Why Do Dentists Use Concave Mirrors?

Dentists rely on concave mirrors to get a better view of teeth and other areas of the mouth. This is because a concave mirror forms a virtual, upright, and magnified image when the object is brought into focus. A dentist uses a convex mirror because it produces an enlarged or magnified image of an object when placed within the focus of a concave mirror.

Dentists

use a concave mirror to see an enlarged image of the teeth for examination. If an object is placed close to a concave mirror, it forms an upright, magnified image of the object.

Therefore, the dentist holds the mirror in such a way that the tooth is within its focus. The convex mirror will result in an upright virtual image but smaller than the real size. Reducing the size of the teeth will not help the dentist identify any dental issues.