Modern Hygienist - October 2008 - (Page 39)

HANDS-ON HYGIENE | career hands-on hygiene Tips that make the day run smoothly and comfortably for you and your patients are the key to longevity in clinical practice. HandsOn Hygiene offers simple tips that Ms. Turner has learned from 28 years of full-time practice and from teaching beginning to advanced ultrasonic techniques and ergonomics. The small stuff matters, and this column will showcase the details that help make your day more comfortable and efficient. tip 1 Foot candles is the measurement of light produced. Too little will not light the mouth adequately and too much can strain the eyes and obliterate the view. Metal halide have the highest foot candle measurements, halogen closely follow with LED having the lowest measurement. Compare brands to decide which is best for your eye comfort. tip 2 Color of the light beam goes from orange, yellow and blue to white. White light is best for color matching. Some find bright white light to be uncomfortable over an entire workday. Other clinicians aren’t affected by the more intense white beam. Most light systems come with composite curing filters. Metal Halide.fiber optic lighting systems deliver a very bright white light that is best for color matching. These also are housed in a fan-cooled box similar to the halogen system. These bulbs last approximately 500 hours with 30% more clarity than halogen while using less power; cost is approximately $165. An iris is provided to reduce light intensity or block the light between patients. Turning these bulbs on and off will shorten bulb life so they should only be turned off at lunch and the end of the day. LED (Light Emitting Diodes).lighting systems use a battery pack that can be clipped to your belt or worn on your arm like an iPod. These systems allow for freedom of movement since the clinician is not tethered to a box on a nearby counter with the light cable. LED lights will last for approximately 15 years without having to replace bulbs. In addition to being less expensive to operate, the initial cost of these systems is significantly lower than either halogen or metal halide. Brightness and light color vary considerably among manufacturers as does battery life and weight. Cable weight is very light compared to either halogen or metal halide. Some systems will dim as battery life runs down during the workday, while others keep the same intensity throughout the day. Battery life can last 4 hours while others stay bright for over 7 hours. All will need charging at the end of a workday, and some can be used while plugged into the battery charger—a handy feature if you forgot to charge the battery overnight. Charging times vary from a few hours to 8 hours. Seeing more will enhance clinical outcomes and reduce the time it takes to learn new procedures. Taking time when purchasing to review product comparisons and consider one’s own clinical needs, are keys to successfully implementing magnification and illumination systems. In this author’s opinion, magnification and illumination are the most important ergonomic purchases a dental professional can make for a longer, more pain-free career. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. mh Renèe Marchant-Turner, RDH, is a contributing editor for Modern Hygienist. Options illuminated When you’re ready to change the lighting in your operatory, consider the many systems available to ﬁnd the one that ﬁts you best. GENERAL SCIENTIFIC/ SURGITEL Micro 250 & Odyssey LED The Micro250 through-the-lens loupes and the Odyssey LED portable headlight offer the practitioner an exceptional field size and long depth-of-field. The Odyssey LED light is the first portable LED light offering complete digital control over the light brightness users need to work at their best. The ErgoVision HD compact LED design and the advanced digital battery control provide users with the best beam pattern, excellent color rendering and consistent brightness. Visitsurgitel.com SALVIN DENTAL SPECIALTIES ORASCOPTIC, A KERR CORP. Metal Halide Light Source Available in 120V and 220V models, this countertop light source features an “anti-curing” filter and provides 5500°K light (similar to natural sunlight) with light intensity adjustable up to 4200 foot-candles. Visit salvin.com Zeon Illuminator The Zeon Illuminator halogen fiber-optic light system offers coaxial mounting to increase depth of field. Light is focused through an asperhic lens for optimal illumination of the oral cavity. It is lightweight for all-day comfort. Visit orascoptic.com October 2008 | modern hygienist 39 http://www.surgitel.com http://www.salvin.com http://www.orascoptic.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - October 2008

Modern Hygienist - October 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Letters News Modern Solutions Trends: Homecare Trends: Perio Trends: Ergo Trends: Mid Care After Chemo Professional Rewind Esthetic Expertise: Make or Break Relationship Hands-on Hygiene: Have You Seen the Light? Going the Distance Training for Life Presi-dental Politics Ad Index Moonlighting

Modern Hygienist - October 2008

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