows magnification up to 25 times,” she said. Nonetheless, very few dentists in India use these microscopes, which can cost up to Rs 15 lakh.
Dr Suresh Shenvi attributes this to limited attention to microscope dentistry in the dental curriculum. “Postgraduate students in the field of endodontics are not trained to use these. Also, it involves a steep learning curve,” said Dr Shenvi, a root canal specialist at KLE VK Institute of Dental Science, Belagavi.
Dr Siju Jacob, an endodontist, agrees. The training is not being offered in a lot of postgraduate colleges, said Dr Jacob, who has been using dental microscopes for a very long time for root canal treatment.
“Microscope dentistry should ideally be part of the curriculum. However, it is still not compulsory for postgraduates to work on it. As a result, only less than 1% of endodontists in the city could be using dental microscopes,” Dr Jacob explained.