Versatility, Durability are Hallmarks of Ultradent’s VALO® Curing Lights
For more than 30 years, Ultradent Products, Inc. has been creating dental tools and materials to meet the needs of clinicians—particularly those looking for product offerings that are easy to use and that get the job done right. The company’s VALO® curing lights fit that bill. Created for clinicians seeking a low-profile curing light that is convenient to maneuver in even the smallest mouth, VALO provides the clinician various curing modes for maximum flexibility in curing procedures while affording a comfortable experience for the patient.
John C. Flucke, DDS, a practicing dentist at Flucke & Suchman Dentistry in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and an Ultradent key opinion leader as well as technology editor for Dental Products Report, believes clinicians should always use products that are best for the patient, and that Ultradent’s VALO curing lights help him provide the most efficient care possible. According to Flucke, the most important element of new technology is to provide better dentistry for the patient.
“When looking at new technology or techniques, I always ask myself whether or not it will get the task at hand done faster or more efficiently, and will it produce at least the same quality results—if not better—than the old methods? If it is quicker and provides better quality, then the new technology is a complete winner for the patient,” Flucke explains.
In Flucke’s experience, VALO provides better depth of cure than most other curing lights and does so in less time, he insists. “Doing dentistry in less time is a real benefit to patients. No one wants to spend more time than necessary in the dentist chair,” he says. Additionally, VALO lights emit a broad spectrum of wavelengths that polymerize all dental materials, even those not cured by most LED lights. The unit also features a specially designed lens to provide concentrated curing.
“The efficient curing is great, because the better the composites are cured, the less sensitivity the patient experiences,” says Flucke. VALO lights also have three curing modes—Standard, High Power, and Xtra Power—to provide the best cures for a given procedure.
Flucke adds that patients also benefit greatly from the design of VALO curing lights, which he calls a “toothbrush” design. “The straight, flat design of the VALO is easier to get in the mouth than ‘gun-shaped’ curing lights,” he says. “They’re easier to use, easier on the patient, and they cure better because the light can get extremely close to the surface that needs to be cured.” He adds that the light emitted from the VALO unit is focused, almost like a laser, so that the operator is able to get the best light intensity possible focused on the correct place in the mouth.
Flucke considers many factors when choosing new technology and equipment for his Missouri practice, including “counter-top real estate.” Flucke believes that a shortage of counter-top space is one of the reasons why LED curing lights gained popularity over halogen curing lights in such a short amount of time. “We’ve got so many devices now—many dentists are using office spaces unequipped to have so many tools in the operatory. LED lights like the VALO require a lot less space on the countertop or in the bracket than a traditional, halogen curing light,” he says.
VALO lights are also extremely durable. This is due to the fact that every VALO light starts as a solid bar of tempered, high-grade, aircraft aluminum. This bar is then CNC precision milled at Ultradent’s facility, ensuring the instrument’s durability, while creating an ergonomic and streamlined design. The LED light itself is made from energy-efficient hardened glass to resist scratching, and a Teflon® seal makes cleaning easy.
“The VALO is extremely sturdy, which is great because in dentistry, things are going to get knocked on the floor or dropped eventually, despite clinicians’ best efforts,” Flucke insists. He describes an instance many years ago when he was visiting Ultradent’s laboratory during the VALO’s testing phase and watching as a group tested the durability of the VALO by dropping it repeatedly on the floor. “I saw it survive about 140 falls,” he says. That was in the early phases of testing, and now the VALO is capable of withstanding more than 300 falls, according to the company.
“I think that the durability of a product is something a lot of clinicians don’t take into account when purchasing their equipment—until it falls on the floor and breaks. Equipment can be an expensive investment, so durability is something clinicians should really be paying attention to,” says Flucke.
Currently, there are three types of VALO lights on the market: the original VALO, the VALO® Cordless, and the VALO® Ortho. The VALO Ortho was created especially for orthodontic professionals, while the VALO Cordless was designed for clinicians who prefer the mobility offered by cordless curing lights. In Flucke’s opinion, the ergonomically friendly VALO Cordless, which weighs just 6 ounces and allows the clinician maximum freedom of movement, is the “holy grail” of LED curing lights. “The VALO was a great light when it had to be plugged into the wall—that’s when it became my practice’s curing light of choice. Now, Ultradent’s cordless version has all of the features of the corded light but runs on battery power.”
Flucke considers the VALO the best curing light on the market for the past 2 years. “In dentistry—especially when it comes to technology—2 years is a long time. I’m impressed that the VALO has been able to remain the ‘best’ in my mind for so long. It’s a testament to how well designed and well built the light really is,” he says.
Ultradent Products, Inc.
505 W. 10200 S
South Jordan, UT 84095
888-230-1420
dentalaegis.com/go/cced163
