Illumination system for dentistry applications

A method for operating a dental illumination apparatus, the dental illumination apparatus comprising a lamp system mounted on a support structure, the lamp system including a lamp head housing and a light source disposed within the housing, a control system for controlling the activation of the lamp system, a light guide which shields soft tissues local to teeth of a subject from effects of ultraviolet radiation, the light guide comprising a lamp attachment formation coupled to the lamp head housing of the lamp system such that a surface region of the lamp head housing is disposed adjacent to and supported by an internal surface of the light guide, and a recording device in communication with the control system, the recording device including memory which stores the amount of time that the light source has been on since the beginning of a treatment procedure, and a lip retractor adapted to receive the lips of a patient, coupled to the light guide, the method comprising:

• receiving a start signal from the lamp control system;
• determining whether the light guide has reached a light guide use limit by comparing the light source on time stored-on the recording device with the light guide use limit;
• and
• if the light guide use limit has been exceeded, disregarding the start signal and not allowing the lamp system to operate.

An apparatus for positioning a dental illumination system comprising:

• a retracting device adapted for retracting at least one portion of a subject's lips;
• a lamp system including a lamp head housing and a light source disposed within the housing, the lamp system comprising at least one formation adapted for engaging the retracting device for positioning the lamp system at a predetermined distance from the retracting device;
• a light guide comprising a lamp attachment formation coupled to the lamp head housing of the lamp system such that a surface region of the lamp head housing is disposed adjacent to and supported by an internal surface of the light guide;
• and
• a control mechanism for inhibiting the use of the light guide on more than one patient, the control mechanism comprising a recording medium in the light guide, a signal generating device elsewhere in the illumination system, and program memory logic storing lamp usage limits, which include a light source usage limit, a light guide usage limit and a procedure time limit.