Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of physical assessment of different light-curing units on irradiance and composite microhardness top/bottom ratio

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Odontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the physical assessment of different light-curing units from 55 dental offices on the irradiance and composite microhardness top/bottom ratio, and the influence of the radiometers for LED or QTH light sources on irradiance measurement. The irradiance of each light-curing unit was evaluated with two radiometers, either for LED or QTH light. A questionnaire regarding the type of source (LED or QTH), time of use, date of last maintenance and light-curing performance assessment applied. The physical assessments were evaluated regarding damage or debris on the light tip. For each light-curing unit, three composite specimens were made (diameter = 7 mm; thickness = 2 mm) with polymerizing time of 20 s, in order to perform the microhardness (Knoop) test. Data were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn test (α = 0.01). There was wide variation in irradiance (0–1000 mW/cm2). Approximately 50 % of the light-curing units presented radiation lower than 300 mW/cm2; 10 % of light-curing units, especially those with LED source, presented values higher than 800 mW/cm2, and 43 % of light-curing units worked with adequate irradiance between 301 and 800 mW/cm2. In almost 60 % of cases, no maintenance of light-curing units was performed in a period of 3 to 10 years. The age of the light-curing units and the use of inadequate tips interfered negatively in irradiance. The data emphasize the importance of periodic maintenance of light-polymerizing, light-curing units.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Price RB, Labrie D, Kazmi S, Fahey J, Felix CM. Intra- and inter-brand accuracy of four dental radiometers. Clin Oral Investig. 2012;16(3):707–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. El-Mowafy O, El-Badrawy W, Lewis DW, Shokati B, Kermalli J, Soliman O, Encioiu A, Zawi R, Rajwani F. Intensity of quartz-tungsten-halogen light-curing units used in private practice in Toronto. J Am Dent Assoc. 2005;136(6):766–73 (quiz 806-7. 2).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hao X, Luo M, Wu J, Zhu S. A survey of power density of light-curing units used in private dental offices in Changchun City, China. Lasers Med Sci. 2013 May 23. (Epub ahead of print).

  4. Pilo R, Oelgiesser D, Cardash HS. A survey of output intensity and potential for depth of cure among light-curing units in clinical use. J Dent. 1999;27(3):235–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Barghi N, Fischer DE, Pham T. Revisiting the intensity output of curing lights in private dental offices. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2007;28(7):380–4 (quiz 385-6.).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Maghaireh GA, Alzraikat H, Taha NA. Assessing the irradiance delivered from light-curing units in private dental offices in Jordan. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(8):922–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Calheiros FC, Kawano Y, Stansbury JW, Braga RR. Influence of radiant exposure on contraction stress, degree of conversion and mechanical properties of resin composites. Dent Mater. 2006;22(9):799–803.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hegde V, Jadhav S, Aher GB. A clinical survey of the output intensity of 200 light curing units in dental offices across Maharashtra. J Conserv Dent. 2009;12(3):105–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Rueggeberg FA, Caughman WF, Curtis JW Jr. Effect of light intensity and exposure duration on cure of resin composite. Oper Dent. 1994;19(1):26–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. ANSI/ADA Specification No. 48 Visible Light Curing Units (2004, R2009).

  11. ANSI/ADA Specification No. 48-2 LED Curing Lights (2010).

  12. Roberts HW, Vandewalle KS, Berzins DW, Charlton DG. Accuracy of LED and halogen radiometers using different light sources. J Esthet Restor Dent. 2006;18(4):214–22 (discussion 223-4).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Leonard DL, Charlton DG, Hilton TJ. Effect of curing-tip diameter on the accuracy of dental radiometers. Oper Dent. 1999;24(1):31–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tango RN, Sinhoreti MA, Correr AB, Correr-Sobrinho L, Henriques GE. Effect of light-curing method and cement activation mode on resin cement knoop hardness. J Prosthodont. 2007;16(6):480–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Martin FE. A survey of the efficiency of visible light curing units. J Dent. 1998;26(3):239–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Miyazaki M, Hattori T, Ichiishi Y, Kondo M, Onose H, Moore BK. Evaluation of curing units used in private dental offices. Oper Dent. 1998;23(2):50–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Santos GC Jr, Santos MJ, El-Mowafy O, El-Badrawy W. Intensity of quartz-tungsten-halogen light polymerization units used in dental offices in Brazil. Int J Prosthodont. 2005;18(5):434–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. David JR, Gomes OM, Gomes JC, Loguercio AD, Reis A. Effect of exposure time on curing efficiency of polymerizing units equipped with light-emitting diodes. J Oral Sci. 2007;49(1):19–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. McAndrew R, Lynch CD, Pavli M, Bannon A, Milward P. The effect of disposable infection control barriers and physical damage on the power output of lightcuring units and light curing tips. Br Dent J. 2011;210(8):E12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Meyer GR, Ernst CP, Willershausen B. Decrease in power output of new light-emitting diode (LED) curing devices with increasing distance to filling surface. J Adhes Dent. 2002;4(3):197–204.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Warren DP, Rice HC, Powers JM. Intensity of curing lights affected by barriers. J Dent Hyg. 2000;74(1):20–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Price RB, Labrie D, Kazmi S, Fahey J, Felix CM. Intra-and inter-brand accuracy of four dental radiometers. Clin Oral Investig. 2012;16(3):707–17.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry, Ibirapuera University, Avenida Interlagos, 4°. Andar, 1329-Chácara Flora, São Paulo, SP, 04661-100, Brazil

    Susana Morimoto, Renata Aló Maluza Zanini, Carlos Martins Agra, Fernanda Calabró Calheiros & Denis Yudi Nagase

  2. Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Josete Barbosa Cruz Meira

Authors
  1. Susana Morimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Renata Aló Maluza Zanini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Josete Barbosa Cruz Meira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Carlos Martins Agra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fernanda Calabró Calheiros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Denis Yudi Nagase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denis Yudi Nagase.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Morimoto, S., Zanini, R.A.M., Meira, J.B.C. et al. Influence of physical assessment of different light-curing units on irradiance and composite microhardness top/bottom ratio. Odontology 104, 298–304 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10266-015-0229-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10266-015-0229-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation