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A pilot investigation of operator variability during intra-oral light curing
A C Shortall1, E Harrington, H B Patel
1The University of Birmingham, The School of Dentistry, England. a.c.c.shortall@bham.ac.uk
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that operator experience influences the efficacy of light curing in a typical posterior intra-oral location. To investigate whether short cure cycles affect performance.
Design:
A cross-sectional single-centre study designed to assess the efficacy of experienced and inexperienced operators when undertaking simulated intra-oral curing.
Setting:
An in vitro laboratory based investigation conducted in a dental school during 2001.
Materials And Methods:
A computer-based technique was used to monitor light intensity in a clinical simulation. Dentists and student operators were tested for their ability to cure a posterior restoration effectively. Relative light intensity was assessed against time for each operator and test run.
Results:
Experienced (qualified) operators produced more effective and consistent cure results than less experienced undergraduate students. Operator performance was not affected by variations in irradiation time.
Conclusions:
This cross-sectional pilot investigation demonstrates that operator experience is a factor in successful clinical photo-curing of posterior restorations. Stable and accurate light guide positioning are required throughout the entire irradiation cycle to optimise intra-oral cure of light-activated restorations. Further investigations are planned to assess the potential of this novel method of assessment for use as a routine teaching aid in clinical practice.