I need a new curing light and am confused about which type I should buy. Can you tell me about the pros and cons of halogen, LED, and plasma arc curing lights?

Submitted by: Earl Bogrow, DDS

Answered by: Kathy O’Keefe, DDS, MS


Halogen curing lights:
Advantages: less costly, generate little heat, well-known technology
Disadvantages: longer curing times (20-40 sec), bulkier than LED lights, most are corded, bulbs degrade over time

LED curing lights:
Advantages: most are cordless, small, lightweight, shorter curing times (10-20 sec), no heat is generated, quiet, diodes are long-lasting without the need for frequent replacement
Disadvantages: more expensive than halogen lights, batteries must be recharged, curing time slower than PAC lights

PAC (Plasma Arc curing) lights:
Advantages: very short curing times (approx. 3 sec), significant time savings throughout the year
Disadvantages: significant heat production during curing, high cost comparatively, replacement lamp is costly, most are heavy and bulkier than other types of lights

Most all curing lights now cure most resin-based materials. LED lights seem to be the most popular now, with the most product selection available.