Lane Assist Technology Applied to Dental Curing Lights

Objectives: This study evaluated the Bluephase G4 (Ivoclar Vivadent) curing light with Polyvision. This feature is described as ‘lane assist’ for curing lights.
Methods: 25 dentists used the Bluephase G4 curing light with and without the Polyvision feature turned on and answered a questionnaire about Polyvision. The radiant exposure (J/cm²) delivered by the 25 dentists to the anterior and posterior sensor on the MARC-PS (BlueLight Analytics) was compared using ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests (α=0.05). The light output was also measured five times using an integrating sphere connected to a fiber optic spectrometer. The irradiance distributions of the light beam were also measured through a 4 mm aperture into the integrating sphere. The light output across the tip of the light guide was measured using a laser beam profiler (Ophir-Spiricon).
Results: 20 out of the 25 dentists found the Polyvision feature useful and helped them to keep the light tip on the tooth. This was more noticeable in the posterior location. 18 out of the 25 gave the ergonomic design a rating of ‘Excellent’, and 7 a rating of ‘Good’. The mean irradiance value from the G4 was 1373±4mW/cm²and the mean power output was 835±2mW. The emission spectrum had two wavelength peaks, 408 and 452 nm. The Polyvision feature gave the user a warning vibration when the light tip moved laterally by 1.1 mm and shut off when moved laterally by 4.0 mm. When moved vertically away by 0.9 mm, it vibrated and shut off when moved vertically by 6.3 mm. In 10 s, the mean radiant exposure delivered by the 25 participants to the anterior sensor on the MARC-PS was 12.6 J/cm² without Polyvision and 13.1 J/cm² with Polyvision, in the posterior region it was 11.1 J/cm² without Polyvision and 12.1 J/cm² with Polyvision. The light delivered a uniform irradiance and emission spectrum across the light tip.
Conclusions: Polyvision is a useful feature that warns the dentist when they move off the tooth and improves light delivery to the restoration.