Why are bright dental lights important for school-based dental sealant programs?
Bright dental lights are important for
school-based dental sealant programs, because the lighting in the room where
the program is located may be poor. The intensity of dental lights can be
assessed by comparing the foot candles of light they produce (a unit of measure
of the intensity of light falling on a surface). Operator acceptance, cost,
weight, adjustability, ease of bulb replacement, and cost of bulbs are also
important considerations. The heat generated from the light is a consideration
as well, since school-based dental sealant programs often are located in spaces
without air conditioning.
Three commonly used dental lights in school
based-dental sealant programs are halogen, fiber optic, and light-emitting
diode (LED).
Halogen lights provide a bright and even illumination,
are easily focused, and are inexpensive to replace compared to fiber optic and
LED dental lights. Halogen lights emit a lot of heat and need to be replaced
every 3–6 months. Care must be taken not to touch halogen bulbs, as they need
to heat evenly. Traces of oil left from fingerprints can cause uneven heating
and decrease bulb life.
Fiber optic lights also provide a bright
and even illumination. However, they are costly, and care must be taken when
transporting them, as they can be easily damaged. If the bundles in the light’s
arm are bent too far or mishandled, they can break, which reduces the intensity
of the light over time.
LED lights produce a true white light that
is up to 40 percent brighter than the light from halogen lamps. LED lights are
energy-efficient and produce no heat in the beam, which improves the comfort of
staff and students. LED lights are expensive to replace, but they have a 12- to
25-year life.
Portable dental lights are available in
multiple configurations. The three most common are lights that are mounted dental lights to a stand, headband, or on a dental loupe.
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