The Ultimate Review: Top 10 Dental Curing Lights Compared

Curing lights are essential tools in dentistry. With new dental technology, they are now more powerful, efficient, and versatile. Selecting the right dental curing light for your practice is essential for achieving effective restorations and ensuring patient satisfaction.

Choosing the right curing light for your practice can be hard. Many options are available on the market. Below, we provide the necessary information. This will help you make an informed choice when selecting a dental curing light for your practice.

Dental Curing Lights Buying Guide

Several key factors to consider when purchasing a curing light for your practice include light wavelength and ergonomics. Here’s what you need to know:

• Wavelength: Wavelength and light intensity are the most important factors to consider. Most dental composites cure within the 400- to 500-nm range, so choosing a tool that operates within that light spectrum is essential. Conversely, intensity refers to the power output, and higher intensity can significantly reduce curing time. However, faster isn’t always better, so be on the lookout for a model with multiple curing modes.
• Curing time: The curing time directly depends on the light intensity, playing a vital role in the dentist’s workflow. Faster curing time saves time and reduces patient discomfort. However, faster isn’t always better, so look for models that have multiple curing modes and even ramp-up modes.
• Ergonomics: Ergonomics is essential. A good curing light should be lightweight and easy to use. This is especially true for dental procedures that require a prolonged duration. Hand fatigue is a real concern in a busy practice.
• Battery life: Selecting a curing light with a long battery life will allow for uninterrupted use throughout the day. Some models offer fast-charging capabilities, some use replaceable batteries, and some offer both.
• Price: Price is always a factor when buying new dental equipment. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between cost and quality. While budget-friendly options may seem appealing, they often lack durability, intensity, and other essential features necessary for optimal results.

If you’re in the market for a new LED curing light, you might want to check our in-depth guide.

Top 10 Dental Curing Lights Comparison

Choosing the best dental curing light for your practice can be a challenging task. A wide range of makes and models is available today. That is why we compiled a list of the top 10 best dental curing lights, along with a brief comparison list at the end. For now, let’s bite in.

1. IVOCLAR VIVADENT Bluephase PowerCure Curing Light ($1,399.00)

Bluephase PowerCure is among the most highly awarded dental curing lights on the market, primarily due to its capabilities. This is a cordless curing light that uses induction charging. It also has IVOCLAR’s Polyvision technology. This feature will alert you if it detects movement during the curing process.

It works with all types of light-curing dental materials. The even light distribution and high light intensity facilitate uniform polymerization in both direct and indirect restorations. It comes equipped with four different light curing methods for versatile use, including pre-cure mode and turbo mode.

2. Dentsply Sirona SmartLite Pro LED Curing Light ($1,555.00)

Dentsply Sirona’s SmartLite Pro LED light has a cordless and lightweight design. Its pen-style shape makes it comfortable and easy to use. Its large 10mm active curing diameter covers larger restorations, and its optimized LED design provides homogenous light distribution over the entire active curing area.

This product also includes a Transillumination Tip. This tip helps detect interproximal caries, check for cracked teeth, and illuminate endodontic access. The design provides a focused light output with both anterior and posterior illumination settings.

3. VALO Ortho Cordless-LED Curing Light ($790.00)

Valo’s Ortho Cordless curing light uses a special blue LED. This light can harden all types of light-cured materials. It can also go through porcelain restorations. It cures the resin cement underneath, just like a good halogen light.

The device is cordless. The device features an internal rechargeable battery that can be charged from both 100V and 240V power outlets. The design allows the handpiece to rest in the charging unit when not in use. Additionally, it will enter sleep mode when rested on a countertop or in a drawer to preserve battery life.

4. Maxima 2000 LED Curing Light

Maxima 2000 is designed for comfort. Its shape allows for a good grip during long use. The device has a strong LED light.

It also has a sensor for light intensity and a temperature probe. These features help prevent overheating. Additionally, the design includes a cooling fan that maintains the operational temperature within an adequate range.

The Maxima 2000 dental light uses dual-spectrum technology. It features various power modes, including ramp and pulse modes. This provides extra flexibility for clinical use. The 10mm standard light guide minimizes glare and focuses the light on a single restoration area.

