Clinical Research Associates
Dental Radiometers and Intensity Measurements
Measuring the intensity of dental curing lights is not an exact science yet. Different values reported by different sources can be confusing.
Terms to know:
Power: the energy emitted by a light, usually expressed in milliwatts (mW) and measured with a power meter.
Intensity: energy density or brightness of a light, usually expressed in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2) and usually calculated by dividing the power by the area of the light tip.
Radiometer: a device used to measure the power or intensity of light.
The confusion stems from the fact that different radiometers give different results- as illustrated below:
LIGHT
= Optilux 501 with 8 mm Turbo+ tip in Boost mode for 10 seconds.
(actual tip area = 0.38 cm2)
Intensity Reading on Different Radiometers
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Radiometer on Optilux 501
|
Coltolux Light Meter
|
CL-Tester
|
Curing Radiometer
|
|
1200 mW/cm2
|
1400 mW/cm2
|
exceeded capacity of meter
(10th green LED) |
exceeded capacity of meter
(>1000 mW/cm2) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Cure Rite
|
Integrating Sphere and Research
Radiometer
|
The LampChecker
|
Ophir Laser Power Meter
|
|
exceeded capacity of meter
(>682) |
332 mW / 0.38 cm2
= 874 mw/cm2
|
exceeded capacity of meter
(>10) |
510 mW / 0.38 cm2
= 1342 mW/cm2
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Prototype Radiometer
|
Sure Cure
|
Radiometer on TriLight
|
|
|
1000 mW/cm2
|
48
|
exceeded capacity of meter
(>1200 mW/cm2) |
|
Radiometers are most useful to monitor the changes in a light over time, or to verify that a light meets a certain threshold value. Radiometers that give a numerical display are more useful than those that simply indicate green, yellow, or red. If the intensity of different lights is to be compared, it is crucial that all the lights be measured with the same radiometer.