Microdureza de resina composta: efeito de aparelhos e tempos de polimerização em diferentes profundidades

Halogen light versus LED for bracket bonding: shear bond strength

INTRODUCTION: LED light-curing devices seek to provide a cold light activator which allows protocols of material polymerization with shorter duration. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength of bracket bonding using three types of light-curing devices: One with halogen light (Optilight Plus - Gnatus) and two with LEDs (Optilight CL - Gnatus and Elipar Freelight - 3M/ESPE). RESULTS: Comparing the results by analysis of variance, the Gnatus LED device showed an inferior statistical behavior in relation to other light sources, when activated by a short time. But, when it was used for 40 seconds, the polymerization results were consistent with the other evaluated sources. The device with the best average performance was the halogen light, followed by the 3M/ESPE LED. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the LEDs may be indicated in orthodontic practice, as long as a protocol is used for the application of light with the activation time of 40 seconds.

Dentine bond strength of a composite resin polymerized with conventional light and argon laser

The use of argon laser (488 nm) has been suggested as a new alternative for polymerizing adhesive materials. This study aimed to evaluate the tensile bond strength of a microfilled composite (A110, 3M) inserted by incremental technique (3 increments of 1 mm) and by single increment (3 mm) polymerized by argon laser for 10, 20 and 30 seconds and halogen light for 40 seconds. Eighty (8 groups of 10 teeth) freshly extracted bovine teeth were stored in a freezer in distilled water for one week. The crowns were cross-sectioned from the roots. Pulpectomy was performed and the pulp chambers were sealed with wax. The buccal surfaces of the teeth were ground with wet sandpaper (grains: 120, 400, and 600) to expose the surface dentin, and the teeth were then included in acrylic resin. A metal device was used to fix each sample and a black propylene matrix25 (3 mm high with an internal millimetric delimitation) was used to insert the material according to the groups studied. The polymerization intervals were of 10, 20 and 30 seconds for the laser polymerization and 40 seconds for the conventional polymerization. Tensile tests were performed by a Universal Testing Machine 4442 (Instron) at a speed of 0.5 mm/min and 500 N load. According to the methodology used, the incremental technique increased bond strength values. There was no difference between the studied polymerization techniques when resin was filled in 3 increments.

Vicker's hardness and Raman spectroscopy evaluation of a dental composite cured by an argon laser and a halogen lamp

We present the results of the Vicker's hardness test and the use of near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (RS) to measure in vitro the degree of conversion (DC) of a bis(phenol)-A-glycidyl-dimethacrylate-based composite resin, photoactivated by both a halogen lamp (power density=478 mW/cm(2); 8-mm diameter spot) and an argon laser (power density=625 mW/cm(2); 7-mm diameter spot). The degree of conversion was estimated by analyzing the relative intensities between the aromatic C=C stretching Raman mode at 1610 cm(-1) and the methacrylate C=C stretching Raman mode (1640 cm(-1)) on top and bottom surfaces. For the hardness evaluation, the samples were embedded in polyester resin and three indentations with a 50-g load for 10 s were made on the top surface. The higher relative DC values achieved by the photoactivation of a composite resin by the argon laser suggest a better biocompatibility in the bottom surface. The correlation test showed that the higher Vicker's hardness number (VHN) values were associated with higher DC values. The derivative analysis showed a greater curing rate from 5 to 20 s of exposure. The comparison of VHN and DC values with both light sources at each curing time showed that a small change in conversion is related to a large change in hardness. Raman spectroscopy is more sensitive to changes in the first stages of curing reaction than later ones, and the Vicker's hardness assay is more sensitive to changes in the last stages.

[Microhardness of resins as a function of color and halogen light]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of light intensity and the influence of the color of a composite resin on Knoop hardness. Samples were confected utilizing polyester matrices with 6 mm of diameter and 2 mm of depth. The matrices were filled with composite resin (Fill Magic - Vigodent), colors A3, B3, C3, D3 and I, and light-cured by means of an Elipar light-curing unit in three different light intensities: 450 mW/cm2, 800 mW/cm2 and an increasing intensity setup of 100 mW/cm2 to 800 mW/cm2. Ninety test specimens were confected, with the standard curing time of 40 seconds. The specimens were stored at 37 +/- 1 degrees C and immersed in distillate water. The Knoop test was carried out in superficial and deep areas of the specimens. The results revealed that there was no statistical difference (Tukey) between the tested colors. However, there was statistical difference between different light intensities. The authors concluded that the color of the composite resin did not influence Knoop hardness and that the progressive intensity setup led to the best Knoop hardness.