Use of light‐curing units in orthodontics

Abstract

Because of their wide field of applications, light-curing units are now indispensable for orthodontists and general dentists; thus, it is important to be familiar with the various types of light-curing units, their history, specifications, advantages, and disadvantages. For this review, a search of the PubMed database (from 1966 to March 2010) was conducted using the search term "curing lights orthodontics". Eligibility of the selected studies was determined by reading the abstracts of articles identified by the search. All the articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and the articles collected. The reference lists of the retrieved articles were also hand searched for any applicable studies that might have been missed in the database searches. When selecting curing lights for an office, many variables need to be considered. Armed with knowledge about each curing-light category, orthodontists can evaluate their unique practice style and select the appropriate light/lights.

Intensity output and effectiveness of light curing units in dental offices

“…Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the frequency of bulb replacement and the type of device, with greater frequency in the case of QTHs (58.8% as opposed to 16.4% for LEDs). This is attributable to the longer life span of an LED lamp, which is over 1,000 hours as opposed to 100 hours for a QTH lamp ( 7 ).…”

“…In LEDs, instead of hot strands as used in halogen lamps, semiconductor connections are employed to produce light. These lamps have a very long shelf life of about 1,000 hours and can withstand mechanical shocks and vibrations with very low error rates ( 7 ). LEDs are also capable of producing blue light at a wavelength of 440-480 nm.…”

“…LEDs are also capable of producing blue light at a wavelength of 440-480 nm. LEDs can be cordless and are almost silent while being operated ( 7 ).…”

“…In QTH and LED light curing devices, the main factors affecting the intensity of light output are: inappropriate performance of the lamp and filter, breakage and pollution of the device tip, the blurring of the bulb, the failure of electrical components, and defect in light transmitting fibers ( 6 , 7 ). In these devices, if maintenance is not carried out routinely, after a while, there will be some problems with the lamp, fan, or power supply ( 8 ).…”

New challenges in dental and oral health care

“…The first two articles are comprehensive reviews on osseo‐integrated implants and the use of light‐curing units in orthodontics, while the third, a meta‐analysis by Nguyen‐Hieu, describes the critical impact of microbial sampling process in the outcome of diagnostic periodontitis . Saliva is a crucial component of the oral milieu, and the works of Lima et al .…”