Light-Cure Irradiance, Energy and Tip Distance Through Resin-Based CADCAM Materials

Objectives: To measure the effect of resin-based CADCAM materials on light irradiance and energy transmittance, and to measure the effect of light-cure tip distance from the materials on light irradiance and energy transmittance.
Methods: Square-shaped specimens (10×10×1.5mm) of a composite-resin (Lava Ultimate, 3M), ceramic-resin (Enamic, VITA) and bis-acrylic resin (Vita CAD temp, VITA) materials were prepared. A spectroradiometer (MARC resin calibrator, Bluelight Analytics) was used to measure light irradiance and energy transmittance through each material with the light-curing tip (DeepCure S, 3M) placed at 0, 2, and 4 mm distance from the material at 20 seconds curing-time. Data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA at (P<0.05) significance.
Results: Composite-resin transmitted the highest irradiance and energy compared to the other two materials regardless of the light-cure tip distance (P<0.05) (Table 1,2). The light-cure tip distance had a significant effect on light-cure irradiance and energy transmittance regardless of the material type (P<0.05) (Table 1,2).
Conclusions: Light-cure irradiance and energy transmittance is material dependent. Composite-resin allowed more transmittance than ceramic-resin and bis-acryl resin.Distance of light-cure tip from the materials had an adverse effect on light-cure irradiance and energy transmittance.