5. 3M-Elipar Deep Cure-S Curing Light

3M-Elipar Deep Cure-S is a great model. It has a wavelength of 430-480 nm and a light intensity of 1470 mW/cm² (±20%). This device provides dentists with greater confidence in polymerization. It works well even with bulk fill composite resins deep in the cavity.

The manufacturer constructs the device from a single piece of stainless steel to enhance durability, cleaning, and disinfection. The engineers at 3M have given considerable thought to this.

The internal lithium-ion battery lasts about 90 to 120 minutes. It also has a quick charge feature. 90 minutes and the battery bay can be accessed without any tools to swap out the worn-out battery.

6. DENTSPLY SIRONA SmartLite Focus Pen Style LED Curing Light

SmartLite Focus curing light is yet another cordless pen-style light curing unit. It is small and lightweight, ergonomically designed, and has a 330° rotatable tip. It also has a removable battery with Quick Charging Mode. This gives five minutes of use after just 10 minutes of charging.

The body is made of stainless steel and strong plastic. It has a one-button interface for easy use. The SmartLite Focus Pen has one curing mode that lasts 20 seconds. It beeps after 10 seconds to ensure reliable curing.

7. IVOCLAR BluePhase EasyCure LED Curing Light

BluePhase EasyCure is a new product from IVOCLAR. It offers reliable and efficient curing in just 10 seconds. You can start it with the touch of a single button. Its one-button functionality makes it incredibly easy to use, making everyday curing quite effortless.

The high-intensity light (1200mW/cm²) at 385-515nm enables even polymerization on all types of restorations. This is because the light spreads evenly across the entire emission window. EasyCure is suitable for the polymerization of all current light-curing dental materials, with no special limitations.

8. IVOCLAR Vivadent Bluephase 20i Curing Light ($999.00)

The BluePhase 20i is a powerful LED curing light. It has a strong light intensity of 2000 mW/cm².

This device offers four modes of operation. It also exhibits a halogen-like spectrum, ranging from 285 to 515 nm. It’s a smartly designed cordless handpiece. It has a corded backup power supply. This will provide hours of continuous use in a clinical setting.

The BluePhase 20i, like many other models, has a movement sensor. This sensor detects movement and alerts the user if an issue occurs.

The device has an eye guard and works quickly. It is made of strong, high-quality plastic. It also includes a handpiece, charging base, battery, and light probe.

9. Ultradent VALO X LED Curing Light ($1,599.00)

The VALO X curing light is designed with durability, accessibility, power, and versatility in mind. The device body is made from aerospace-grade aluminum. Its low-profile design allows easy access to all areas of the mouth. The large 12.5mm lens aperture provides better curing depth and improved thermal management.

The custom LEDs have eight curing light modes and four white light modes. They include Power and Xtra Power modes for better curing of larger restorations. The most interesting feature is the accelerometer. It lets you switch modes with a flick of your wrist.

10. 3M Paradigm DeepCure LED Curing Light

The Paradigm DeepCure LED curing light gives a focused light output of 1470 mW/cm2. This ensures a safe, reliable, and consistent cure, even at the bottom of larger restorations.

While it’s quite powerful, it’s also relatively lightweight (at 180g) and ergonomically designed. It also has a light timer with multiple settings. You can control it easily with pushbuttons.

The timer has preset cure times of 5, 10, 15, and 20 seconds. There is also a continuous mode that lasts 120 seconds.

Comparison Chart

Why Choose Shinoda Dental?

This guide aims to provide you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision when purchasing an LED curing light for your dental practice. By following our guidelines, you can ensure that the curing light you buy will be a reliable tool for your dental practice for years to come.

Shinoda Dental offers a range of LED curing lights suitable for various dental practices. If you need an LED curing light, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of trained professionals is ready to answer any questions you have. We will assist you throughout your decision-making and purchasing journey.

Dr. Madeline Berk Berk, DMD, MBA

Over the years, Dr. Madeline Berk has regularly attended continuing education courses to increase her knowledge in the ever-evolving field of dentistry and stay abreast of advances in materials, techniques, and technology, with a particular focus on children's dentistry.