The Role of Magnification in Endodontics

. Until recently, endodontic therapy was performed using tactile sensitivity, and the only way to see inside the root canal system was to take a radiograph. Performing endodontic therapy entailed ‘‘working blind,’’ that is, most of the effort was taken using only tactile skills with minimum visual information available. Before the introduction of magnification devices the presence of a problem (a ledge, a perforation, a blockage, a broken instrument) was only ‘‘felt,’’ and the clinical management of the problem was never predictable and depended on happenstance. With the recent advances of magnification devices with increased magnification and illumination there is improved technical accuracy and performance. It also allows the dentist to sit in an upright, neutral, and balanced posture, and has proven to be of great value in aiding documentation. This article highlights the role of magnification, types of magnification devices and their clinical application in endodontics.