The effect of curing with plasma light on the shrinkage of dental restorative materials

Commercially available light activated dental composites were used in this study to compare the shrinkage following curing with plasma light (Apollo95E, DMDS) and a convention halogen dental curing light (Prismetics Lite II, Dentsply). Polymerization shrinkage was determined by measuring the strain in one dimension by means of a contacting transducer. The percentage linear shrinkage were: Spectrum H = 1.84 + 0.31, P = 1.49 + 0.35*; Ana aesthetic H = 2.04 + 0.38, P = 1.85 + 0.27; Esthet.x H = 1.66 + 0.28, P = 1.69 + 0.25; Dyract AP H = 2.39 + 0.33, P = 2.18 + 0.35*; Apollo Restore H = 1.88 + 0.36, P = 1.42 + 0.33*; Surefil H = 0.88 + 0.28, P = 0.99 + 0.30 where * = significantly different, t-test at P < 0.05. The results suggested that there was less shrinkage when curing some, but not all, materials using the plasma light, although this could be attributed to a reduced level of polymerization.