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The operatory light
Also called: overhead light, dental light
The adjustable lamp that lights up the mouth.
The operatory light hangs on an arm from the ceiling, wall or chair. Its handles are touched constantly during care, so they are barrier-covered or cleaned and disinfected between patients.
How to spot it
- A lamp head with handles on each side, on a jointed arm over the chair.
What it is used for
- Turn it on after the patient is reclined and aim it at the mouth, not the eyes; turn it away before bringing the patient up.
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