Some post systems purport to transmit light for curing composite within root canal spaces. Objectives: evaluate the effectiveness of post light transmission by assessing resin cure via Knoop Hardness Number (KHN). Methods: 5 Delrin molds (12-mm i.d. x 17-mm high) were filled with Z100 composite, a Luscent Anchor (size M, Dentatus) implanted into the resin center to the mold bottom. Resin was cured for 2-minutes using an Optilux 501 VLC unit with the curing tip in contact with the post end. After 24 hrs, KHN readings were made at the top and bottom of the first 2-mm section and then at the bottom surface of 4 subsequent 1-mm sections. On each of these 6 surfaces, 4 KHN measurements (circumferentially at 90° separation) were averaged, at 6 distances (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5mm) from the resin/post interface. Results: KHN scores were analyzed with a 2-way repeated-measure ANOVA, which identified significant effects (p<0.0001) for depth, distance from the post, and their interaction (the effect of distance from post increased with depth). Conclusion: While the light-transmitting post did enhance cure at deeper levels near the post, data indicates limited utility for this system measured against an 80% hardness criterion.

	KHN (S.D.) Bold Type indicates < 80% mean top KHN
	Distance From Post (mm)
Depth (mm)	0	0.5	1.0	1.5	2.0	2.5
Top	57.5 (1.3)	57.3 (1.1)	56.2 (0.9)	56.3 (0.7)	56.0 (1.0)	56.2 (1.1)
2	55.1 (1.3)	54.2 (0.5)	53.9 (0.5)	53.7 (0.2)	53.1 (0.6)	52.8 (0.3)
3	54.0 (0.8)	52.2 (1.4)	51.3 (1.8)	50.5 (1.5)	49.0 (2.6)	47.7 (3.4)
4	46.4 (5.0)	43.0 (3.1)	41.4 (4.3)	40.6 (4.6)	39.1 (4.6)	38.3 (4.8)
5	41.5 (2.2)	39.4 (2.3)	38.0 (3.3)	37.0 (3.4)	34.3 (2.1)	32.6 (2.7)
6	30.2 (5.5)	26.6 (7.5)	23.1 (7.6)	18.1 (9.0)	13.4 (8.7)	9.5 (8.2)

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