VALO LED Curing Light
Ultradent
The VALO LED curing light provides optimal access and allows for a consistent, uniform cure.
VALO is Ultradent’s newest LED curing light, designed for unsurpassed accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency. The body of the VALO, described by the manufacturer as sleek and nimble, provides access to hard-to-reach areas. The focused, columnar beam and custom LED pack are designed for consistent, uniform cures without overheating the wand body.
VALO operates in standard-power, high-power, and plasma-emulation curing modes and comes with a 7-foot cord, a power supply with universal plugs, a handpiece bracket holder, and 50 barrier sleeves. The 12 dentists who participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation of the VALO LED curing light rated and commented on such features as power output, curing time, ease of use, unit size and weight, ergonomics, and access.
Output and Curing Time
VALO’s refined optics and specialized lens are designed to deliver uniform cures without causing cool or hot spots.
When asked about the importance of power output when purchasing a curing light, 8 said it is very important and 3 said it is important. The evaluators were then asked about VALO’s power output (9VDC at 2A). Seven dentists rated it as excellent and 5 rated it as very good. A dentist with 26 years of experience called power output “one of the best I’ve used.”
Three evaluators reported that some patients commented that they felt heat during some procedures. Depending on the procedure being performed, a higher cure mode may be noticed by patients as warmth.
VALO’s 3 curing modes—standard-power, high-power, and plasma-emulation—provide a variety of modes, increasing the versatility of the light to meet all curing needs.
Nine evaluators indicated that curing time is very important to them when purchasing a curing light. When asked to rate VALO’s curing time, 7 evaluators rated it as excellent and 5 rated it as very good. One dentist called the curing time “great” and another said, “I love the time—3 seconds!”
Ease of Use
Ease of use of VALO was rated as excellent by 3 evaluators, as very good by 3, as good by 4, and as fair by 2. Five evaluators reported preferring a cord-less curing light. One of these evaluators said VALO would be “the best light if there was no cord.”
Unit Size
Seven evaluators said that unit size and weight are important features when considering the purchase of a curing light, and 5 said they are important. The VALO unit size was rated as excellent by 6 evaluators, as very good by 5, and as good by 2. Comments included “bigger than what I’m accustomed to” and “very comfortable size.” Currently there is only one light on the market that is smaller than VALO.
Weight and Ergonomics
VALO’s uni-body construction includes hard anodizing and a Teflon coating to ensure durability and scratch resistance.
When asked about VALO’s weight and ergonomics, 5 evaluators rated the unit as excellent, 6 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good. An Albany, NY dentist with 23 years of experience reported that VALO was “similar to other curing lights,” and a Hilliard, OH dentist who has been in practice for 26 years described the unit as “lighter than most I use…well balanced when holding it in your hand.”
Access
VALO has a slim wand body and 5” head angle. These design features minimize distance and make it easier for the user to access hard-to-reach areas.
When asked about ease of access, VALO was rated as excellent by 5 evaluators and as very good to good by 7. Comments about ease of access included “easy to get back on third molars” and “works well for patients with smaller mouths.” One dentist “loved the overall design.”Overall Satisfaction
At the end of the evaluation, the evaluators were asked if they would recommend VALO to their colleagues. Nine of the 12 evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend the light. The evaluators were then asked to give their overall satisfaction rating for VALO. Two evaluators rated their overall satisfaction as excellent, 6 rated it as very good, 3 rated it as good, and 1 evaluator rated it as fair. One of the evaluators described Ultradent’s VALO LED curing light as "very user-friendly for both the patient and the assistant."
