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Most dental professionals know the daily struggle: squinting through face shield glare, battling neck strain, and constantly adjusting loupes while trying to maintain proper infection control. This common challenge sparked an extraordinary collaboration between a Canadian periodontist and his engineer son, who together created the Ambience™ Face Shield. This shield is a perfect marriage of clinical understanding and scientific ingenuity.
The shield's remarkable visor employs nanotechnology principles to create a surface structure that reduces light reflection tenfold compared to conventional shields. This isn't merely a temporary coating that deteriorates with use but a fundamental material property that maintains exceptional clarity, scratch resistance and zero glare for over a year with proper maintenance. The physics at work here addresses one of dentistry's most persistent visual interference problems.
Traditional face shields often force clinicians into an uncomfortable choice between adequate protection and using essential magnification tools. The Ambience design accommodates these competing needs through thoughtful engineering, providing up to 8cm of clearance for loupes and lights. Its carefully calculated dimensions prevent the shield from contacting the chest or shoulders during downward gaze, allowing clinicians to maintain natural head positioning which is a critical factor in preventing musculoskeletal disorders that affect 70% of dental professionals.
What distinguishes this innovation from standard PPE is its biomechanical approach to weight distribution. The dual-strap system employs an adjustable top strap that bears the shield's modest 173g mass, complemented by a rotating back strap that accommodates various hairstyles while preventing temporal compression. The open-top architecture serves multiple physiological functions:
- Enhances airflow
- Reduces humidity
- Mitigates fogging
- Diminishes the claustrophobic sensation associated with enclosed PPE
Perhaps most compelling is the human story behind this scientific advancement. A father and son bridged two generations and different disciplines to solve a problem they both understood intimately. This Canadian family collaboration exemplifies how personal experience, parental wisdom, and technical knowledge can merge to create meaningful solutions. Their kitchen table discussions evolved into 58 prototypes and rigorous testing, eventually resulting in the final, perfected shield that is now used in prestigious Canadian institutions like UBC and McGill University.
The shield's maintenance is straightforward and aligns with evidence-based infection control protocols and requires only soap and water for cleaning yet remains fully compatible with standard clinical disinfectants like CaviWipes and Optim.
The relationship between PPE comfort and clinical performance is well-documented in evidence-based literature. When protective equipment causes physical strain or visual compromise, procedural precision inevitably suffers. The Ambience Shield addresses these factors through applied physics, ergonomic principles, and materials science.
In a profession where millimeters matter and posture affects career longevity, equipment that works in harmony with the clinician's body and optical needs represents a meaningful advancement in both practitioner wellbeing and patient care.
After all, shouldn't the tools designed to protect you also help you perform at your best?
Reviews:
- These shields provide full coverage and fits comfortably over my loops. I also have a clear field of vision..no fogging and they are easy to clean and adjust as needed. I would definitely recommend these visors.
– Shalem U. - Really comfortable, practical and easy to use. Absolutely clear, no glares. Thank you!
– Edith V. - After getting frustrated with basic face shields that did not accommodate my loupe light, I knew that there had to be a product out in the dental field to make the work day easier.. the answer is ambience! It is so comfortable and I am able to see with no problem! Awesome design 👏🏼 Thank you ambience!
- Danielle F - I love the shield. Feel protected during patient care and no glare at all. Sometimes I event forgot that I was wearing it. I wish that all dental offices would offer this shield for their team.
- Hien T. - The Ambience Loupe Shield is the clearest, most comfortable face shield I’ve ever seen, especially it is the only face shield to use with ERGO Loupes in the world.
- John L.
Beth Parkes, RDH, BSc
beth@curion.ca