title: Should my new curing light be an LED?
abstract: The new generation LED curing light units have significantly improved curing performance compared to first generation lights, and even some second generation LED curing light units. This study compared the curing performance of 10 new generation LED light curing units (FLASH-lite 1401, LE Demetron 1, Coltolux, Ultra-Lume 5, Mini LED, bluephase, Elipar FreeLight 2, Radii, Smartlite IQ and Allegro) for depth of cure against a high-powered halogen curing light unit (Optilux 501). Depth of cure measurements were utilized per the ANSI/ADA No 27 standard to detect differences between the lights at three time intervals (10, 20 and 40 seconds). A total of 660 samples were prepared (n=10/group). A full factorial ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test showed FLASH-lite 1401 performed significantly better than the other lights at 10- and 20-second time intervals (p<0.01). This study also demonstrated that an exposure time of 20 seconds or longer assures a better depth of cure, 40 seconds being the optimal polymerization time for all of the curing light units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. sibel.anstonson@ivoclarvivadent.us
authors.forename: Sibel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antonson
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Antonson
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hardigan
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D011108:Polymers