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Curing performance of a new-generation light-emitting diode dental curing unit

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 135; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.14219/jada.archive.2004.0059

1943-4723

KIM M. WIGGINS, Martin Hartung, O. Althoff, CHRISTINE WASTIAN, Sumita B. Mitra,

Photopolymerization techniques and applications

ABSTRACT Background Recent technological advances have resulted in the marketing of high-powered, or HP, battery-operated light-emitting diode, or LED, dental curing lights. The authors examine the curing efficiency and peak polymerization temperature, or T p , of a new HP LED curing light. Methods The authors studied four visible light-curing, or VLC, units: HP LED (A), first-generation LED (B), conventional halogen (C) and high-intensity halogen (D). They determined the depth of cure, or DOC; adhesion; and T p of three types of VLC resin-based composites after exposure to each light. The exposure times for units A and D were one-half those for units B and C. Results The power density of unit A was 1,000 milliwatts per square centimeter, which was comparable to that of unit D with turbo charge. The DOC and adhesion attained for all three resin-based composites after being light cured by unit A for a 10-second exposure time were equivalent to those after being light cured by unit D for a 10-second exposure time and to those after being light cured by units B and C for 20-second exposure times. The resin-based composites light cured by unit A attained significantly lower T p s than did those light cured by unit D at equivalent cure, or exposure, times and by unit C at twice the cure time. Conclusions The authors found that Unit A effectively cured the resin-based composites at one-half the cure time of units B and C and at the same time as unit D, while maintaining low T p . Clinical Implications The battery-operated HP LED curing light might be an effective, time-saving alternative for clinicians to use in light curing resin-based composites.