Dental mirror having ultraviolet filter

Abstract

A dental mirror is modified to provide an orange filter to block ultraviolet or blue light from a light source frequently used to cure plastic tooth filling materials. Various filter means are disclosed. Thus the glass of a dentist's hand held mirror may be colored orange or amber and the front surface may be a two-way mirror. Second, the clear glass of the mirror may be backed by a transparent plastic colored orange or amber, the front surface being a two-way mirror. Third, a bottomless mirror may be coated on its back surface with a chemical deposit which absorbs ultraviolet and blue light. These are some of several alternatives described. The mirror may be used in the same manner as conventional mirrors. When the dentist illuminates the ultraviolet lamp to cure plastic fillings, the filter is interposed between the light source and the eyes, preventing damage to the retinas which might otherwise occur. The present invention allows the user to monitor the relationship between the light-curing light and the material being cured in the tooth during the curing procedure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.