Degree of polymerization of resin composites by different light sources

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of polymerization in the newly introduced blue light emitting diode (LED) (Experimental, SNU, Korea), and plasma arc curing (PAC) (Apollo 95E, Elite, DMD, USA) compared with conventional halogen lamp (Spectrum 800, Dentsply, USA). Various irradiation time with fixed intensity of light-curing units (LCUs) were irradiated to produce the same total light energy. The degree of double bond conversion (DC) of three resin composite (shade A3) was measured with a Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer at various depths from the surface. Immediately after exposure to light, 100 microm thickness of resin composite was sectioned at the 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm from the top surface. The infrared spectrum of uncured resin and each wafer specimen were then obtained. The results were as follows: DC was significantly influenced by three variables of material, depth from the surface, and light source and energy level (P < 0.01). When the same light energy was irradiated, DC by plasma arc and LED was not significantly different from the halogen lamp (P > 0.05). When light energy was increased twice, no significant difference in DC was observed up to 2 mm from the surface (P > 0.05), but DC increased significantly from 3 mm (P < 0.05).