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Do dental lamps produce any significant amout of UV radiation? They seem to be brighter and of different wavelength than normal white light. Just curious. Thanks
UV from dental lamps?
- Thread starter dc-10
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I am assuming that you mean the curing lights for composites and NO they do not emit UV light. It is basically just a very concentrated light. The other two types of curing lights are the PAC light (plasma arc) and LED (light emitting diode), but neither are UV. So put away your sunscreen!
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Actually, I meant the big over head lamp that's attached to the operatory chair.
Go here for a picture. http://www.pemed.com/dental/adecchr/adecch12.jpg
The reason that I ask is because I'm on some antibiotics that say "avoid exposure to sunlight or UV lamps".
Go here for a picture. http://www.pemed.com/dental/adecchr/adecch12.jpg
The reason that I ask is because I'm on some antibiotics that say "avoid exposure to sunlight or UV lamps".
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No, the big light above your head doesn't emit UV light. BUT, the white composite (plasitc + glass) that dentists use needs a signifcant amount of energy to harden. Regular light can provide this energy but it will take too long, thats why dentists use a tool (looks like an electric drill) that does emit UV light upon the tooth to harden the composite very quickly. this is why you have to look away when this part of the procedure is being done.
Comet.
Comet.
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Comet (and dc-10),
Although dentists did at one time use a UV light (called NUVA), now dentists use a blue light cure system that falls around 480 nm which is in the visible (400-700nm), not ultraviolet, range. The blue light systems have a much better depth of cure for composites versus the UV light which took about 60 seconds per one mm of composite in order to cure.
Bostondmd
Although dentists did at one time use a UV light (called NUVA), now dentists use a blue light cure system that falls around 480 nm which is in the visible (400-700nm), not ultraviolet, range. The blue light systems have a much better depth of cure for composites versus the UV light which took about 60 seconds per one mm of composite in order to cure.
Bostondmd
