The Effect of the Light Intensity and Light Distances of LED and QTH Curing Devices on the Hardness of Two Light-Cured Nano-Resin Composites

Background: Effective polymerization of the composite resin is essential to obtain long term clinical success and has a great importance obtaining improved mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of the light intensity of LED and QTH curing devices in relation to the light distances, on the hardness (KHN) of two light cure nano-resin composite. Material and Methods: The top and bottom surfaces of the two nanofill composite specimens were evaluated. Two LED and two QTH light curing devices were used at nine different distances. Light intensity was measured with two radiometers placed at these same distances from the curing tip. 360 pvc dies were prepared with circular cavity 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick. The tested materials were placed in each cavity. The different light curing distances were standardized by adding pvc spacers dies at different height matching the different distances. Top and bottom surface microhardness were evaluated with a Micro Hardness Tester in knoop hardness numbers (Kg/mm2). Data were statistically analyzed using: Three-way ANOVA, Tukey and Pearsons test. Results: It was revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in microhardness between the composites (p < 0.001), between the nine distances (p < 0.001) and between the four light curing devices (p < 0.001). Increasing the distance of the light source from composite resin, the light intensity and the microhardness values at the top and bottom surface decrease. LED light curing devices produced a greater microhardness results at the bottom surface of the specimens. The Filtek Ultimate nanocomposite (3 m) showed highest microhardness values on the top and bottom surfaces, polymerized with all four curing devices and all nine distances compared to Empress Direct nano composite (Ivoclar vivadent). Clinical significant: Even with high power LED curing light, the distance between the tip of the light source and the restoration surface should be as close as possible. In this study, Filtek Ultimate showed better results (highest microhardness values) than Empress Direct.

Polar-coordinate line-projection light-curing continuous 3D printing for tubular structures

3D printing techniques offer an effective method in fabricating complex radially multi-material structures.However,it is challenging for complex and delicate radially multi-material model geometries without supporting structures,such as tissue vessels and tubular graft,among others.In this work,we tackle these challenges by developing a polar digital light processing technique which uses a rod as the printing platform.The 3D model fabrication is accomplished through line projection.The rotation and translation of the rod are synchronized to project and illuminate the photosensitive material volume.By controlling the distance between the rod and the printing window,we achieved the printing of tubular structures with a minimum wall thickness as thin as 50 micrometers.By controlling the width of fine slits at the printing window,we achieved the printing of structures with a minimum feature size of 10 micrometers.Our process accomplished the fabrication of thin-walled tubular graft structure with a thickness of only 100 micrometers and lengths of several centimeters within a timeframe of just 100 s.Additionally,it enables the printing of axial multi-material structures,thereby achieving adjustable mechanical strength.This method is conducive to rapid customization of tubular grafts and the manufacturing of tubular components in fields such as dentistry,aerospace,and more.

Synthesis and application of a novel star-hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid) for improved dental restoratives

A new star-hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid) has been synthesized and incorporated into dental glassionomer cement for enhanced mechanical strengths. The effects of arm number and branching on viscosity of the polymer aqueous solution and mechanical strengths of the formed experimental cement were evaluated. It was found that the higher the arm number and the more the branching, the lower the viscosity of the polymer solution as well as the mechanical strengths of the formed cement. It was also found that the experimental cement exhibited significantly higher mechanical strengths than commercial Fuji II LC. The experimental cement was 51% in CS, 55% in compressive modulus, 118% in DTS, 82% in FS, 18% in FT and 85% in KHN higher than Fuji II LC. The experimental cement was only 6.7% of abrasive and 10% of attritional wear depths of Fuji II LC in each wear cycle. It appears that this novel experimental cement is a clinically attractive dental restorative and may potentially be used for high-wear and high-stress-bearing site restorations.

Properties of a New Dental Photocurable Resin based on the Expanding Monomer and Threecomponent Photoinitiator System

The purpose of this study was to use. a three-component photoinitiation system comprising 1wt% CQ （camphorquinone）, 2wt% DMAEMA （2-（dimethylamino） ethyl meth acrylate） and 2wt% ph^2I^＋PF6^- （diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate） to initiate the copolymerization of the matrix resins which combine bisphenol-S-bis （3-methacrylate-2-hydroxy propyl） ether （BisS-GMA） with the expanding monomer unsaturated spiro orthoesters 2-methylene-l,4,6-tdspiro[4,4] nonane （MTOSN）, for minimizing the volumetric shrinkage that generally occurs during polymerization. It was hypothesized that MTOSN would expand volumetrically during polymerization under the three-component photoinitiator system and further reductions in volumetric shrinkage would be obtained. The performance study which consists of degree of conversion and condition of the ring-opening reactions of MTOSN, volumetric shrinkage and mechanical properties including tensile bond strength, compressive strength and Vicker＇s hardness were carried out respectively by Fourier transfer infrared, the dilatometer and the universal testing machine. The results supported that the dental composites based on the expanding monomer and three-component photoinitiator system engendered a greater decrease of volumetric shrinkage and better mechanieal properties.

Bond Strength of Orthodontic Bracket Cement Using a Bleaching Light for Curing

Aim: To investigate the bond strengths achieved by using a Bleaching Curing Light (BCL) to polymerize orthodontic bonding cement. Material and Methods: 160 anterior bovine teeth were used to form 20 average sized human dental arches, and distributed into 2 groups according to which light curing method used: Group 1: BCL for 40 seconds, or Group 2: LED for 10 seconds. After storage in a controlled environment, Shear Bond Strength (SBS) and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) were determined. Results: Group 1 showed significantly lower SBS in the most posterior (first molar) position of the dental arch, (Group 1: 0.7 ± 1.0 MPa, Group 2: 2.9 ± 1.7 MPa, p Conclusion: Simultaneous full-arch curing of orthodontic bracket cement using a BCL is clinically acceptable in all but the most posterior locations along the dental arch.

Hardness of resin cement cured under different thickness of lithium disilicate-based ceramic

Background The lithium disilicate-based ceramic is a newly developed all-ceramic material, which is lithium disilicate-based and could be used for fabricating almost all kinds of restorations. The extent of light attenuation by ceramic material was material-dependent. Ceramic materials with different crystal composition or crystalline content would exhibit distinct light-absorbing characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of ceramic thickness and light-curing time on the polymerization of a dual-curing resin luting material with a lithium disilicate-based ceramic. Methods A lithium disilicate-based ceramic was used in this study. The light attenuation caused by ceramic with different thickness was determined using a spectral radiometer. The commercial dual-cured resin cement was light-cured directly or through ceramic discs with different thickness （1, 2 and 3 mm, respectively） for different times （10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 seconds, respectively）. The polymerization efficiency of resin cement was expressed in terms as Vickers hardness （VHN） measured after 24 hours storage. Two-way analysis of variance （ANOVA） and Tukey＇s HSD tests were used to determine differences. Results Intensity of polymerizing light transmitted through ceramic discs was reduced from 584 mW/cm2 to about 216 mW/cm2, 80 mW/cm2 and 52 mW/cm2 at thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm, respectively. Resin cement specimens self-cured alone showed significantly lower hardness values. When resin cement was light-cured through ceramic discs with a thickness of 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm, no further increasing in hardness values was observed when light-curing time was more than 30 seconds, 40 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively. Conclusions Within the limitation of the present study, ceramic thickness and light-curing time had remarkable influence on the polymerization of dual-cured resin cement. When resin cement is light-cured beneath a lithium disilicate ceramic with different thickness, prolonging light-curing time accordingly may still be necessary to insure complete polymerization.