One stated advantage of LED curing lights is that their spectral output corresponds well to the wavelength of maximum absorbance for the commonly used photoinitiator camphoroquinone. However, early generation LED lights were ineffective with certain composite resins because of the use of other photoinitiators or insufficient power. New generation LED lights are reported to effectively cure a wide range of composites. Objective: to assess the ability of current generation lights in curing commonly used composites. Methods: four LED curing lights were used: FL (Freelight 2, 3M ESPE); LED (L.E.Demetron, Kerr); RAD (Radii, SDI); and UL Ultralume 5 (Ultradent). Depth of cure (DOC) achieved with these units was compared to a halogen light: 501 (Optilux 501, Kerr) emitting 730 mW/cm². All composites were shade A-2 and were cured for 20s. DOC was determined by a scrape test in a manner similar to ISO 4049. Mean DOC for composites cured with each light were compared with ANOVA and Scheffe test with alpha=0.05. Results: DOC ranged from 2.25 mm (Clearfil AP-X/501) – 4.14 (Z250/Radii). DOC of each composite as cured by each light are arranged by decreasing depth of cure in the table. Lights with the same superscript are not significantly different.

Clearfil AP-X	Durafill VS	Glacier	Point 4	Simile	Filtek Supreme	Venus	Vit-l-escence	Filtek Z250
Kuraray	Heraeus Kulzer	SDI	Kerr	Pentron	3M ESPE	Heraeus Kulzer	Ultradent	3M ESPE
LEDa	RADa	RADa	RADa	LEDa	LEDa	ULa	LEDa	RADa
ULa	ULb	LEDab	FLab	RADa	ULab	LEDa	RADa	ULa
RADa	LEDb	FLab	ULb	ULa	RADbc	RADab	ULab	LEDa
FLab	FLb	ULab	LEDb	FLa	FLcd	501bc	FLbc	FLa
501b	501c	501b	501c	501b	501d	FLc	501c	501b

Conclusions: Significant differences were found in the ability of lights to cure composites, however all lights produced a DOC greater than the 2mm increment commonly recommended for placement.

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