A Case of High Quality and Brighter, Healthier Smiles

According to Neil Jessop, Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Ultradent, the leading reason clinicians choose the VALO family of curing lights is simple: quality.

“A lot of LED curing lights feel about as durable as a TV remote, and while a remote can survive a lot of years in a living room, it’s not being wiped down with cleaners or handled like this instrument,” he said. “That’s why our fi rst goal when making VALO was to start with an aerospace- grade aluminum. We also built its patent-protected, unibody construction considering a common law in engineering, which says that by reducing the number of parts a product has, you reduce the failure modes.”

It’s a philosophy that’s been proven in practice for DPS readers, including James Merrett, DDS, who has been using the VALO X LED curing light since evaluating it for DPS in 2023. “The light has held up great even after rolling off our counter a few different times,” he said. “We like this light because it is durable and consistent with our cure outcomes. We also like the thickness of the light, as it is not too bulky or big for the posterior areas of the mouth.”

While packed with features like a 12.5-mm lens aperture, long-lasting custom LEDs, optimized power output, and an accelerometer function, which allows users to cycle between curing and diagnostic modes by waving the wand, the VALO X remains easy to use.

“We find we have no problem with the large curing area and thinner width, which help us to cure our posterior restorations,” Dr. Merrett added. “If a colleague were to ask me my suggestion for a curing light, I definitely would suggest the VALO X.”

Gemini EVO: Patient Comfort Included

Another Ultradent tool built with quality plus all the bells and whistles is the Gemini EVO laser, which comes standard with adapters that let users start providing photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) right away. PBMT can help manage pain during a procedure by using light energy to improve circulation, oxygenation, and enzyme activity.

An easy-to-use PBMT treatment calculator on the laser dashboard helps clinicians determine the proper treatment time. Just select the appropriate tip for the treatment area, select the treatment time, and Gemini EVO does the rest:

• 3-mm PBM is highly targeted for small treatment areas such as around the lips

• 7-mm PBM is ideal for localized spot treatment such as aphthous and herpetic ulcers

• 25-mm PBM is designed for efficient treatment of large spots such as the area around the TMJ

Enamelast: Fluoride for Everyone

Available in unit doses, syringe, and unit-dose cups, Enamelast fluoride varnish comes in 8 great-tasting flavors—Orange Cream, Cool Mint, Bubble Gum, Walterberry, Caramel, Vanilla, Raspberry, and Flavor-Free—and offers easy application, high retention and fluoride uptake, and a smooth appearance.

Hygienist Stacey Abatessa noted that the flavor-free option is a welcome addition to the fold.

“There is definitely a need for a flavor- free varnish, as this is one of the top com-plaints I receive from patients regarding fluoride varnish treatments,” Abatessa said, adding that flavorless Enamelast is most helpful with kids and yields higher acceptance rates than the previ-ous varnish she used. “What I like about Flavor-Free Enamelast is the pleasant taste. It has a very subtly sweet but not overpowering fl avor that patients com-mented on in a positive way.”

A patented adhesion-promoting agent built into the varnish enhances retention and allows for higher fl uoride release and uptake, which is proven by third-party lab testing. Plus, Enamelast’s nearly invisible appearance encourages patients to leave the varnish on their teeth longer, driving maximum fl uoride ion delivery