Advances in Curing Light Technology Over the Years
We have seen tremendous strides made in curing lights over the last 2 decades. Intensity has increased and power needs have decreased. Today’s lights can cure an increment in 5 seconds and are cordless, going days without needing a charge.
Curing lights have come a long way, much like the different materials used with them in restorative dentistry.
Some six decades ago, the first light curing resin composites were developed, which brought about the need for the earliest curing lights, reported to have come about in the 1970s.
Over the years the devices have changed dramatically, in size, shape, power, sources and more. Like computers, early products were much bigger and slower than today’s sleek, fast units.
Here we take a quick look at the early curing light technologies and changes that have come along the way. Today’s pen-style, lightweight devices look and perform much better than those 1970s models that used ultraviolet light to cure resin composites.
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The Proper Cure is Important
An improperly cured composite can have more “give” along the pulpal floor which can cause pressure differentials along the dentinal tubules when occlusally loaded, John Flucke, DDS, wrote for Dental Products Report back in 2017. This can cause (though it is not the only culprit) the dreaded “pain upon biting” problem. Improperly cured composites can also lead to marginal degradation and even fracture of the material.
There are several factors to take into consideration when thinking about how curing affects your restoration. It’s not just a matter of holding the light over the composite.
The first thing is your light intensity. Do you really know how strong your curing light is? Most lights currently on the market are very strong, putting out around 1000mw/cm2. However, that intensity can drop over time for a variety of reasons. If you are not monitoring your lights on a regular basis and checking their output, your curing is nothing better than a roll of the dice. Most manufacturers like to see a minimum of 800mw/cm2, but I’m a fan of the previously mentioned 1000mw/cm2, Dr Flucke added.
The intensity of the beam allows for deeper penetration of the photons into the material. However, remember that darker colors absorb more so they must be placed in thinner layers and cured using more cycles. Conversely, lighter colors allow for greater depth of cure and can be placed in thicker layers.
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“High-Speed Curing Lights”
In the early days of light curing, dentists used actual light bulbs to produce the proper wavelength of light needed for polymerization. Next came “high-speed curing lights” that used powerful halogen bulbs to create stronger beams with greater curing potential. One drawback, however, is that halogen bulbs still required long curing times, with 40 to 60 seconds per increment not unheard of. This was the case as those light bulbs put out all kinds of different wavelengths of light, and it took time for enough of them to cause photopolymerization. Again, this was just another step in the path toward today’s impressive curing lights.
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LED, Halogen Leading the Way
Dental curing lights can be used on a variety of materials that are curable by light. This light is delivered over a range of wavelengths and varies for each type of device. The 4 basic types of dental curing light sources are tungsten halogen, light-emitting diodes (LED), plasma arcs, and lasers. There are several options available today with manufacturers offering up quite a selection of price ranges, model shapes and sizes, and features. By now, the most common models in use are halogen and LEDs.
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Faster, Easier, Better
Enhancements over the years have made curing lights much more effective and easier to use. Big, bulky units corded to docking and charging stations have been replaced by small, wireless devices that provide optimal access to all areas of the mouth. Protective shields, sleeves and goggles worn by both patients and dental healthcare providers have become standard practices.
Another thing to remember, says Dr Flucke, is that how the light is used in the curing process is also an important component of success. The further away the light is from a restoration, the less curing takes place. The best way to cure is to get as close as possible to the restoration without coming into contact with it. Even a distance of 3-4 mm can cause a remarkable decrease in light intensity on the target.
However, when getting so close one also must bear in mind the possibility of getting composite or bonding agent on the delivery area of the light. To avoid this, it is imperative to make sure you shield your lights with some type of barrier. Most companies make clear plastic sleeves designed to cover their specific light, but you can also use plastic wrap or intraoral camera sleeves.
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Many Options Out There
A quick Google search or a glance on eBay (pictured here) and you’ll see many, many old and new curing lights and accessories. Before you make a purchase, make sure you know what you want to get out of your new device and make sure it works well with your materials of choice. Also, make sure to regularly test your light to make sure it consistently delivers the appropriate intensity.
We have seen tremendous strides made in curing lights over the last 2 decades. Intensity has increased and power needs have decreased. Today’s lights can cure an increment in 5 seconds and are cordless, going days without needing a charge.
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Can They Get Any Better?
Today’s modern curing lights are head and shoulders above the first models back in the ’70s. The PinkWave from Vista Apex—which won a Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award in 2020—and the new Monet from AMD LASERS, are just 2 of many curing lights that seem to continually up their games.
The Monet has 1 button that produces one 3-second curing cycle. That’s all there is because that’s all you need, according to Dr Flucke, who recently took the new device for a test drive. The Monet provides intensity that makes composites stronger, increases efficiency, and is competitively priced.
As with most technology, research and development will continue to improve curing lights, but for now it’s hard to imagine the offerings can get much better than they already are.
