Hardening of a dual-cure resin cement using QTH and LED curing units.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the surface hardness of a resin cement (RelyX ARC) photoactivated through indirect composite resin (Cristobal) disks of different thicknesses using either a light-emitting diode (LED) or quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) light source.


METHODS
Eighteen resin cement specimens were prepared and divided into 6 groups according to the type of curing unit and the thickness of resin disks interposed between the cement surface and light source. Three indentations (50 g for 15 s) were performed on the top and bottom surface of each specimen and a mean Vickers hardness number (VHN) was calculated for each specimen. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer test was used for post-hoc pairwise comparisons.


RESULTS
Increased indirect resin disk thickness resulted in decreased mean VHN values. Mean VHN values for the top surfaces of the resin cement specimens ranged from 23.2 to 46.1 (QTH) and 32.3 to 41.7 (LED). The LED curing light source produced higher hardness values compared to the QTH light source for 2- and 3-mm-thick indirect resin disks. The differences were clinically, but not statistically significant. Increased indirect resin disk thickness also resulted in decreased mean VHN values for the bottom surfaces of the resin cement: 5.8 to 19.1 (QTH) and 7.5 to 32.0 (LED). For the bottom surfaces, a statistically significant interaction was also found between the type of curing light source and the indirect resin disk thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
Mean surface hardness values of resin cement specimens decreased with the increase of indirect resin disk thickness. The LED curing light source generally produced higher surface hardness values.
Santos
Maria Jacinta Moraes Coelho
MJ
Department of Restorative Dentistry, University Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Passos
Sheila Pestana
SP
da Encarnação
Monalisa Olga Lessa
MO
Santos
Gildo Coelho
GC
Bottino
Marco Antonio
MA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055117:Curing Lights, Dental; D006244:Hardness; D055115:Light-Curing of Dental Adhesives / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C462240:RelyX ARC; D019279:Resin Cements; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate