Light energy transmission and Vickers hardness ratio of bulk-fill resin based composites at different thicknesses cured by a dual-wave or a single-wave light curing unit.

Purpose: To quantify light energy transmission through two bulk-fill resin-based composites and to measure the top to bottom surface Vickers hardness ratio (VHratio) of samples of various incremental thicknesses, using either a single-wave or dual-wave light curing unit (LCU).

Methods: Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TECBF) and SonicFill (SF) were studied. Using MARC-RC, the irradiance delivered to the top surface of the samples 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm thick (n= 5 for each thickness) was adjusted to 800 mW/cm2 for 20 seconds (16 J/cm2) using either a single-wave, Bluephase or a dual-wave, Bluephase G2 LCUs.

The influence of two different curing regimens on light energy transmission through bulk-fill resin composites and Vickers hardness.

Purpose: To compare the total light energy transmission (J/cm2) through bulk-fill composite materials (BFMs) and Vickers hardness (VH) using a single-peak light curing unit (LCU) using two curing regimens.

Methods: Samples (n= 5) of viscous BFMs, Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TBF), X-tra fil (XF), and flowable BFMs, SureFil SDR (SDR), and X-tra base (XB) were prepared in 4 mm deep rings. The control was Tetric EvoCeram (TEC), a conventional composite.

The Effect of Irradiation Distance on Light Transmittance and Vickers Hardness Ratio of Two Bulk-fill Resin-based Composites.

The aims of this study were to assess the light energy transmission and Vickers hardness (VH) ratio of two bulk-fill resin-based composites (RBCs) (Tetric EvoCeram and Filtek) cured at different distances between the light curing unit's (LCU) tip and the surface of the restoration (T-S) using either a Bluephase G2, Bluephase® 'turbo tip' or Bluephase Style LCU. Samples were cured from the top at T-S distances of 2mm, 6mm and 10mm for 20 seconds. A MARC-Resin-Calibrator™ recorded the transmitted irradiance reaching the bottom of the sample, in real time.

What I wish I'd learned at dental school.

Background Much concern appears to exist as to the scope and content of contemporary dental school programmes, with the oft-cited criticism being made that dental graduates are 'no longer as good as they used to be'.Aim The aim of this project was to survey the views of dentists - both new graduates and more established practitioners - on aspects of their own dental school training they felt had been deficient as well as commenting on what aspects of dental school education they would like to see improved/enhanced in current times.Methods An invitation to complete an Internet-based questionnaire was emailed to the Fellows and Members of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK).