The most important step for a long-lasting ceramic restoration is the bonding step. There have been many discussions on the site of what we like to use for cement or what our favorite bonding agent is. There are many that work very well and I’m not a bondodontist so I could not tell you what the best one is.

In a recent discussion someone said that bonding agents and cements are like religion. People will go to the ends of the earth to defend and praise their bonding agent and cement. I don't blame them. If you have something that gives you that kind of success in your practice, why wouldn't you? 

This blog is not so much about the importance of your bonding agent or your cement, but the importance of a great light. Most dentists have no idea if their light is working properly or if it cures the bonding agent that they are using. Different types of bonding agents need different wavelengths to cure. Make sure you are aware of what you need.

You also want to make sure that the output of your light is doing what it says it does. I strongly recommend having a light meter in your office and checking the output of your light to make sure it is doing what you think it is supposed to be doing. Using a light with inadequate power can cause de-bonds, sensitivity and other issues that we just don't want happening after our procedure is completed.

I have a Demetron light meter.

They could not be easier to use. You place the curing tip of the light onto the light meter and activate it. The light meter will give you a reading that should be in the range of power that the instructions of your light say it is.

I have to say that I just got myself a new light. It is the Blue Phase style from Ivoclar. I saw it at the midwinter meeting and it was so light and ergonomic. The reason I wanted it was that it has a polywave technology. I had no idea what that meant, but it was explained to me that it has multiple LED lights in it and they vary in power so it can adequately cure all bonding agents on the market. All I know is that the first time my assistant picked it up she loved how light it was and how natural it felt in her hand.

The bottom line is that you need to find yourself a light that will cure the bonding agent that you are using in your practice and make sure that the light is firing at its capacity and not at a reduced power. It seems so simple but it is amazing how many people never check it.

We check ours weekly and keep a log. It's amazing how much light output can range and how tips need to be replaced or units tuned up. Thanks for he blog Rich! Very important.

jus wanted to make a correction to this. The light meter in the pic is for halogen lights. make sure if you have an LED light you use the appropriate meter for an LED light