S.P.E.C. 3's high intensity produces high depths of cure in standard, 3K, and orthodontic modes.
When asked for his opinion of S.P.E.C. 3, a New Jersey dentist in practice for 10 years said, “S.P.E.C. 3 is the best curing light I have ever used. Excellent on all levels.” COLTENE's high-intensity S.P.E.C. 3 LED curing light is designed to deliver high depths of cure in multiple modes. Standard mode is ideal for most composite curing scenarios, 3K mode is indicated for rapid curing, and the orthodontic mode quickly cures an entire arch of brackets. Twelve dentists participated in this Dental Product Shopper review, rating features such as ease of use, power intensity, and curing time.
Ease of Use
Manufacturer Description: The small, lightweight, portable S.P.E.C. 3 features easy-to-operate controls, an ergonomic design, and optimal intraoral access.
Evaluator Feedback: Eleven of the 12 evaluators rated ease of use as excellent, very good, or good, with descriptions such as, “[It is] small and convenient” and “[It is] easy to clean between use[s], [and has a] small footprint on the counter.” When asked what they would like to see improved, a few evaluators cited a learning curve related to using the controls and others noted that the shield “needs to be secured more tightly.”
Comments about ergonomics included, “[It] felt very comfortable in the hand,” and, “[It was] easily manipulated,” with all 12 evaluators rating this feature as excellent, very good, or good. “Great feel in our hands, [It had] good weight,” said an evaluator who rated all features as excellent. When asked about ease of access, 7 evaluators rated it as excellent and the remaining 5 rated it as very good or good. One dentist noted that it “fits even the smallest mouth.”
Power Intensity
Manufacturer Description: COLTENE's S.P.E.C. 3 is designed to achieve high depths of cure. Long battery life extends operation and maximizes convenience.
Evaluator Feedback: “I really like the product we use in the office, [but] this light is definitely stronger,” said a Maryland dentist with 39 years of experience in dentistry. A New York dentist who rated all features as excellent said, “[I] liked the high-intensity setting that allows you to cure composite in as little as 3 seconds.” Power intensity was rated as excellent by 8 evaluators and battery life was rated as excellent by 9 evaluators.
Curing Time
Manufacturer Description: S.P.E.C. 3 achieves a 2 mm cure in 5 seconds in standard mode, and in 1 second in 3K mode. When used in orthodontic mode, the light cures a full arch in two 3-second intervals per bracket.
Evaluator Feedback: Eighty-three percent of the evaluators identified curing time as a “very important” consideration when selecting a curing light, and all 12 evaluators rated curing time with S.P.E.C. 3 as excellent or very good, with most (9) rating it as excellent. An evaluator who rated all features as excellent said, “The curing time is great!” and a dentist who called it “much better” than similar curing lights cited the “fast speed of curing with the different options for not only general dentistry but also [orthodontics]” as the feature he liked most. The evaluator who identified “quick curing time for a low price” as his favorite feature suggested “more curing length options when using the high-intensity mode.”
Overall Satisfaction
Ten evaluators described the S.P.E.C. 3 as much or somewhat better than similar products and rated overall satisfaction as excellent or very good. “I would definitely buy this curing light if I needed a rechargeable one!” said a New York evaluator in practice for 29 years.
