31
Volume3 Issue6
|
S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
What shouldyou look for ina
curing light?
For long-lasting, durable restorations, you must select the right
curing light for your practice. But sifting through manufacturer’s
claims and deciding what type of curing light to choose can be
a daunting task. To help shed some light on this question, CDA
convened a panel discussion with three light curing experts who
attended the
2014SymposiumonLightCuring inDentistry
inHalifax.
On the importanceof
access
HS:
Fromaclinician’s viewpoint, access is avery important criterion. Iwant tobe
able toaccess the tooth I’m restoring from theocclusal, buccal, and lingual aspects,
knowing fullwell that not everypatient canopen theirmouthadequately toget full
access. Acuring light shouldworkwell for bothadult andpediatricpatientswith the
light heldat right angles to the surfaceandas closeaspossiblewithout interfering
with thecomposite.
On the importanceof
light intensity
JO:
Frommyperspectiveas aphotopolymer scientist, I believe thereare several key
factorsone should investigatewhenyouareconsideringbuyinganewcuring light.
Thecuring light shouldhaveenough intensity toensureagoodandcomparable
cureat both the topandbottomof thecomposite restoration,without generating
toomuchheat. Iwould suggest lightswith intensityvaluesof 750 tonomore than
2,000milliwattsper squarecentimetre. Thosewithoutputshigher than this amount
potentiallygenerateexcessiveheat,without curing thecompositeany faster.Most
recent studies show that higher intensitydoesnot result in shorter curing timesdue
to thenatureof today’s curingchemistries. One should follow the suggestedcuring
timesof thecompositemanufacturer andnot that of the lightmanufacturer.
On the importanceof
choosingablue-onlyora
multiwave/multipeakcuring light
FR:
WithLED-basedcuring lights, you’reusually facedwith2choices: a light that
emitsonlyblue light or a light that emitsbothblueandviolet light, also knownas a
multiwave (ormultipeak) light. Ablue-onlyLED light activates aphotoinitiator in the
restorativematerial calledcamphorquinone,whereas amultiwave light polymerizes
materialsbyactivatingbothcamphorquinoneandanalternative initiator.
Dr.HowardStrassler
(
HS
)
is professoranddirectorof
operativedentistryat the
UniversityofMarylandSchool
ofDentistry in thedepartment
of endodontics, prosthodontics,
andoperativedentistry.
Dr. JoeOxman
(
JO
)
has
aPhD inorganic chemistry
and isa corporate scientist
with3M’sOralCareSystems
Division.He isalso the3M
DirectorofResearch for the
MinnesotaDentalResearch
Center forBiomaterialsand
Biomechanicsat theUniversity
ofMinnesota.
Dr. FrederickRueggeberg
(
FR
)
is professorand section
directorofdentalmaterials
at theDentalCollege
ofGeorgiaatAugusta
University inGeorgia.
ThePanelExperts
