Evaluation of intensity standards of tungsten-halogen and led curing units / Evaluación de estándares de intensidad de unidades de curado tugsteno-halógenas y leds

Current evidence indicates that the minimum light intensity of photo curing units required to polymerize in a reliable way a composite resin, in increments of 2mm, is 300mW/cm2. The recent introduction of new generations of composite resin materials for large volume increments, partially contrasts with ISO 4049 (2009), calling for the use of light intensity of 1,000mW/cm2. Therefore, it is considered relevant to carry out periodic measurements of the emission intensity of light-curing units of clinical use. The aim of this study was to test the intensity [mW/cm2] of a representative sample of tungsten-halogen and LED photopolymerization units used in private and public health service in different areas of the Valparaíso Region in Chile. This was achieved through the use of dental radiometers, without considering the variables of intensity modification over time (either spontaneously, by undesirable inherent characteristics of the device, or by programs of intensity modification in time), or the density of accumulated power needed. This in vitro diagnostic test, evaluated a sample of 507 units, 107 halogen and 400 LED, for a period of around one month, using two radiometers as measuring instruments. For LED units the Bluephase Meter® radiometer, from Ivoclar-VivadentTM was used, and for halogen units we used the Coltolux® from ColténeTM. As a result, 85% of the LED and halogen units achieved the minimum requirements of intensity needed for the polymerization of conventional dental biomaterials. However, only 25% from the tested units achieved a power density of 1,000mW/cm2.

LED and Halogen Light Transmission through a CAD/CAM Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramic

The effect of thickness, shade and translucency of CAD/CAM lithium disilicate glass-ceramic on light transmission of light-emitting diode (LED) and quartz-tungsten-halogen units (QTH) were evaluated. Ceramic IPS e.max CAD shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5, high (HT) and low (LT) translucency were cut (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm). Light sources emission spectra were determined. Light intensity incident and transmitted through each ceramic sample was measured to determine light transmission percentage (TP). Statistical analysis used a linear regression model. There was significant interaction between light source and ceramic translucency (p=0.008) and strong negative correlation (R=-0.845, p<0.001) between ceramic thickness and TP. Increasing one unit in thickness led to 3.17 reduction in TP. There was no significant difference in TP (p=0.124) between shades A1 (ß1=0) and A2 (ß1=-0.45) but significant reduction occurred for A3 (ß1=-0.83) and A3.5 (ß1=-2.18). The interaction QTH/HT provided higher TP (ß1=0) than LED/HT (ß1=-2.92), QTH/LT (ß1=-3.75) and LED/LT (ß1=-5.58). Light transmission was more effective using halogen source and high-translucency ceramics, decreased as the ceramic thickness increased and was higher for the lighter shades, A1 and A2. From the regression model (R2=0.85), an equation was obtained to estimate TP value using each variable ß1 found. A maximum TP of 25% for QTH and 20% for LED was found, suggesting that ceramic light attenuation could compromise light cured and dual cure resin cements polymerization.

Resumo Avaliou-se o efeito da espessura, cor e translucidez de uma cerâmica vítrea a base de dissilicato de lítio para CAD / CAM sobre a transmissão da luz de unidades de diodos emissores de luz (LED) e de quartzo-tungstênio-halogênio (QTH). Cerâmica IPS e.max CAD nas cores A1, A2, A3, A3.5 de translucidez alta (HT) e baixa (LT) foram cortadas (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm). Os espectros de emissão das fontes de luz foram determinados. A intensidade da luz incidente e transmitida através de cada espécime de cerâmica foi medida para determinar a percentagem de transmissão de luz (TP). Um modelo de regressão linear foi utilizado para a análise estatística. Houve interação significativa entre a fonte de luz e translucidez cerâmica (p = 0.008) e forte correlação negativa (r = -0.845, p <0.001) entre a espessura da cerâmica e TP. O aumento da espessura em uma unidade levou a uma redução média de 3.17 em TP. Não houve diferença significativa em TP (p = 0.124) entre as cores A1 (ß1 = 0) e A2 (ß1 = -0.45), mas ocorreu redução significativa para as cores A3 (ß1 = -0.83) e A3.5 (ß1 = -2.18). A interação QTH/HT proporcionou maior TP (ß1 = 0) do que LED/HT (ß1 = -2.92), QTH/LT (ß1 = -3.75) e LED/LT (ß1 = -5.58). A transmissão de luz foi mais eficaz utilizando QTH e cerâmica de alta translucidez, diminuiu à medida que a espessura de cerâmica aumentou, e foi maior para as cores A1 e A2. A partir do modelo de regressão (R2 = 0.85), obteve-se uma equação para estimar o valor de TP utilizando os valores de ß1 encontrado. Foi observada TP máxima de 25% para QTH e 20% para LED, sugerindo que a atenuação promovida pela cerâmica pode comprometer a ativação de um cimento resinoso fotoativado e de ativação dupla.