Ability of a novel primer to enhance the polymerization of a self-cured resin composite.

Objective: This study evaluated the degree of conversion (DC), polymerization kinetics, and temperature of a new self-cure bulk-fill resin-based composite (Stela Automix, SDI).

Methods: The study was divided into seven groups: (1) Stela Primer, (2) Stela Automix, (3) Stela Automix exposed to light for 20 s after 100 s, (4) Stela Primer with Stela Automix, (5) Stela Primer with Stela Automix and exposed to light for 20 s after 100 s, (6) Scotchbond Universal with Stela Automix, and (7) Scotchbond Universal with Stela Automix and exposed to light for 20 s after 100 s. The real-time reaction rates and DC at the bottom of 2 mm thick specimens at ∼32 °C were measured at 720 s after insertion using a spectrometer with an Attenuated Total Reflectance detector.

The dark art of light curing in dentistry.

Objective: This study was designed to show that the commonly reported irradiance values that are quoted in most publications inadequately describe the light output from light curing units (LCUs).

Methods: The total spectral radiant power (mW) output from 12 contemporary LCUs was measured with a fiberoptic spectroradiometer and a calibrated integrating sphere. Five recordings were taken for each LCU and exposure mode.

Irradiance from 12 LED light curing units measured using 5 brands of dental radiometers.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of five brands of radiometers in reporting the irradiance (mW/cm ) from twelve brands of LCUs compared to a 'Gold Standard' (GS) reference obtained from a hand-held laboratory-grade radiometer.

Materials And Methods: The irradiance was measured from two examples of twelve brands of previously used LCUs on two examples of five brands of dental radiometers. The emission spectrum was also obtained.

Ability of short exposures from laser and quad-wave curing lights to photo-cure bulk-fill resin-based composites.

Objective: This study investigated the ability of a laser, and a 'quad-wave' LCU, to photo-cure paste and flowable bulk-fill resin-based composites (RBCs).

Methods: Five LCUs and nine exposure conditions were used. The laser LCU (Monet) used for 1 s and 3 s, the quad-wave LCU (PinkWave) used for 3 s in the Boost and 20 s in the Standard modes, the the multi-peak LCU (Valo X) used for 5 s in the Xtra and 20 s in the Standard modes, were compared to the polywave PowerCure used in the 3 s mode and for 20 s in the Standard mode, and to the mono-peak SmartLite Pro used for 20 s.

In-vitro pulpal temperature increases when photo-curing bulk-fill resin-based composites using laser or light-emitting diode light curing units.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro pulpal temperature rise (ΔT) within the pulp chamber when low- and high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites are photo-cured using laser or contemporary light curing units (LCUs).

Materials And Methods: The light output from five LCUs was measured. Non-retentive Class I and V cavities were prepared in one upper molar.

A Blinded Comparative Study of Four Commercially Available LEDs and a Laser Light Curing Device.

Objective:  This study determined the effectiveness of five light-curing units (LCUs; four light-emitting diode [LED] and one laser) used on different settings to photo-activate four conventional resin-based composites (RBCs).

Materials And Methods:  A total of 108 RBC specimens were photo-activated in a white Delrin mold representing a mesial-occlusal-distal (MOD) class II restoration in a molar tooth. The proximal boxes were 5 mm deep, and the mesial-distal length was 12 mm.

In vitro temperature changes in the pulp chamber caused by laser and Quadwave LED-light curing units.

The study evaluated the pulp temperature (PT) increase in Class I and V preparations when exposed to the Monet Laser (for 1 and 3 s), the PinkWave (for 3 and 10 s), the Valo Grand (for 3 and 10 s), the PowerCure, (for 3 and 10 s) and the SmartLite Pro (for 10 s). Non-retentive Class I and Class V cavities were prepared in one molar fixed in an acrylic plate and positioned in a warm water bath. The PT baseline was kept at 32 °C to simulate physiological conditions.

Temperature changes and hardness of resin-based composites light-cured with laser diode or light-emitting diode curing lights.

The temperature and Vickers Hardness (VH) at the top and bottom surfaces of three resin-based composites (RBCs) were measured when light-cured using five light-curing units (LCUs). The spectrum, power, and energy delivered to the top of the RBCs and transmitted through the RBCs were measured. Starting at 32℃, the temperature rise produced by the Monet Laser (ML-1 s and 3 s), Valo Grand (VG-3 s and 10 s), DeepCure (DC-10 s), PowerCure, (PC-3 s and 10 s) and PinkWave (PW-10 s) were measured at the bottom of specimens 2 mm deep × 6 mm wide made of Filtek Universal A2, Tetric Evoceram A2 and an experimental RBC codenamed Transcend UB.

Power output from 12 brands of contemporary LED light-curing units measured using 2 brands of radiometers.

Background: Given the increasing use of photo-activated resins in dentistry, dentists and researchers need a user-friendly dental radiometer to measure the power output from dental light-curing units (LCUs).

Objective: Our goal was to measure the accuracy of two brands of dental radiometers in reporting the power (mW) from twelve brands of contemporary LCUs compared to a 'gold standard' (GS) reference value obtained from an integrating sphere attached to a fiberoptic spectroradiometer.

Methods: The power output was measured from two units of 12 brands of LCUs, five times on the ''GS" system, five times on two Bluephase Meter II dental radiometers, and five times on two Mini Gig hand-held spectroradiometers.

Depth of cure of 10 resin-based composites light-activated using a laser diode, multi-peak, and single-peak light-emitting diode curing lights.

Objectives: To evaluate the depth of cure (DOC) of ten contemporary resin-based composites (RBCs), light-cured using different LCUs and exposure times.

Methods: The power, radiant emittance, irradiance, radiant exposure (RE), and beam profiles from a laser (M, Monet), a multi-peak (V, Valo Grand), and single-peak (S, SmartLite Pro) LCU were measured. The DOC was measured using a 6-mm diameter metal mold and a solvent dissolution method to remove the uncured RBC.

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro models to evaluate pulp temperature rise during exposure to a Polywave® LED light curing unit.

Objectives: To measure and compare in vivo and in vitro pulp temperature (PT) increase (ΔTEMP) over baseline, physiologic temperature using the same intact upper premolars exposed to the same Polywave® LED curing light.

Methodology: After local Ethics Committee approval (#255,945), local anesthesia, rubber dam isolation, small occlusal preparations/minute pulp exposure (n=15) were performed in teeth requiring extraction for orthodontic reasons. A sterile probe of a temperature measurement system (Temperature Data Acquisition, Physitemp) was placed within the pulp chamber and the buccal surface was sequentially exposed to a LED LCU (Bluephase 20i, Ivoclar Vivadent) using the following exposure modes: 10-s low or high, 5-s Turbo, and 60-s high.

Analysis of temperature increase in swine gingiva after exposure to a Polywave LED light curing unit.

Objective: This study evaluated the temperature increase in swine gingival temperature after exposure to light emitted by a Polywave LED light curing unit (LCU, Bluephase 20i, Ivoclar Vivadent).

Methods: After local Ethics Committee approval (protocol 711/2015), 40 pigs were subjected to general anesthesia and the LCU tip was placed 5mm from the buccal gingival tissue (GT) close to lower lateral incisors. A thermocouple probe (Thermes WFI, Physitemp) was inserted into the gingival sulcus before and immediately after exposure to light.