Curing effectiveness of resin composites at different exposure times using LED and halogen units.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the polymerization effectiveness of two resin composites cured with a quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) lamp or a light emitting diodes (LED) unit.


METHODS
Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) and Spectrum TPH (Dentsply DeTrey) resin composites were placed in 9 mm deep and 4 mm wide metallic molds and cured using the QTH light Hilux 200 (Benlioglu) or the LED unit Smartlite IQ (Dentsply DeTrey) for 20 or 40 s (three specimens per group). Measurement of depth of cure was carried out by means of a scraping technique, according to ISO 4049. The microhardness measurements were performed using a calibrated Vickers indenter (100 g load, 30 s) at depths of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 mm from the top of the composite in the same specimens. Results were analyzed by ANOVA, Student's t and Student-Newman-Keuls tests (p<0.05).


RESULTS
Filtek Z250 exhibited higher depth of cure and Vickers microhardness values than Spectrum TPH under each experimental condition evaluated. Depth of cure and microhardness were not affected by the curing light used. However, hardness values were influenced by the interaction between curing light and exposure time. Specimens irradiated for 20 s exhibited higher microhardness values when the LED curing light was used. Exposure time had no influence on the microhardness values for depths from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. At higher depths, irradiation for 40 s produced greater microhardness values.


CONCLUSIONS
Curing effectiveness of resin composite is not only dependent on the curing light unit. Results vary greatly with composite brand, thickness of the resin composite and the duration of the exposure.
Ceballos
Laura
L
Conservative Dentistry, Department of Health Sciences III, Health Science Faculty, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. laura.ceballos@urjc.es
Fuentes
María Victoria
MV
Tafalla
Héctor
H
Martínez
Alvaro
A
Flores
Josefa
J
Rodríguez
Jesús
J
D003188:Composite Resins; D055117:Curing Lights, Dental; D008422:Materials Testing; D013997:Time Factors
D003188:Composite Resins