Temperature transmission of high-output light-curing units through dentin

Light-curing units used for polymerizing restorative resins produce heat during operation. Newer curing units with concentrating light guides or different light sources may require shorter curing times, however, the effect of such modifications on temperature transfer to the pulp is unknown. This study examined the effect of high output light-curing units on temperature transfer through resin composite and dentin. Temperature rise was measured for 40 seconds for one curing light (Optilux 401 Curing Light) with either a standard 8 mm light guide tip or a light-concentrating tip (Turbo Light Guide), and for three seconds with a plasma arc lamp (Apollo 95E Curing Light). Temperatures were directly recorded at the tip of the light guide and through a sandwich composed of a 1 mm thick pre-cured cylinder of resin composite and dentin (dentin thickness either 0.58 mm or 1.45 mm). The mean temperature rise ranged from 1.8degrees C, measured through the sandwich of 1 mm of composite and 1.45 mm of dentin with the plasma are unit, to 26.4degrees C measured directly on the Turbo light guide. For each light guide, the temperature increase was greatest when measured directly on the curing tip and least when measured through the composite and 1.45 mm dentin specimens. When measured through the composite/dentin sandwich, the plasma arc unit produced the lowest temperature increase (0.58 mm thick dentin specimen = 5.1 degrees C; 1.45 mm thick dentin specimen = 1.8 degrees C). For a given thickness of resin, the differences in temperature change for all comparisons among the three curing unit/light guides were significant at the 95% level of confidence. Also, for a given light, the differences in temperature for all comparisons among the dentin thicknesses were significant at the 95% level of confidence. However, there were three comparisons of light unit and dentin thickness interaction that were not significant at the 95% leyel of confidence. For all other comparisons of interaction, significant differences were found at the 95% level of confidence. The temperature increased by 42% to 56% when the Turbo Light Guide was used compared to the standard light guide for thick and thin dentin specimens, respectively.