By

Ninad Muley
First B.D.S
Batch 2004-2005

Light Curing Devices for
Composites
Light curing of Composites
Overcome problems of chemical
curing
Command set property
Incremental technique
Expensive
Basic Principle
Light Curing Devices
1. QTH LAMPS
2. ARGON LASER LAMPS
3. PAC LAMPS
4. LED LAMPS
Quartz-Tungsten-Halogen
Most common dental curing light
Quartz
Encasing structure
Crystalline
Heat resistant
Tungsten
Filament coil
Flow of electricity
Quartz-Tungsten-Halogen
Halogen gas
Protects filament from
oxidation
Re-deposits tungsten
to filament halogen cycle
Quartz-Tungsten-Halogen
Radiant output
infrared energy (IR)
heat
Cooling critical
Do not turn off fan
Halogen gas lost
Oxygen enters
Bulb life dramatically decreases
Quartz-Tungsten-Halogen
Filters
restricts broader light
to narrow blue light
400-500 nm
range of photo-initiators
99.5% of original radiant energy
filtered
inefficient
ARGON LASER
Introduced in 1964
Produces a wavelength of 488nm

Argon Laser
High energy
coherent, non-divergent
Very expensive
Warning signs required
PAC Devices
Plasma-Arc (PAC)
Two tungsten electrodes
small gap
Pressurized chamber
xenon gas
High-voltage spark
ionizes gas
plasma
Plasma-Arc (PAC)
High levels of IR and UV
extensive filtering
down to 400-500 nm
Plasma-Arc (PAC)
High irradiance
> 2000 mW/cm
2
claim 1-3 sec cure
Expensive
Less Depth of Cure
Light emitting diode
Light-Emitting Diodes (LED)
Semiconductors
electrically-excited atoms
Gallium-nitride blue
Gallium - Arsenide
Narrow emission spectrum
430-490 nm
peak at 470 nm
efficient


LED Curing Lights
Long lasting light source
minimal ageing
minimal decrease in output
Less lateral heat production
minimal or no fan
necessary
No filters
Typically cordless
LED Curing Lights
First generation
high cost
low irradiance
< 300 mW/cm
2
increase exposure time

LED Curing Lights
Second generation
lower cost
higher irradiance
> 600 mW/cm
2

similar to halogen
Depth of cure and
Exposure time
Degree of conversion
Opacity, filler size, filler
concentration and pigment shade
of the composite resin.
Absorption and scattering of light
by tooth structure especially dentin.
Quality and intensity of light source
as well as age of light source.
REDUCTION OF RESIDUAL
STRESS
Reduction in the volume
contraction by altering material
chemistry and/ or composition
of resin system.

Clinical techniques designed to
offset the effect of
polymerization shrinkage.
Clinical Techniques
Incremental build up
cavity configuration
Soft start
ramped curing
delayed curing
PRECAUTIONS FOR USING
CURING LAMPS
The dentist and the patient must
wear protective glasses
Curing light should be as close as
possible to composite
Curing tip should be clean
Use incremental technique only
Irradiance should be checked
periodically