Optilux 501 Curing Light

Additonal Data on lights tested

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Power and intensity measurements

Totol power (in milliwatts) was measured for each light using an integrating sphere & radiometer.

Intensity (in milliwatts per square centimeter) was calculated by dividing the total power by the area of the tip or spot

Click here to see the test methods.

Curing Light
Mode
Tip
Effective Diameter of Tip or Spot
Area of Tip or Spot
Average Power
Average Intensity

AccuCure 3000
argon laser
250 mW
11 mm handpiece
6.0 mm
0.28 cm2
191 mW
677 mW/cm2
Apollo 95E
plasma arc
Curing
8 mm 470
6.7 mm
0.35 cm2
437 mW
1239 mW/cm2
Optilux 401
halogen
Continuous
11 mm
10.7 mm
0.90 cm2
238 mW
265 mW/cm2
Optilux 500
halogen
Continuous
8 mm
7.3 mm
0.42 cm2
194 mW
463 mW/cm2
Optilux 501
halogen
Boost
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
314 mW
815 mW/cm2
Optilux 501
halogen
Boost
11 mm
9.7 mm
0.74 cm2
353 mW
478 mW/cm2
PAC Light
plasma arc
Continuous
6.5 mm
7.1 mm
0.40 cm2
535 mW
1351 mW/cm2
Spectrum 800
halogen
800
8 mm
8.5 mm
0.57 cm2
272 mW
479 mW/cm2
Virtuoso
plasma arc
Cure
9 mm
7.9 mm
0.49 cm2
559 mW
1140 mW/cm2
WaveLight
plasma arc
Curing (pulsed)
8 mm 470
6.9 mm
0.37 cm2
600 mW
1604 mW/cm2

Tip size is crucial to intensity. If a larger diameter tip is placed on a curing light, the intensity goes down. Notice the 41% drop in intensity when the 11mm tip is placed on the Optilux 501 instead of the 8mm Turbo+ tip. Although the 11mm tip delivers 12% more power, it is distributed over a larger area, thus lowering the intensity.

The model 501 had the highest intensity of the Optilux lights tested. When the 8mm Turbo+ tip was placed on each Optilux light the intensities were as follows:

Curing Light
Mode
Tip
Effective Diameter of Tip or Spot
Area of Tip or Spot
Max Power
Max Intensity
Optilux 401
halogen
Continuous
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
312 mW
821 mW/cm2
Optilux 500
halogen
Continuous
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
332 mW
874 mW/cm2
Optilux 501
halogen
Boost
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
340 mW
895 mW/cm2

Intensity is not a stable parameter. The output of a light will vary from use to use. The output of multiple lights of the same model can also vary, as illustrated below in a test of 3 Optilux 500 lights.

Curing Light
Mode
Tip
Effective Diameter of Tip or Spot
Area of Tip or Spot
Max Power
Max Intensity
Optilux500 #1
halogen
Continuous
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
256 mW
674 mW/cm2
Optilux 500 #2
halogen
Continuous
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
302 mW
795 mW/cm2
Optilux 500 #3
halogen
Continuous
8 mm turbo+
7.0 mm
0.38 cm2
332 mW
874 mW/cm2

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Spectral output graph

The following graph shows the power vs. wavelength relationship for each light. This information shows that the lights tested emit wavelengths (colors of light) that are well matched to absorption wavelengths of camphoroquinone, a common photo initiator used in resins today. Click here to go to CRA's Dec. 99 Newsletter where incompatibility of curing lights and resin photo initiators is discussed.

Chart Spectral Emission of Curing Lights

Note: This graph shows relative power and spectral curves of 8 lights compared to the absorption curve of camphoroquinone. This graph cannot be used to accurately compare power or intensity of one light to another due to different diameter light tips used by each light.

Click here for test methods

Resin Cure Times for Optilux Models 401, 500, & 501- All Using 8 mm Turbo+ Tip

To verify that the reduction in cure time was mostly due to the high intensities achieved by use of the 8mm Turbo+ tip, the older model lights (Optilux 401 and 500) were retrofitted with the Turbo+ tip and minimum cure times were found for two resins.

MINIMUM CURE TIME (seconds)
OPTILUX MODEL
TIP
HELIOMOLAR
A3
HERCULITE
A3
401
8 mm Turbo+
6
4
11 mm conventional
15
15
500
8 mm Turbo+
7
5
8 mm conventional
15
6
501
boost mode
8 mm Turbo+
5
4

Click here for test methods

Results: Cure times were significantly reduced for the model 401 and 500 lights when using the Turbo+ tip instead of their conventional tip. Using the Turbo+ tip, the model 401 and 500 had minimum cure times within 2 seconds of the cure times of the 501 in boost mode.

 

Optional Tips Available for Optilux 501

The following 12 tips are available for the Optilux 501 curing light. All tips also fit older model Optilux lights.

Included at Purchase:
 
8 mm Turbo+
11 mm curved, standard

Optional:

   
2 mm curved
4 mm curved mini Turbo
8 mm curved standard
9 mm curved disposable plastic
11 mm curved
13 mm curved
8 mm curved amber
8 mm Turbo
Elliptical curved
   
Elliptical straight
    

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New Filter for Optilux 501

In an effort to control the heating of oral hard and soft tissue while using the Turbo+ tip and Boost mode, the Optilux 501 incorporates a new filter which reduces the wavelengths of light emitted by 10 nm, compared to the Optilux 500.

Light
Wavelengths Emitted

Optilux 500

385 - 525 nm

Optilux 501

385 - 515 nm

 

Heating of a tooth was measured using thermocouples imbedded in an extracted molar suspended in 37° C water up to the DEJ.

Picture coming soon...

Click here for test methods.

Heat was measured on the restoration surface and in the pulp chamber. The Optilux 501 was used in Boost mode, with the 8 mm Turbo+ tip, using the filters from the Optilux 500 and from the Optilux 501. Cure time was ten seconds.

Filters
Temperature Increase on Surface
Temperature Increase in Pulp
from Optilux 500
10.5°C
1.3°C
from Optilux 501
9.6°C
1.0°C

Results: The new filters in the Optilux 501 did result in slightly lower average temperature increases both on the tooth surface and in the pulp.

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