Knowledge, Perception, and Practices Regarding the Properties and Hazardous Effects of Blue Light Emitted from...

Blue light from the composite curing unit is one of the occupational hazards faced by dentists across the world. High-intensity blue light can cause cumulative damage to the eyes over a long period of time.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among general dentists and specialists across various dental clinics/practice settings within Kerala, India. A prevalidated structured questionnaire was distributed as a Google Form, and a multiple-choice format was utilized.

A total of 221 dentists responded to the questionnaire. About 74.2% of the respondents had poor knowledge about blue light and its uses in dentistry. More than half of the practitioners had exposure to blue light from light curing unit (LCU) for over 10 minutes per day. 24.5% of the respondents do not take any protection from blue light. The responses reveal that while using orange protective glass, there is a chance of obscuring visibility, and blue light protective transparent googles are more preferred by the practitioners. Although most of the participants believe that the use of goggles is essential for completely blocking blue light hazard, only 13.6% use protective eyewear.

Dental practitioners have poor knowledge regarding the blue light and its related hazardous effects. Though most of the participants believe that the use of goggles is essential for completely blocking blue light hazard, only 13.6% use protective eyewear. This study highlights the need to enhance awareness regarding the potential hazardous effects of blue light.