Abstract
The pursuit of less time-consuming procedures led to the development of high-power light-curing-units (LCU) to light-cure dental-resin-based-materials. This review aims to describe high-power light-emitting-diode (LED)-LCUs, by a bibliometric systematization of in vitro and in vivo studies. The research-question, by PICO model, aimed to assess the current knowledge on dentistry-based high-power LED-LCUs by analyzing to what extent their use can promote adverse events on materials and patients’ oral condition when compared to low-power LED-LCUs, on daily dental practice. PubMed and B-on database search focused on high-power (≥2000 mW/cm2) LED-LCUs outputs. Studies assessing performance of high-power LED-LCUs for light-curing dental-resin-based-materials were included. From 1822 screened articles, 21 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thirty-two marketed units with high levels of radiant emittance (≥2000 mW/cm2 up to 6000 mW/cm2) were identified. Most output values vary on 2000–3000 mW/cm2. The highest output found was 6000 mW/cm2, in FlashMax™P3. Reports suggest that light-curing protocols with lower emittance irradiance and longer exposure outperforms all other combination, however in some clinical procedures high-power LED-LCUs are advocated when compared to low-power LED-LCUs. Moreover, long time exposures and over-curing can be dangerous to the biological vital pulp, and other oral tissues. Evidence showing that high-power LCUs are the best clinical option is still very scarce.
Highlights
Light-curing units (LCU) and an efficient irradiation procedure is indispensable for the clinical success of resin-based dental materials; being aware of this simple, perhaps important task is crucial
Five studies aimed to evaluate consequences to the patient, temperature changes in the pulp exposed to high-power LED-LCUs
The advantage of introducing high-power in contemporary LED-LCUs was successful in reducing resin-based dental materials’ curing time, which led to a reduction in chairtime and an increase in patient comfort during dental care
Summary
Light-curing units (LCU) and an efficient irradiation procedure is indispensable for the clinical success of resin-based dental materials; being aware of this simple, perhaps important task is crucial. Clinicians have at their disposal an unprecedented variety of LCUs, so, in order to make informed decisions, dentists need to consider if the device they are operating is emitting optimal light parameters. While irradiance— referred to as intensity or power density—is the power incident on a surface and describes the quantity of light-energy that a resin-based material receives ( expressed in units of mW/cm2) [2]. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4049:2000 considered an irradiance level of 300 mW/cm as being enough to induce adequate polymerization of light-cured resin-based materials [1]
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