Illumination apparatus for enhancing visibility of oral tissues

A tissue illumination apparatus adapted to enhance visibility of oral tissue, comprising:

• a light emitting device comprising at least one LED or LED array adapted to emit a first spectrum of light having a first wavelength;
• and
• at least one lens that comprises at least one fluorescing compound and that is attached to said light emitting device and adapted so that light emitted by said light emitting device passes through said lens in order to convert at least a portion of the first spectrum of light to a second spectrum of light having a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength in order to enhance visibility of at least one type of oral tissue when illuminated using the second spectrum of light compared to visibility of the tissue if illuminated using the first spectrum of light.

A fluorescing transillumination lens adapted for use with a dental curing light in order to enhance visibility of oral tissue, comprising:

• a lens body comprises at least one fluorescing compound adapted to convert a first spectrum of light having a first wavelength emitted by a dental curing light that passes through said lens body to a second spectrum of light having a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength in order to enhance visibility of at least one type of oral tissue when illuminated using the second spectrum of light compared to visibility of the tissue if illuminated using the first spectrum of light;
• and
• one or more attachment structures adapted to removably attach said lens body to a dental curing light.

A tissue illumination kit for use in enhancing visibility of oral tissue, comprising:

• a dental curing light comprising at least one LED or LED array adapted to emit a first spectrum of light suitable for curing at least one light curable dental composition;
• and
• at least one lens that is selectively attachable to and detachable from the dental curing light and that comprises at least one fluorescing compound adapted to convert at least a portion of the first spectrum of light emitted by the LED or LED array to a second spectrum of light that better illuminates at least one type of oral tissue compared to the first spectrum of light.