2. Its four most important functions are to enable dentists to obtain indirect vision, obtain indirect illumination, stretch and contract soft tissues, and conduct fluoroscopy.
3. Indirect vision is needed in some parts of the mouth that are difficult or impossible to see directly, which is the most common in lingual examination of maxillary anterior teeth. It is also easier to see other areas of the mouth with an oral mirror, which can be used to observe even if the dentist's examination posture is incorrect. If there is no oral mirror, dentists will often twist their necks and shoulders to get a good view, thus aggravating occupational diseases such as cervical spondylosis and scapulohumeral periarthritis.