Cuspal movement related to different polymerization protocols.

Objective: The aim of this study to investigate the effects of different polymerization protocols on the cuspal movement in class II composite restorations.

Materials And Methods: Human premolar teeth were prepared with class II cavities and then restored with composite and three-step and two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive systems under different curing techniques (n = 10). It was used a light- emitting-diode curing unit and the mode of polymerization were: standard (exposure for 40 seconds at 700 mW/cm(2)), pulse-delay (initial exposure for 6 seconds at 350 mW/cm(2) followed by a resting period of 3 minutes and a final exposure of 37 seconds at 700 mW/cm(2)) and soft-start curing (exposure 10 seconds at 350 mW/cm(2) and 35 seconds at 700 mW/cm(2)).