title: Surface microhardness of a resin composite exposed to pulse-delayed plasma arc lamp irradiation, in vitro.
abstract: Groups of samples of a light-activated resin composite were exposed, using a 3-step pulse-delayed protocol, to a plasma arc unit. Further groups were exposed with the light-curing guide positioned at increasing distances from the composite surface. The pulse-delayed protocol yielded a progressive increase in microhardness number at the end of each step but with a maximum mean value significantly less than the controls. Increasing the irradiation distance yielded a progressive and significant decrease in microhardness number.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Noel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Francis M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Ailish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hannigan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006244:Hardness / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006245:Hardness Tests; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; C420128:Spectrum composite resin