Orascoptic Zeon Apollo

In addition to being a good light source, the headlight and accompanying battery pack, according to Orascoptic, are designed to be lightweight.

Light Output

According to the manufacturer, the Zeon Apollo headlight illuminates at an average of 3300 candles. When the 6 hygienists who participated in this evaluation were asked about the importance of light output when purchasing a headlight, 5 said it is very important and 1 said it is important. They were then asked to rate the Zeon Apollo on its light output (is the light too bright or not bright enough). Four evaluators rated it as excellent, 1 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as fair. The evaluator who rated the light output as fair said that the “diameter of the lighted surface seemed narrow and not as bright as others.” However, another evaluator said, “I find the light output to be perfect. Good illumination yet not offensive to the patient.”

Spotlight Quality

Orascoptic says that the Zeon Apollo spotlight is 2.5 inches in diameter, which illuminates the entire oral cavity. In addition, the spotlight is bright white and round. Other spotlights often include tints of orange or blue and may be square rather than round. When the evaluators were asked to rate the spotlight quality of the Zeon Apollo, 3 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator described the spotlight as “perfect.” Another evaluator said, “I was very pleased with the perfect white color of the spotlight.”

Comfort and Weight of Headlight and Battery Pack

The manufacturer describes both the headlight and battery pack as lightweight. The headlight, which Orascoptic says is the smallest on the market, weighs 0.6 oz. The battery pack weighs 7 oz. The evaluators where asked to rate the comfort and weight of both the headlight and battery pack. Three evaluators rated the headlight very good, 1 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator said, “My neck gets a bit tired from working so I did notice the weight toward the end of the day, but it was still very good and lightweight.” With regard to the comfort and weight of the battery pack, 2 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as good, and 2 rated it as fair. One evaluator said she experienced “no discomfort whatsoever.”

Overall Illumination of the Oral Cavity

The 2.5 inch diameter spotlight of the Zeon Apollo is intended to illuminate the entire oral cavity. When the evaluators were asked to rate the overall illumination of the light, 3 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator said of the illumination, “Perfect, round, white light, which I especially enjoyed when working on the maxillary posterior areas and the mandibular posterior lingual areas.”

Battery Run Time

The output of some LED lights diminishes as the battery runs down. However, according to Orascoptic, the battery in the Zeon Apollo remains consistent for its entire 7-hour run time. Four evaluators rated the Zeon Apollo battery run time as excellent and 2 rated it as very good. One evaluator said that the light “worked for my full day of 7 to 8 patients at an hour per patient.” Another evaluator said, “One battery charge goes the entire day without interruption.”

Overall Satisfaction

When asked if they would recommend the Zeon Apollo to their professional colleagues, 5 said definitely and 1 said she wasn’t sure. Five evaluators said they would definitely or probably purchase the light in the future. At the end of the evaluation, the hygienists who participated were asked to give their overall satisfaction rating for the Zeon Apollo. Two rated it as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator said, “The light has amazingly soft luminescence, yet it is not offensive to even my youngest patients, who are very sensitive to the standard overhead light. The Zeon Apollo lights a circular area in the mouth, which I find to be just perfect.”

The freedom of portability and the superior illumination of a headlight system have never been more affordable. Orascoptic’s latest portable headlight, the Zeon Apollo, combines comfort and performance at an economical price.

The Apollo spotlight is a full 2.5”, which is ideal for illuminating the entire oral cavity. It is bright, white, and round, just like the mouth. Weighing a mere 0.6 oz, the Apollo headlamp is the smallest and most lightweight on the market. Like most other portable systems, the Apollo battery pack can be worn on a belt clip, but it is the first system in the industry to include a convenient armband option as well.

An anti-curing filter comes standard with every system. The innovative filter can be completely removed from the headlamp, so there is no need to carry that extra weight when not working with composites. The Apollo illuminates at 3,300 foot candles and the lightweight battery pack runs for 7 hours and recharges in just 3 hours. Combine the Apollo with an Orascoptic high-definition loupe for maxiumum visual acuity and depth-of-field. —Monica Roy-Smith

The Zeon Apollo from Orascoptic combines comfort and performance at an economical price. While the actual spotlights on some LED systems are only 2" in diameter, the Apollo spot is a full 2.5"—ideal for illuminating the entire oral cavity. Like most other portable systems, the Apollo battery pack can be worn on a belt clip, but the Apollo is the first system in the industry to include a convenient armband option so there is less cable to get caught on chairs and doorknobs. Unlike some LED lights whose light output diminishes as the battery runs down, the Apollo output remains consistent for the full battery life.