Your ability to see—and perform—depends greatly on your dental light. While a general dental operatory light should satisfy normal visual requirements, some procedures require greater visual clarity and illumination.
Three properties are essential for providing good dental lighting in the oral cavity:
- Dental light continuity – A “clean” and uniform light pattern, free of shadows.
- Color correction – For consistent color-matching and accurate soft tissue inspection, the dental light must show teeth surfaces, gingiva, and surrounding tissues in their natural colors. This helps you see better during treatment procedures, and assists with soft tissue inspection.
- Shadow reduction – This is essential for good oral cavity lighting and to reduce eyestrain and fatigue.
Here are some top questions to consider when buying a dental light:
Q. Can you position the light head so the light pattern is where you need it?
A. Make sure you can place the dental operatory light in a number of operating positions. For example, a third axis of rotation allows you to illuminate the oral cavity no matter how you turn or position the patient’s head.
Q. What is the dental operatory light pattern?
A. Look for a soft or feathered light edge, to reduce eyestrain and fatigue as you look away from the oral cavity. In addition, make sure the light pattern fully illuminates the oral cavity, yet is controlled enough not to extend up to the patient’s eyes.
Q. What intensities does the dental light feature?
A. Light intensities range from 15,000 lux (1394 fc) to 30,000 lux (2785 fc).
If you’d like to learn more about what questions to consider when buying dental equipment, request your complimentary “What to Look for When Buying Dental Equipment” guide.
