Dental laboratories

The work executed in dental laboratories poses high requirements in terms of lighting. The materials to be processed are glossy and mostly coloured. Reflected glare by disturbing light reflections off work surfaces and instruments must be avoided. This can be achieved through suitable luminaires and an appropriate luminaire arrangement in the room or at the workstation.

For all tasks where the recognition of the three-dimensional nature of an object as well as its surface properties are essential, directed additional lighting must provide sufficient contrast rendering. For this purpose, the light colours of general and additional lighting should be mostly identical.

Where tasks with varying requirements in terms of colour rendering (Ra) are performed in immediate proximity, lighting must be designed according to the highest colour rendering requirements at hand.

The moving tools can generate stroboscopic effects. This can cause impaired vision or errors and hence increases accident risks. The use of LED luminaires (non-dimmable, see chapter "Flicker and stroboscopic effects") or electronic control gear in luminaires for fluorescent lamps can avoid this effect.

The quality criteria for lighting in dental laboratories also apply for corresponding laboratories of manufacturers of materials used in dentistry.

Medical practices    Laboratories and pharmacies