Many variables affect the final outcome of a restoration—be it technical difficulty, the quality of the preparation, the chosen composite resin used, etc. However, the impact of the success and longevity of a restoration’s cure is often ignored. Achieving a predictable, high-quality cure every time is critical to providing patients with the best care possible.
Proximity (of the light) to the restoration, type of light being emitted, along with beam collimation and uniformity all influence the quality of any cure.
Proximity to Restoration
VALO accessibility
Better access to the restoration with the curing light ensures the delivery of the maximum amount of power (emitted light) to the dental material. Therefore, a curing light that allows for perpendicular positioning to any curing site, including posterior teeth, is paramount to the quality of the procedure. While many of the curing lights available on the market feature, at best, a 60° angle at the curing head, VALO™ Grand curing light’s slim head and low profile design allow the clinician to easily access hard-to-reach areas, even in smaller mouths.
Type of Light Emitted
VALO LEDs
Studies have shown, again and again, the importance of a curing light that features a wide spectrum of wavelengths, enabling it to polymerize all dental materials. However, most existing devices on the market don’t offer multiple LED wavelengths nor achieve uniform irradiation with the LEDS offered. Each model of VALO curing lights feature four highly efficient LEDs that provide uniform dispersion of energy to the restoration, at three different wavelengths of light to ensure complete polymerization, every time.
Beam Collimation and Uniformity
VALO curing light collimation
Finding a high-energy light that reaches into all aspects of the restoration is critical to predictably producing high-quality results. One of the critical aspects that influence this outcome includes the curing light’s beam collimation and uniformity.
Dr. Fischer says, “The quality of a restoration is totally dependent on how adequately that restoration and its bonding agent are polymerized. The power output and size of footprint varies immensely among the curing lights available in the dental market today. VALO’s lens is designed to create a beam that is close to parallel to the preparation, while still emitting enough light to the curing material on the axial walls of the preparation.” This allows VALO to deliver a complete and uniform cure to any restoration.
The power, concentration of light, and its collimated, uniform energy output also allow it to cure dental materials completely, even at a distance. Dr. John Kanca of Middlebury, Connecticut, says, “VALO’s ability to produce the greatest amount of energy at distances up to 10mm from the tooth is just amazing. I have been using this light for some time and would not want to be without it.”
To learn more about VALO curing lights, please visit www.ultradent.com.