Presented by Lee Ann Brady DMD

For most of us we pick up our dental light curing unit many times a day. We trust that it is working and the materials are polymerizing unless the light doesn't turn on. The challenge is that even with the light on, often we aren't getting maximum polymerization. This may be because our light is not generating enough output. It may be that our light does not emit the correct wavelength of light for the photoinitiator. It could be that we are using too little time based on the shade of the material, what we are curing through, or the distance of the light.

Learning objectives

• The four photo-initiators used today and the wavelength they require
• Polywave lights versus traditional LED
• Adjusting the curing time based on clinical parameters like composite shade and curing distance
• How to know your light is working properly