--- title: "Protect Your Curing Light and Your Patient: The Essential Use of Barrier Sleeves" description: Barrier sleeves for the VALO Grand curing light mitigate power reduction without compromising infection control. You can not only improve the ... image: https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/barrier-sleeves.jpg --- - [Products](https://www.ultradent.com.au/products/categories) - [Corporate Site](https://www.ultradent.com.au/company) - [Blog](https://en.ultradent.blog/) - ![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Australia.png) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/USA.png)USA](https://www.ultradent.com/) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Brazil.png)Brazil](https://www.ultradent.com.br) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/China.png)China](https://www.ultradent.cn) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Croatia.png)Croatia](https://www.ultradent.hr) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Europe.png)Europe](https://www.ultradent.eu) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/France.png)France](https://www.ultradent.fr) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Germany.png)Germany](https://www.ultradentproducts.com) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Italy.png)Italy](https://www.ultradent.it) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Japan.png)Japan](https://www.ultradent.jp) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Latin%20America.png)Latin America](https://www.ultradent.lat) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Netherlands.png)Netherlands](https://www.ultradentproducts.nl) - [![](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Spain.png)Spain](https://www.ultradent.es) - [![](https://blog.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/Country%20Icons/Turkey.png)Turkey](https://www.ultradent.com.tr) - [Other Countries](https://www.ultradent.com.au/customer-service/support) [![The Arch an Ultradent Blog Logo](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/logo_blog_english.svg "logo_the_arch")](https://en.ultradent.blog/) Cancel - Recent Posts - [What Patients Really Notice: How to Build a Dental Team They'll Love (and Talk About)](https://en.ultradent.blog/what-patients-really-notice-how-to-build-a-dental-team-theyll-love-and-talk-about) - [FORMA™: A Clinical Guide by Dr. Jorge Eustáquio](https://en.ultradent.blog/forma-a-clinical-guide-by-dr.-jorge-eustáquio) - [The Power of a Smile: How Facial Expressions Shape Mental Health](https://en.ultradent.blog/the-power-of-a-smile-how-facial-expressions-shape-mental-health) - [The Connected Science Behind Today's Best Anterior Restorations](https://en.ultradent.blog/the-connected-science-behind-todays-best-anterior-restorations) - [FORMA™: A Clinical Guide by Dr. José Carlos Garófalo](https://en.ultradent.blog/forma-a-clinical-guide-by-dr.-josé-carlos-garófalo) - Categories - [Tooth Whitening](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/tooth-whitening) - [Restorative](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/restorative) - [Bonding](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/bonding) - [Light Curing](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/light-curing) - [Endodontics](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/endodontics) - [Laser Dentistry](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/laser-dentistry) - [Dental Marketing](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/dental-marketing) - [Prevention](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/prevention) - [Clinical Cases](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/clinical-cases) - [Composites](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/composites) - [Preparation](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/preparation) - [Tissue Management](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/tissue-management) - [Tips & Syringes](https://en.ultradent.blog/tag/tips-syringes) - Archives - Ultradent Sites - [Products](https://wwww.ultradent.com.au/products/categories) - [Corporate Site](https://www.ultradent.com.au/company) [![Ultradent Products, Inc. Logo](https://info.ultradent.com/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/ultradent_corner_logo.png)](https://www.ultradent.com.au) ![](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/barrier-sleeves.jpg) # Protect Your Curing Light and Your Patient: The Essential Use of Barrier Sleeves [Ultradent APAC](https://en.ultradent.blog/author/ultradentapac) | June 21, 2022 [![Share on facebook](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on email](https://en.ultradent.blog/hubfs/Template/Blog/images/email-color.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://en.ultradent.blog/protect-your-curing-light-and-your-patient-the-essential-use-of-barrier-sleeves&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) Infection control barriers on dental curing lights are paramount for infection control—especially in pandemic/post-pandemic times, patients expect these measures to be taken more seriously than ever. Using these barriers on certain pieces of equipment have become as intuitive as putting on gloves before a procedure. While they can impact light output, proper application will ensure minimal effect on light while providing infection control. “Clinicians are faced with a difficult situation. The use of barriers will decrease the light output but barriers are necessary to reduce the chance of cross-infection in the dental office,” says Dental educator and professor at Brazil’s Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Dr. Carlos José Soares.  “Since no Light curing unit (LCU) can be heat-sterilized (as this would destroy the electronics inside), a combination of barriers and surface disinfectants must be used.”1 (Soares et al., 2020)![4666_Valo_Grand_Cordless_Barrier_Sleeves_Box_Open_1121 copy](https://5802407.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/5802407/hubfs/4666_Valo_Grand_Cordless_Barrier_Sleeves_Box_Open_1121%20copy.jpg?width=4154&name=4666_Valo_Grand_Cordless_Barrier_Sleeves_Box_Open_1121%20copy.jpg) To minimize the 5–8% power output reduction when a sleeve is applied correctly, Soares et al. offer these helpful tips: 1. 1. Regularly check the output from the LCU with the infection control barrier on the LCU. Any reduction in light output should be noted and addressed. 2. Apply the infection control barrier so that there are no seams or folds in the barrier over the light tip 3. Position the patient and yourself for a better view of what you are doing 4. Use orange glasses or a shield to protect your eyes from the blue and violet light 5. Actively monitor and adjust the position of the light tip so that it remains perpendicular to the surface of the restoration 6. If using a high powered LCU, cool the tooth with air during the curing cycle to prevent overheating of the tissues 7. Increase the light-curing exposure time to compensate for the loss of light emitted by the LCU when a barrier is used. A 10% increase in the exposure time should be sufficient if the barrier is applied correctly. Barrier sleeves for the VALO Grand curing light mitigate power reduction without compromising infection control. You can not only improve the longevity of your device by employing sleeves, but also reassure patients that their safety is a top priority. Find out more [here.](https://www.ultradent.com/products/categories/equipment/curing-lights/curing-light-accessories/valo-accessories?sku=4666-) 1. Soares CJ, Braga SS, Ribeiro MT, Price RB. 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