This study investigated the effects of physically damaged and resin-contaminated tips on radiant emittance, comparing them with new undamaged, non-contaminated tips using 3 pieces of spectrophotometric laboratory equipment.

Nine tips with damage and/or resin contaminants from actual clinical situations were compared with a new tip without damage or contamination (control group). The radiant emittance was recorded using 3 spectrophotometric methods: a laboratory-grade thermopile, a laboratory-grade integrating sphere, and a portable light collector (checkMARC).

A significant difference between the laboratory-grade thermopile and the laboratory-grade integrating sphere was found when the radiant emittance values of the control or damaged/contaminated tips were investigated (p < 0.05), but both methods were comparable to checkMARC (p > 0.05). Regardless of the method used to quantify the light output, the mean radiant emittance values of the damaged/contaminated tips were significantly lower than those of the control (p < 0.05). The beam profile of the damaged/contaminated tips was less homogeneous than that of the control.

Damaged/contaminated tips can reduce the radiant emittance output and the homogeneity of the beam, which may affect the energy delivered to composite restorations. The checkMARC spectrophotometer device can be used in dental offices, as it provided values close to those produced by a laboratory-grade integrated sphere spectrophotometer. Dentists should assess the radiant emittance of their light-curing units to ensure optimal curing in photoactivated, resin-based materials.

The purpose of this study was to measure the power density of light curing units transmitted through resin inlays fabricated with direct composite (Filtek Z350, Filtek Supreme XT) and indirect composite (Sinfony).

A3 shade of Z350, A3B and A3E shades of Supreme XT, and A3, E3, and T1 shades of Sinfony were used to fabricate the resin inlays in 1.5 mm thickness. The power density of a halogen light curing unit (Optilux 360) and an LED light curing unit (Elipar S10) through the fabricated resin inlays was measured with a hand held dental radiometer (Cure Rite). To investigate the effect of each composite layer consisting the resin inlays on light transmission, resin specimens of each shade were fabricated in 0.5 mm thickness and power density was measured through the resin specimens.

The power density through the resin inlays was lowest with the Z350 A3, followed by Supreme XT A3B and A3E. The power density was highest with Sinfony A3, E3, and T1 (p < 0.05). The power density through 0.5 mm thick resin specimens was lowest with dentin shades, Sinfony A3, Z350 A3, Supreme XT A3B, followed by enamel shades, Supreme XT A3E and Sinfony E3. The power density was highest with translucent shade, Sinfony T1 (p < 0.05).

Using indirect lab composites with dentin, enamel, and translucent shades rather than direct composites with one or two shades could be advantageous in transmitting curing lights through resin inlays.

The purpose of this study was to observe the reaction kinetics and the degree of polymerization of composite resins when cured by different light sources and to evaluate the effectiveness of the blue Light Emitting Diode Light Curing Units (LED LCUs) compared with conventional halogen LCUs.

First, thermal analysis was performed by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The LED LCU (Elipar Freelight, 320 mW/cm²) and the conventional halogen LCU (XL3000, 400 mW/cm²) were used in this study for curing three composite resins (SureFil, Z-250 and AEliteFLO). Second, the degree of conversion was obtained in the composite resins cured according to the above curing mode with a FTIR. Third, the measurements of depth of cure were carried out in accordance with ISO 4049 standards. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA test at 95% levels of confidence and Duncan's procedure for multiple comparisons.

The heat of cure was not statistically different among the LCUs (p > 0.05). The composites cured by the LED (Exp) LCUs were statistically more slowly polymerized than by the halogen LCU and the LED (Std) LCU (p < 0.05). The composite resin groups cured by the LED (Exp) LCUs had significantly greater degree of conversion value than by the halogen LCU and the LED (Std) LCU (p = 0.0002). The composite resin groups cured by the LED (Std) LCUs showed significantly greater depth of cure value than by the halogen LCU and the LED (Exp) LCU (p < 0.05).

This study investigated the hypothesis that increasing light-curing time would leave the oxygen-inhibited layer (OIL) of the adhesive thinner, and in turn, result in lower shear bond strength (SBS) than those obtained by the routine curing procedures.

120 human extracted posterior teeth were randomly divided into three groups for bonding with three adhesives: All Bond 2®, One Step®, and Adper Prompt®. They were subsequently divided into four subgourps with different light-curing time (10, 20, 30 and 60 s). The assigned adhesives were applied on superficial occlusal dentin according to the manufacturer’s instructions and cured with one of the four curing times. Composite resin cylinder, 2.35 mm in diameter, were built on the cured adhesive and light-cured for 40 s. SBS were measured after 24 h from the bonding using a universal testing machine (crosshead speed 1.0 mm/min). The relative thickness of the OIL and the degree of conversion (DC) were determined from the adhesive on a slide glass using FT-NIR in an absorbance mode. Data were analysed with One-way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple test (p < 0.05).

With increasing cure time, although there were no significant difference in th SBS of One-step and Adper Prompt (p > 0.05), those of All Bond 2 decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The relative thicknesses of the OIL on each adhesive were not affected by the cure time (p > 0.05). Although the DC of All-Bond 2 were statistically not different with increasing cure time (p > 0.05), those of One-Step and Adper Prompt showed an increasing trends with increasing cure time (p < 0.05).

Increasing light-curing time did not affect on the relative thickness of the OIL of the adhesives, and in turn, on the SBS to dentin.