SUMMARY: In this study, a comprehensive investigation on the temperature increase at the light guide tip of several commercial light-emitting diode (LED) light-curing units (LCUs) and the associated thermal variation (ΔT) at the pulpal floor of dental cavities was carried out. In total, 15 LEDs from all generations were investigated, testing a quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) unit as a reference. The irradiance level was measured with a power meter, and spectral distribution was analyzed using a spectrometer. Temperature increase at the tip was measured with a type-K thermocouple connected to a thermometer, while ΔT at the pulpal floor was measured by an infrared photodetector in class V cavities, with a 1-mm-thick dentin pulpal floor. The relationship among measured irradiance, ΔT at the tip, and ΔT at the pulpal floor was investigated using regression analyses. Large discrepancies between the expected and measured irradiances were detected for some LCUs. Most of the LCUs showed an emission spectrum narrower than the QTH unit, with emission peaks usually between 450 and 470 nm. The temperature increase at the tip followed a logarithmic growth for LCUs with irradiance ≥1000 mW/cm2, with ΔT at the tip following the measured irradiance linearly (R2=0.67). Linear temperature increase at the pulpal floor over the 40-second exposure time was observed for several LCUs, with linear association between ΔT at the pulpal floor and measured irradiance (R2=0.39) or ΔT at the tip (R2=0.28). In conclusion, contemporary LED units show varied irradiance levels that affect the temperature increase at the light guide tip and, as a consequence, the thermal variation at the pulpal floor of dental cavities.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the shear bond strength to enamel, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and contraction stress of one orthodontic composite and two flowable composites. Orthodontic brackets were bonded to 45 human maxillary premolars with the composites Transbond XT, Filtek Z-350 flow and Opallis flow and tested for shear bond strength. For measurement of flexural strength and flexural modulus, specimens were fabricated and tested under flexion. For the contraction stress test, cylindrical specimens were tested and an extensometer determined the height of the specimens. The data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). The shear bond strength values were significantly lower (p0.05) while the flexural modulus was significantly higher (p

Objective: Evaluate the bond strength of repairs made on composite resin following the treatment of the surface of the flaw with different bonding agents and/or CO ₂ laser. Background: The influence of CO ₂ laser and its interaction with other bonding agents on the surface of the flaw is not yet known. In this study, CO ₂ laser was chosen to treat the surface of the flaw due to its capacity to promote irregularities on the surface that enhance mechanical micro-retention. Methods: A block was created with Vitra APS nanohybrid composite resin (color: A3; FGM, Joinville, Brazil) measuring 5 mm in width, length, and depth (volume: 125 mm ³ ). The surface of the flaw was treated before the repair with an adhesive, silane bonding agent, and/or CO ₂ laser. Six specimens were created in composite resin for each group (total: n = 36): G1: resin+resin; G2: adhesive+resin; G3: laser+adhesive; G4: laser+silane+adhesive; G5: silane+adhesive; G6: laser+silane. After the repair, the surfaces of the fracture of all specimens, which were submitted to the microtraction test, were analyzed under an optical microscope. Bond strength values obtained according to the type of surface treatment were tabulated and submitted to the Kruskal–Wallis test. Dunn's test was used to compare means. Results: G3 and G4 had significantly higher bond strength values compared to all other groups tested. Adhesive fractures predominated in all groups. However, G3 and G4 had a higher percentage of cohesive fractures compared to the other groups. Conclusions: The application of CO ₂ laser as a surface treatment led to greater bond strength of composite resin repairs in comparison with the groups that only received treatment with a burr and silanization. The groups submitted to CO ₂ laser also had a significantly lower number of adhesive failures when submitted to the microtraction test.