0510 Intrapulpal Temperature Increases with LED, QTH and Plasma Arc Photoinitiation
M.R. BOUSCHLICHER, S.R. WHALEN, and D.V. DAWSON, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA

The near IR and unfiltered IR spectral emission of quartz-tungsten halogen (QTH) and short-arc Xenon or “plasma arc” (PAC) light curing units (LCU) may result in unacceptable intrapulpal temperature increases (5.5°C may elicit a marked intrapulpal response, Zach & Cohen, 1965) during photopolymerization. The narrow spectral emission of blue LED-LCU's (440-490nm) reportedly adds less heat during photopolymerization. Objectives: This study compared intrapulpal temperature increases resulting from photopolymerization of a standardized volume of composite in a Class II preparation using LED-, QTH-, and PAC-LCUs. Methods: A mandibular molar with a conservative Class II preparation was suspended in a 37.0°C water bath. A peristaltic pump perfused the pulp chamber with 37.0°C water (simulated blood flow of 40-50ml/100g of tissue/min.). Intrapulpal and water bath temperatures were recorded with K-type thermocouples and an Omega PC-TC6 thermocouple card and data-logging software. A standardized volume of composite (2 x 3 x 1 mm) representing the first increment was polymerized and temperature change (n=5 per group) was recorded for 180s. Exposure durations utilized were based on equivalent depth of cure. LCU/source/cure modes tested included: Demetron 401 (control)/QTH/40s, Demetron D501 (D501)/QTH/15s ramp, Trilight (TL)/QTH/40s standard, Virtuoso (V)/PAC/9s, FreeLight (FL)/LED/40s. Temperature increases among groups were compared with a Kruskal-Wallace rank ANOVA. Pairwise comparisons were made using a Tukey adjustment (a=0.05). Results: Mean intrapulpal temperature increases °C, (S.D.) and homogeneous subset (means with same subscript letter not significantly different) in descending order were:, control=5.45 (0.54)A, TL=3.73 (0.17)B, V=2.41 (0.23)C, D501=2.01 (0.27)C. FL=1.70 (0.29)C. Conclusions: LED (FL), PAC (V) and newer QTH models (D501, TL) had significantly lower intrapulpal temperature increases than the older QTH control.

Seq #61 - Properties of Light-curing Units, Polymerization, Radiopacity
11:00 AM-12:15 PM, Thursday, 7 March 2002 San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Hall C

Back to the Dental Materials: VIII - Others-Non-metallic Program
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