title: Mechanical properties of composite resins light-cured using a blue DPSS laser.
abstract: Lasers have many favorable features as a light source owing to their monochromaticity and coherence. This study examined the mechanical properties of composite resins that were light-cured using a diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) laser. Eight composite resins were light-cured using four different light sources (one quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH), two light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and one DPSS laser with a wavelength of 473 nm). The light intensity of the DPSS laser and remaining light-curing units were approximately 500 and 900 mW/cm(2), respectively. The microhardness, flexural properties, and compressive properties were evaluated using the Vickers hardness test, three-point bending test, and compression test, respectively. In most cases, the microhardness, flexural properties, and compressive properties of the specimens light-cured using the DPSS laser were similar to those obtained using the other light-curing units. Within the limits of the study, the microhardness, flexural modulus, and compressive strength were linearly correlated with the filler content (in weight percent). The flexural modulus and compressive modulus were also linearly correlated with the microhardness. Even with a much lower light intensity, the DPSS laser with a wavelength of 473 nm can polymerize composite resins and give comparable mechanical properties to those obtained using the other light-curing units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea.
authors.forename: Du-Man
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Jeong-Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung-Ae
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Ching-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
authors.forename: Hyung-Il
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins; D055117:Curing Lights, Dental; D006244:Hardness; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins