One key to the long-term success of a dental restoration is to ensure that any restorative materials are cured completely and quickly, a journey that’s often hindered by roadblocks like deep decay, inadequate access to the posterior, and moisture contamination. One way to tackle those hurdles, according to Dr. Varo Boyer, is to find a reliable curing light that provides “efficient and complete curing of fillings, buildup materials, light-cured cements, or chairside acrylic.”
Explaining that “it causes me a lot of stress when restorations do not cure fully or buildups do not hold,” Dr. Boyer embarked on a journey to reduce that stress by finding a curing light that provides “a quick and full cure.” His route took him to the intersection of quality, comfort, and consistency, where he met the Patterson LED Curing Light, a cordless unit with smart technology that cures his restorations “completely and quickly.”
“Achieving a dry field is key to a strong buildup,” said Dr. Boyer, who discovered that the Patterson LED Curing Light helped cure buildup material quickly before moisture got in, producing solid buildups that stayed in place, even in cases of deep subgingival decay with difficult isolation. “We were relieved to complete challenging cases quickly, and most importantly, to provide excellent care to our patients,” he added.
Ergonomics & Ease of Access
The cordless Patterson LED Curing Light features a 360-degree rotatable head for ease of access and a lightweight, slim design and ergonomic grip for clinicians. Calling it “an exceptional, well-made, cordless curing light,” Dr. Charley Cheney praised its small size, light weight, and ease of use and has replaced his older light with the Patterson light. “The lightweight and slim design makes handling and use very easy” for Dr. Dustin McCammon, and Dr. Adam Beno said, “The light’s ergonomics reduce fatigue and enable it to reach the posterior easily.”
“I really like the angulation and curvature of the light’s head that allows easy access to all regions of the mouth, even the distal of second molars,” shared Dr. Boyer. Noting that “the head design allowed for easy access to second and third molars,” Dr. Jeffrey Greene said, “It’s a good light for those hard-to-reach, deep restorations that would require a 20-second cure.” He called the light “heavy but well balanced” and said the orange curing tip and shield provide good blockage to protect the eyes of the user. Dr. Nilay Nanavati called it “easy to rotate,” while Dr. Rick Pyun said, “It becomes more difficult to rotate the head once you put on the protective sheath.”
Smart Features
Equipped with smart technology, the curing light includes an easy-to-read LED display with an adjustable countdown timer. Target assist technology helps users accurately position the curing tip before polymerization. The charging base includes a heat intensity indicator and multi-colored rings to indicate the battery charging status.
“I like the great ergonomics and countdown timer, and the built-in light tester is a great addition as well,” shared Dr. Beno. “The Patterson light is a major upgrade from my [previous light],” said Dr. Greene, but found the countdown timer difficult to see and hear, especially when both suctions were running.
Curing Performance
With a light intensity of 1,500 mW/cm2 and a wavelength of 440 to 480 nm, the light polymerizes all light-cured dental materials with a consistent beam profile and an optimally collimated beam. The light uses a combination of pulse technology and steady current to reduce heat emissions, and “did not generate a lot of heat,” according to Dr. Arthur Volker.
“Realizing how much curing light technology has changed since purchasing my [previous light],” Dr. Greene said, “I have much more confidence in the curing of my large, deep posterior restorations and buildups” with the Patterson LED Curing Light. “The fast curing allowed for faster procedure times” for Dr. Nanavati, and Dr. Pyun said, “It seemed to provide a more solid, reliable cure.” Suggesting “a power cure function of 4 seconds,” Dr. Beno proclaimed, “The light’s ease of use, reliability, and ergonomics gave us added confidence in knowing that the restorations we placed were adequately polymerized.”
Overall Satisfaction
Delighted to find the reliable, consistent Patterson LED Curing Light, Dr. Boyer concluded, “Having an ergonomic curing light that allows for complete and efficient curing gives me more confidence in my workflow.” Dr. Beno summed up his thoughts by saying, “It allows us to deliver the quality restorations our patients deserve.”
