S.P.E.C. 3^® LED: COLTENE’s Response to Dentistry’s Curing Needs

In 1990, the Swiss company Coltène AG partnered with Whaledent, Inc., creating Coltène/Whaledent. In the 23 years since, the COLTENE brand has pioneered numerous products in the dental market, including impression and filling materials, dental pins and posts, rotary instruments, endodontic products, and various high-precision mechanical instruments. Ever an innovator, COLTENE is constantly introducing new and improved technology and materials for the clinician.

COLTENE research and development strategies have always been driven primarily by the needs of the dental industry. “Every idea that we use, every product we design, every product we manufacture, is backed up by industry trends,” says Zachary Utz, Product Manager. When it comes to curing lights, the COLTENE S.P.E.C. 3^® is no exception. Designed to be intuitive and easy to use, the S.P.E.C. 3 is a versatile instrument that offers three distinct curing modes, including an orthodontic mode. This makes it an ideal solution for clinicians who perform a variety of procedures requiring the use of light-curable materials in their office.

Utz says that when designing the S.P.E.C. 3, rather than only focusing on developments in curing lights alone, COLTENE also paid close attention to trends in a fast-changing product category—light-curable restorative materials. “There are many new ways that composites are being used in restorative procedures. I believe they’re being used more often, and an increasing amount of materials are becoming available for applications requiring high depth of cure. Most dental material manufacturers are offering light-cured materials, and it is up to curing-light manufacturers to provide clinicians with products that are able to meet the needs of these new materials,” says Utz. As such, the S.P.E.C. 3 LED’s adaptability makes it extremely valuable to clinicians who wish to use all of these various new light-curable composite materials but do not want to maintain an arsenal of curing lights in order to cure them.

In addition to being adaptable to new materials on the dental market, the S.P.E.C. 3 has a highly intuitive functionality. “While many clinicians are looking for a curing light that offers multiple modes, features, and time settings, they don’t want to be burdened with studying the manual to operate it. The S.P.E.C. 3 was designed to be easily integrated into the practice workflow,” Utz explains.

Beyond its ease of use and flexible curing capabilities, the ergonomically designed S.P.E.C. 3 LED has a cordless, lightweight, pen-style construction combined with a slim curing probe, making the unit comfortable for users to operate. It also offers a relatively unobscured intraoral view. “The slim curing probe is ideal for posterior areas, and its overall shape enhances visibility of the restorative material during the light-curing process,” says Utz. The ergonomics of the S.P.E.C. 3 LED is something that COLTENE is particularly invested in, as customers strongly consider matters of comfort, weight, and balance when purchasing a new curing light, he adds.

COLTENE offers an abundance of information on the S.P.E.C. 3 LED at www.SPEC3-LED.com for clinicians who wish to incorporate the curing light into their practice. The COLTENE website (www.coltene.com) features information on the background of each of the company’s products and how they are used. The company’s sales force also serves as a valuable resource to clinicians. “Our sales team is extremely knowledgeable and well versed in the application of our products,” Utz boasts. “They perform product demonstrations for customers and answer questions, essentially acting as a one-on-one training specialist when clinicians introduce COLTENE products into their practices. Any clinician can contact their local dealer representative to schedule an appointment.”

Looking ahead, Utz predicts that curing-light technology will move in a very specific direction. “Faster, better, and less costly is where the entire curing-light category is heading,” he says. “COLTENE is focused on creating curing lights that work faster, offer a deeper, more consistent cure, and are more reliable than those used in the past. We are also focusing on improving portability, adding the right features and functionality, and making the lights themselves even easier to use, all at an affordable price point.”

COLTENE/Whaledent, Inc.
235 Ascot Parkway
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
330-916-8800
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