Power Players in Daily Dentistry

When a company offers innovative products across nearly every category in dentistry, it’s no surprise when clinicians deem them their top choices in our annual Readers’ Choice survey. That’s certainly true for Ultradent. Here, we spotlight several of these reader-approved products—starting with a true practice workhorse: the curing light.

Achieving a thorough cure can spell the difference between restorative success and costly retreatment, so every dentist wants a tool that’s up to the task.

“Obviously, we want a curing light to be powerful and to cure as deeply as possible,” explained Dr. Mike Micallef, noting that curing uniformity, area, and speed are other important factors to consider. Fortunately, he’s found all that and more in Ultradent’s VALO X—a state-of-the-art LED curing light that combines consistently powerful performance with a host of innovative features designed to improve clinical comfort and convenience.

Power + Versatility

With a 12.5mm lens aperture, 12LED chip, and optimized power output, the VALO X delivers complete, uniform polymerization. It features Standard and Xtra Power modes, as well as Black Light and White Light Diagnostic Aid modes, which can be toggled through with a wave or the push of a button.

Dr. Micallef appreciates the VALO X’s Xtra Power mode for its 5-second cure time, and he leverages the Black Light Diagnostic Aid mode to dive deeper into patient diagnoses.

“I like using the black light to check the density of a fill, as it activates the fluorescent particles in different resins,” he shared. “This is especially helpful with new patients who have resin fillings that may look suspicious on an x-ray image. Pairing the white light with the TransLume lens is most helpful to visualize cracks.”

Cure with Confidence

The VALO X provides everything else Dr. Micallef expects out of a practice workhorse, too. “Everyone knows curing lights see a lot of everyday use and can ‘take a beating,’ but the VALO X's performance is always consistent,” he said.

In addition to “great” durability and battery life, he appreciates the light’s ergonomic design, which includes a well-balanced aluminum body and low-profile head to maximize comfort and access.

“As a dentist, anything we can do to improve ergonomics over a long career is advantageous,” he explained. “The VALO X’s shape and weight are very convenient—it never places strain on my fingers, hand, or wrist—and it’s easy to position, even in the smallest spaces.”

In Dr. Micallef’s experience, the VALO X ultimately exemplifies the level of quality its manufacturer is known for. “

The VALO X is like many other Ultradent products: simple, consistent, excellent,” he concluded. “I don't have to worry about its performance, curing power, or battery life—it’s a great curing light.”

Give Patients a ‘Boost’

Many patients today are seeking whiter, brighter smiles, and fortunately, Marisol King, DDS, has the perfect solution. Her Albuquerque, NM, dental office is always well-stocked with Opalescence Boost, her go-to product for in-office whitening.“

Opalescence Boost is a good fit for anyone aged 16 and up without restorations on their anterior teeth,” she shared. “I have many patients who want whiter teeth prior to events—weddings, cruises, anniversaries—and they want a little ‘boost’ of brightness in their smile before they go.”

An in-office power whitener, Opalescence Boost is a powerful 40% hydrogen peroxide formula that’s chemically activated just prior to application, ensuring every dose is fresh and effective. Easy to apply with a unique double-syringe, the whitening gel provides results with just 2 to 3 applications of 20 minutes each.

“Patients are always really happy after treatment,” added Dr. King, who often uses Opalescence Boost prior to completing anterior restorations. “What we hear most often is, ‘Wow! I can tell already how much whiter my teeth are!’ We see the largest difference in color change with our older patients.”

Quick Results Are Key

While many of Dr. King's patients love Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays—which provide results in as little as 5 days—she is happy to have a solution for those who crave a quicker fix.

“We have some patients who do not want to whiten at home, so they come in biyearly—sometimes more—to do their Boost treatment because they love the results so much," Dr. King said.

As Dr. Aliisha Choucair pointed out, “I've had patients purchase custom-made trays and whitening gel and never put them to use! Some people need an appointment to make sure they get whitening on their schedule. Opalescence Boost is great because the results are quick—in 1 appointment we typically do 3 rounds, and the patient goes home with noticeable results."

For patients with stubborn stain who want a dramatic result, Dr. Choucair finds it effective to combine Opalescence Boost with 2 weeks of at-home carbamide peroxide, followed by another in-office Boost treatment and at-home maintenance.

“It works well,” she shared. “Bleaching before cosmetic work is also necessary. In many cosmetic cases, I’m treating the maxillary only, and with whitening it's amazing how good we can get the opposing arch to look so that the final restorations match.”