Dental Materials
Volume 29, Issue 8 , Pages 824-834, August 2013
Abstract
Objectives
The latest LED dental curing
devices claim sufficient curing of restorative materials with short
curing times. This study evaluates mechanical and chemical properties as
a function of curing time of two commercial composite filling materials
cured with three different LED lamps.
Methods
The
composites were Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) and Tetric EvoCeram (Ivoclar
Vivadent) and the LED curing devices were bluephase 16i (Ivoclar
Vivadent), L.E.Demetron II (Kerr) and Mini L.E.D. (Satelec). Control
samples were cured with a QTH-lamp (VCL 400, Kerr). The wear resistance
after simulated tooth brushing, degree of conversion, curing depth, and
amounts of residual monomers were measured after different curing times.
Results
The
results of this study show that short curing time with high-intensity
LEDs may influence the bulk properties of the materials, resulting in
lower curing depth and increased residual monomer content. The measured
surface properties of the materials, degree of conversion and wear
resistance, were not affected by short curing times to the same extent.
Significance
This
study demonstrates that reduced exposure time with high intensity LEDs
can result in composite restorations with inferior curing depth and
increased leaching of monomers. Dentists are recommended to use
sufficient curing times even with high intensity LEDs to ensure adequate
curing and minimize the risk of monomer leaching.
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