ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2018;35(1):58-64

Original article

UDC: 615.46:616.314

DOI: 10.2478/afmnai-2018-0006

 

The Influence of Different Light Curing Modes on the Depth of Cure of the Composite Resin

 

Nikola Miljković1, Stefan Dačić1,2, Tamara Karuntanović1, Marko Igić1,3, Milica Dačić4, Dragica Dačić-Simonović1,2

1University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia
2Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Niš, Serbia
3Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Clinic of Dentistry, Niš, Serbia
4Secondary Medical School ,,Dr Milenko Hadžić”, Niš, Serbia



summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different light curing modes on the depth of cure of the composite resin.
The metal block with formed round holes served as a mold for the placement of the composite resin. The composite resin was cured with Penguin DB-685 lamp with four optional working modes: strong, low, gradually strong, and flashing. Unpolymerized part of the composite specimen was removed by scraping with a plastic spatula, and then each specimen was placed into the capsule with 1 ml of ethanol alcohol and mixed for 20 s in amalgamator. The length of the remaining composite specimen was measured with the digital caliper with a precision of 0.01 mm. The measured values were divided by 2 (according to ISO 4049 standard) and then statistically processed.
Based on the measured lengths of the polymerized part of the composite specimens, the lowest average value of the depth of cure (2.75 ± 0.08 mm) was determined after polymerization with the low mode and the highest value was obtained (2.98 ± 0.08 mm) with strong polymerization mode. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was determined between low polymerization mode and all other modes (strong, gradually strong and flashing mode).
The observed statistically significant differences are not clinically important because all curing modes provided the necessary depth of cure, which is in accordance with the clinical recommendation of 2 mm thick composite layer.


Key words: depth of cure, curing mode, composite resin