Romsey Dental Care, a modern dental practice and cosmetic studio in Hampshire, UK, recently took steps to reduce energy costs by replacing their existing lighting with LED luminaires. The practice won a Green Business Award last year for commitment to reducing energy use.

LED and CFL light sources vary considerably in terms of light quality in terms of color rendering, which is required for making accurate patient assessments. Patients at Dental practices in particular suffer visual discomfort from very bright low energy sources.

As a way of solving these issues, Samantha Price, owner of Romsey Dental Care, contacted LED lighting manufacturers PhotonStar. “PhotonStar has a sustainable design philosophy that promises fully recyclable, long life quality products which suit the practices ultra-modern design. With all manufacture in the UK, and their head office just down the road from the practice, the company fulfilled our aim to source quality products locally and sustainably.”

The new PhotonStar LED luminaires replaced a number of CFL recessed fittings, providing both a better quality of light and higher ‘CRI’ for true and accurate color representation. The ‘Simetra’ fittings, from PhotonStar were designed specifically to reduce glare and to increase the visual comfort of the patient.

The PhotonStar LED luminaires are fully recyclable and don’t present the problems of mercury content and UV radiation that CFLs do. The new solution has an estimated lifetime of over 15 years with minimal maintenance required. The long-life luminaires are expected to eliminate the risk of the inconvenient bulb failure which occurred with the previous CFL fittings.

The LED solution was installed to improve the experience of the patients, and the LED luminaires are also expected to reduce lighting costs in the surgery by at least 50%.

Sam insists that since the PhotonStar luminaires were installed there has been a noticeable difference at Romsey Dental Care. “Visitors are consistently pleased with the brighter, fresher, low glare lighting and have commented that it helps make their experience even more enjoyable. The employees have also reaped the benefits of better quality light in the work areas.”