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Operatory light
Also called: dental light, overhead light, chair light
The bright, adjustable light aimed into the patient's mouth.
The operatory light hangs on an arm over the chair and focuses bright light into the mouth. Its handles are touched over and over during treatment, so they are a classic clinical contact surface.
How to spot it
- A lamp head on a jointed arm from the ceiling, wall or chair, with handles on each side.
What it is used for
- Turn it on after the patient is reclined, and aim it at the mouth, not the patient's eyes.
- Turn it off or away before bringing the patient upright.
Safety and care
- Cover the handles with barriers, or clean and disinfect them between patients.
- The lamp head may get warm; follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for the lens.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17), Boyd LD, Mallonee LF, Wyche CJ. Wilkins' Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, 14th ed. Jones & Bartlett, 2024