Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics

Effect of light-curing modes on degree of conversion and color stability of flowable bulk-fill composites: an in vitro experimental study: Eda Karaaslan, Sultan Aktuğ Karademir; Restor Dent Endod 2026;51(3):e35. Published online August 4, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2026.51.e35

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
This study aims to evaluate the impact of light-curing modes on the degree of conversion (DC) and color change (CIEDE2000 color difference, ΔE00) of different flowable composite resins.
Methods
A total of 120 specimens (n = 10 per group) were prepared from four materials: G-aenial Universal Injectable (GUI; GC), Estelite Bulk Fill Flow (EBF; Tokuyama Dental), Tetric N-Flow Bulk Fill (TNF; Ivoclar Vivadent), and Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable (FBF; 3M ESPE). The specimens were polymerized using an LED light-curing unit under three light-curing modes: standard (1,000 mW/cm², 20 seconds), high-power (1,400 mW/cm², 3 × 4 seconds), and extra-power (3,200 mW/cm², 2 × 3 seconds). The DC was quantified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Color measurements were performed at baseline, and on the 7th and 14th days after immersion in coffee, using a spectrophotometer. The ΔE₀₀ was calculated using the CIEDE2000 formula. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software (α = 0.05).
Results
Material type and light-curing mode significantly affected both the DC and ΔE00 (p < 0.05). All composites exhibited lower DC in the extra-power mode compared to the high-power mode. On day 14, the extra-power mode resulted in significantly greater discoloration in TNF, FBF, and EBF compared to the high-power mode (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Although curing with the extra-power mode saves time, it may result in a lower DC and an increase in ΔE00 in flowable composite resin.

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Effect of curing modes on micro-hardness of dual-cure resin cements: Ki-Deok Lee, Se-Hee Park, Jin-Woo Kim, Kyung-Mo Cho; J Korean Acad Conserv Dent 2011;36(2):132-138. Published online March 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2011.36.2.132

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
The purpose of this study was to evaluate curing degree of three dual-cure resin cements with the elapsed time in self-cure and dual-cure mode by means of the repeated measure of micro-hardness.
Materials and Methods
Two dual-cure self-adhesive resin cements studied were Maxcem Elite (Kerr), Rely-X Unicem (3M ESPE) and one conventional dual-cure resin cement was Rely-X ARC resin cement (3M ESPE). Twenty specimens for each cements were made in Teflon mould and divided equally by self-cure and dual-cure mode and left in dark, 36℃, 100% relative humidity conditional-micro-hardness was measured at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr and 24 hr after baseline. The results of micro-hardness value were statistically analyzed using independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons using Scheffe's test.
Results
The micro-hardness values were increased with time in every test groups. Dual-cure mode obtained higher micro-hardness value than self-cure mode except after one hour of Maxcem. Self-cured Rely-X Unicem showed lowest value and dual-cured Rely-X Unicem showed highest value in every measuring time.
Conclusions
Sufficient light curing to dual-cure resin cements should provided for achieve maximum curing.

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The effect of different curing modes on composite resin/dentin bond strength in class icavities: Shin-young Baek, Young-Gon Cho, Byeong-Choon Song; J Korean Acad Conserv Dent 2008;33(5):428-434. Published online September 30, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2008.33.5.428

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

The purpose of this study was to compare the microtensile bond strength in Class I cavities associated with different light curing modes of same light energy density.

Occlusal enamel was removed to expose a flat dentin surface and twenty box-shaped Class I cavities were prepared in dentin. Single Bond (3M Dental product) was applied and Z 250 was inserted using bulk technique. The composite was light-cured using one of four techniques; pulse delay (PD group), soft-start (SS group), pulse cure (PC group) and standard continuous cure (CC group). The light-curing unit capable of adjusting time and intensity (VIP, Bisco Dental product) was selected and the light energy density for all curing modes was fixed at 16 J/cm². After storage for 24 hours, specimens were sectioned into beams with a rectangular cross-sectional area of approximately 1 mm². Microtensile bond strength (µTBS) test was performed using a universal testing machine (EZ Test, Shimadzu Co.). The results were analyzed using oneway ANOVA and Tukey's test at significance level 0.05. The µTBS of PD group and SS group was higher than that of PC group and CC group.

Within the limitations of this in vitro study, modification of curing modes such as pulse delay and soft start polymerization can improve resin/dentin bond strength in Class I cavities by controlling polymerization velocity of composite resin.

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