Effects of LED Lights on Bulk Fill Resin Polymerization

Mayara Manfrin Arnez; Leonardo de Pádua Andrade Almeida; Tatiane Cristina Dotta; Raisa Castelo; David Emanuel Ugarte; Ana Paula Ramos; Andréa Cândido dos Reis & Alma Blásida Concepcion Elizaur Benitez Catirse

Summary

The present study analyzed the microhardness and degree of conversion of three Bulk Fill resins (M1 - Filtek Bulk Fill; M2 - Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill and M3 - Opus Bulk Fill) polymerized by single peak and polywave Light-emitting Diode Curing Lights. A total 90 test specimens (n=10) were obtained using a Teflon matrix for the purpose of testing microhardness; and for degree of conversion: 135 specimens (n=5) by using a 2 x 6 cm matrix. The specimens were light polymerized using 3 light sources (L1 - Optilight Max, L2 - Bluephase, L3 - VALO). They were kept in artificial saliva om an oven at 37±1°C during the experiment. The degree of conversion was measured by FTIR 24 h after obtaining each test specimen. The microhardness readouts were performed with a microdurometer at the time intervals of 48 hours (T0), 7 days (T1), 14 days (T2) and 21 days (T3). M1L3 was found to show the highest microhardness values in T2, and M1 showed the lowest degree of conversion in the deep third with L1. It was concluded that Filtek Bulk Fill resin showed the best results in comparison with the other resins.

KEY WORDS: composite resins, dental material, hardness, degree of conversion, LED.

How to cite this article

ARNEZ, M. M.; ALMEIDA, L. P. A.; DOTTA, T. C.; CASTELO, R.; UGARTE, D. E.; RAMOS, A. P.; REIS, A. C.; & CATIRSE, A. B. C. E. B. Effects of LED lights on bulk fill resin polymerization. Int. J. Odontostomat., 17(4):438-445, 2023.