A hands-free dental or surgical light system (150) is disclosed which includes a master unit (152) worn by the doctor and one or more subservient units (154) to be worn by an assistant or assistants. Each of the units (152, 154) has a light (12) which can be at full brightness, dimmed or off. The master unit (152) has a transmitter (156) that communicates with a receiver (158) on the subservient unit (154) so that the light (12) on the subservient unit (154) does not accidentally cure a light sensitive material. For example, when in range the master unit (152) can control the subservient unit (154) to turn the light on the subservient unit (154) dim or off when the light 12 on the master unit (152) is dimmed, and dim the light on the subservient unit (154) when the light 12 on the master unit (152) is off. When the master unit (152) is out of range of the subservient unit (154), the subservient unit (154) can be operated without restriction. Also, a hands-free dental or surgical light system (200) is disclosed which includes a single receiver (202) and spaced apart sources (204, 206). Pointing the receiver (202) at the source (204) toggles the light source (12) dim and bright and pointing the receiver (202) at the source (206) toggles the light source (12) off and bright.