Keynote Address: Light Beam Inhomogeneity From Curing Lights: Is This a Problem?

Abstract Body: In most countries, dental curing lights are classified as medical devices. Consequently, they should be tested using appropriate criteria before being sold.
Manufacturers sometimes claim that their curing light is a powerful light and then proceed to quote a high irradiance value. What does this tell the dentist?
Researchers may report that two lights delivering the same irradiance according to ISO 10650 can produce very different results. How could this happen?
Beam profiling is used to evaluate lasers and laser related light sources (ISO 11146) and, although several publications have shown the value of beam profiling and beam divergence of dental curing lights, similar tests are not part of any dental standard. Why not?

This presentation will demonstrate the pros, cons, and pitfalls of beam profiling curing lights. It will propose what the dentist, researcher and regulatory need to know about a dental curing light.