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Intensity of quartz-tungsten-halogen light polymerization units used in dental offices in Brazil
Gildo Coelho Santos1, Maria Jacinta Moraes Coelho Santos, Omar El-Mowafy
1Department of Dental Clinic, Federal University of Bahia, Faculty of Dentistry, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Purpose:
To determine the intensity of quartz-tungsten-halogen light polymerization units in dental offices in El Salvador, Brazil.
Materials And Methods:
A team of researchers visited 100 offices in 2003. The team measured light intensity with a radiometer. The age and make of the units and the availability of light meters were recorded.
Results:
One hundred twenty quartz-tungsten-halogen units were tested. Intensity ranged from 10 to 1,000 mW/cm2, with mean of 255.8 mW/cm2. Almost half (48%) of the units had values equal to or less than 200 mW/cm2. Their age ranged from 1 to 21 years. None of the offices had light meters.
Conclusions:
Clinicians should periodically monitor light intensity and carry out maintenance on their light polymerization units.
