What Is The Blue Curing Light Dentists Use And Is It Dangerous?

Have you noticed the glow of blue light during your dental visits?  People often wonder what this light is used for and whether it’s dangerous.  The blue light is called a curing light and is used to set white fillings.

The blue curing light that dentists use is a device to harden dental materials such as composite fillings and sealants. It works by emitting an intense beam of blue light, which causes a chemical reaction in the treated material. This reaction hardens the material and allows it to bond with the teeth.

What Does The Blue Light Do?

Overall, the blue curing light is an essential tool in modern dentistry, allowing dentists to quickly and effectively treat dental issues. If it’s used correctly, it can be a safe and effective method for treating dental problems.

The blue light sets fissure sealants, fillings, and cement in seconds.  When fillings are placed in the tooth, they are very soft so that they can be molded to the correct shape by the dentist.  When the dentist is happy with the shape of the filling, they will set it with this light.  The blue light makes the filling rock-hard and robust enough to chew on.  Blue light is also used when having braces fitted to set the cement which holds the brackets on your teeth.

Is The Curing Light Dangerous Or Harmful To Look At?

The curing light is generally considered safe for patients as long as it’s used correctly. The light should not be shined directly into a patient’s eyes, and protective eyewear should be worn during treatments. Additionally, the light should only be used for short periods of time and then turned off to prevent overheating.

The curing light is a very strong blue light.  It is not a laser or a UV light, so it will not cause any damage to your teeth or gums.  The only danger is looking directly at the light for too long.  Similar to how your eyes will hurt if you look at the sun for too long.  Dentists and assistants are advised not to look at the light for long periods.

There are two types of curing lights used by dentists.  There is a halogen curing light and an LED curing light.  Most modern curing lights are LED as they do not overheat as the halogen curing lights do.  The only danger with the halogen light is that the heat it produces could potentially hurt the pulp of the tooth or the soft tissues in the mouth.  Although this is possible, it is very unlikely.  The majority of dentists use LED curing lights these days.

What Does The Orange Shield Do?

The orange shield is a filter so your dentist and assistant can still look in your mouth without the solid blue light hurting their eyes.  The light is okay to look at for a few seconds, but it’s not nice for dental staff to look at it for too long.

Conclusion

The blue curing light dentists use a safe and effective tool to help harden dental materials. It has been used in dentistry for decades, and numerous studies have confirmed its safety. While there are risks associated with any radiation, the levels of exposure are minimal when using the curing light. Therefore, patients need not worry about exposure to hazardous radiation when their dentist uses a curing light.