[Specific aspects of extraoral curing]

Extraoral post-curing of composite inlays with the exclusion of oxygen is possible, by completely covering them with glycerin during the post curing process. This combined light and heat application improves the polymerization of inhibited surfaces as well as insufficiently cured parts of the inlay. Thus, an adequate homogenization of the composite material can be achieved. Surfaces treated without access of oxygen contain about 21 to 26% of double bonds, while surfaces treated in the conventional way contain about 28 to 48% of double bonds. The efficiency of this new post-curing technique is hardly influenced by conventional post-curing measures carried out prior to this procedure.