If you have ever been to a dentist, you may have seen a device with a blue light. It is the device that they put in your mouth, but do you know what that device is and why it is used? This article will share everything related to that blue light so that the next time you go to a Buffalo Grove, Illinois dentist, you will be aware of this device and not feel anxious.
What is the Blue Light?
The device that you see with the blue light with your dentist is known as a dental curing light. Your dentists use this LED blue light to see your cavities and set fillings.
How Does the Blue Light Work?
A lot of dentists today use this blue light for filing your cavities. Here is how the blue light works:
- Your decayed tooth is first removed using a drill.
- They prepare your tooth for a dental filling.
- The tooth filling is usually done with resin, which is a very soft material that can be easily molded when bitten.
- After the filing, dentists use the blue light over the resin. When it gets exposed to blue light, it becomes hard, making it hard to chew.
- Your dentist will place the blue light for around 20-60 seconds to harden the filling properly.
How Does Blue Light Make the Filing Hard?
As soon as the blue light reaches the resin, a process known as polymerization starts. This soft material is made up of small parts called monomers. When this material has to thicken, these monomers have to form a chain called polymers. It is this blue light that helps the soft material to form this chain and thus results in hardening.
Is This Blue Light Safe?
Many people wonder if the blue light the dentists are using is even safe or not. Yes, the blue light is absolutely safe. They are very bright lights, but they cannot do damage to teeth and gums. There is a shield on the device that acts as a barrier and controls the intensity of the light.
Should You Take Any Precautions?
This blue light is very bright, is transmitted through ocular media, and can be absorbed by the retina. Therefore, patients are advised to wear protective eyewear to limit the exposure.
Wrapping Up
This article is for everyone who feels anxious or scared of the blue light in their dentist’s hand. You can clear all your queries and doubts about blue light from this article.
