Chairside Light-Curing as a Feasible Alternative to Laboratory Polymerization for Indirect Composite Resins: A Performance-Based In Vitro Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/9pwfnk63Keywords:
Indirect composite resin; Chairside light-curing; Laboratory light-curing; Polymerization efficiency; Post-curing heat treatment; Mechanical performance.Abstract
Indirect composite resins are widely used for extensive restorations due to their favorable mechanical properties; however, their polymerization typically requires laboratory light-curing devices, which may increase treatment time and cost and are not always readily available in routine clinical settings. High-intensity chairside light-curing units have been proposed as a potential alternative for extraoral polymerization. To evaluate, using a performance-based comparative approach under standardized post-curing conditions, whether chairside light-curing units can achieve mechanical properties comparable to those obtained with laboratory light curing in indirect composite resins. Indirect composite resin blocks (Twiny) were fabricated using a standardized mold (6×6×4 mm) and randomly allocated into three groups (n=20): laboratory light curing (control), chairside light curing for 20 s, and chairside light curing for 40 s. All specimens underwent thermal post-curing at 115 °C for 15 min to standardize polymer network maturation. Surface microhardness and compressive strength were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by the LSD post hoc test (p<0.05). Chairside light-curing groups demonstrated significantly higher surface microhardness values compared with the laboratory-curing group (p<0.05), with no significant difference between 20 s and 40 s exposures (p>0.05). Compressive strength values did not differ significantly among groups (p>0.05), indicating comparable bulk mechanical performance. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, chairside light curing achieved mechanical performance comparable to laboratory polymerization for indirect composite resins when combined with standardized thermal post-curing. These findings suggest that chairside light-curing may represent a clinically practical alternative for extraoral polymerization in settings where laboratory devices are unavailable, although long-term in vivo performance requires further investigation.
Downloads
References
Demarco F.F., Collares K., Correa M.B., Cenci M.S., de Moraes R.R., Opdamz N.J. Should my composite restorations last forever? Why are they failing? Braz Oral Res. 2017 Aug 1; 31 (suppl 1): 92-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2017.vol31.0056
Azeem R.A., Sureshbabu N.M. Clinical performance of direct versus indirect composite restorations in posterior teeth: A systematic review. J Conserv Dent. 2018 Jan 1; 21 (1): 2-9.
Heyder M., Kranz S., Wehle B., Schulze-Späte U., Beck J., Hennig C.L., et al. Suitability of Direct Resin Composites in Restoring Endodontically Treated Teeth (ETT). Materials (Basel). 2024 Aug 1; 17 (15): 3707-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153707
Schwendicke F., Stolpe M. Restoring root-canal treated molars: Cost-effectiveness-analysis of direct versus indirect restorations. J Dent. 2018 Oct 1; 77: 37-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2018.07.007
Nandini S. Indirect resin composites. J Conserv Dent. 2010;13 (4): 184-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0707.73377
Carrillo-Cotto R., da Silva A.F., Isolan C.P., Selayaran R.P.G., Selayaran M., Lima F.G., et al. Effects of alternatively used thermal treatments on the mechanical and fracture behavior of dental resin composites with varying filler content. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2021 May 1; 117: 104-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104424
Souza R.O.A., Özcan M., Michida S.M.A., de Melo R.M., Pavanelli C.A., Bottino M.A., et al. Conversion degree of indirect resin composites and effect of thermocycling on their physical properties. Journal of Prosthodontics. 2010 Apr; 19 (3): 218-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-849X.2009.00551.x
Dias M.F., Espíndola-Castro L.F., Lins-Filho P.C., Teixeira H.M., Silva C.H.V., Guimarães R.P. Influence of different thermopolymerization methods on composite resin microhardness. J Clin Exp Dent. 2020; 12 (4): e335-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.56772
Imai H., Koizumi H., Kodaira A., Okamura K., Akahane S., Matsumura H. Properties of indirect composites polymerized with laboratory light-emitting diode units. J Oral Sci. 2019; 61 (1): 178-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2334/josnusd.18-0147
Aung S.Z., Takagaki T., Ikeda M., Nozaki K., Burrow M.F., Abdou A., et al. The effect of different light curing units on Vickers microhardness and degree of conversion of flowable resin composites. Dent Mater J. 2021; 40 (1): 44-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4012/dmj.2019-353
Kowalska A., Sokolowski J., Bociong K. The Photoinitiators Used in Resin Based Dental Composite-A Review and Future Perspectives. Polymers (Basel). 2021 Feb 1; 13 (3): 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13030470
Barakah H. Effect of different curing times and distances on the microhardness of nanofilled resin-based composite restoration polymerized with high-intensity LED light curing units. Saudi Dent J. 2021 Dec 1; 33 (8): 1035-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2021.05.007
de Kuijper M.C.F.M., Cune M.S., Özcan M., Gresnigt M.M.M. Clinical performance of direct composite resin versus indirect restorations on endodontically treated posterior teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2023 Sep 1; 130 (3): 295-306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.11.009
Ilie N., Hilton T.J., Heintze S.D., Hickel R., Watts D.C., Silikas N., et al. Academy of Dental Materials guidance—Resin composites: Part I—Mechanical properties. Dental Materials. 2017 Aug 1; 33 (8): 880-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2017.04.013
Catelan A., Santo M.R.D.E., Menegazzo L.M., Moraes J.C.S., Santos P.H. Dos. Effect of light curing modes on mechanical properties of direct and indirect composites. Acta Odontol Scand. 2013 May; 71 (3-4): 697-702. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/00016357.2012.715193
Duratbegović D., Pervan N., Jakupović S., Kobašlija S. The Effects of Intensity, Exposure Time, and Distance of Polymerization Light on Vickers Microhardness and Temperature Rise of Conventional Resin-Based Composite. Polymers (Basel). 2024 Nov 1;16 (22): 31-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16223175
Price R.B., Ferracane J.L., Hickel R., Sullivan B. The light-curing unit: An essential piece of dental equipment. Int Dent J. 2020 Dec 1; 70 (6): 407-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/idj.12582
Oh S., Kim H.J., Kim H.J., Antonson S.A., Kim S.Y. Influence of irradiation distance on the mechanical performances of resin composites polymerized with high-irradiance light curing units. Biomater Res. 2022 Dec 1; 26 (1): 18-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-022-00267-5
Francis N., Rajan R.R., Kumar V., Varughese A., Karuveetil V., Sapna C.M. Effect of irradiance from curing units on the microhardness of composite - a systematic review. Evid Based Dent. 2022 Oct 17; 24-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-022-0824-z
Aromaa M.K., Lassila L.V.J., Vallittu P.K. Effect of Distance on Light Transmission Through Polymerized Resin Composite. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2017 Sep 1; 25 (3): 131-5.
Rodriguez A., Yaman P., Dennison J., Garcia D. Effect of Light-Curing Exposure Time, Shade, and Thickness on the Depth of Cure of Bulk Fill Composites. Oper Dent. 2017 Sep 1; 42 (5): 505-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2341/16-057-L
Torres C.R.G., Prado T.P., Ávila D.M. da S., Pucci C.R., Borges A.B. Influence of Light-Curing Time and Increment Thickness on the Properties of Bulk Fill Composite Resins With Distinct Application Systems. Int J Dent. 2024; 2024 (1): 21-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/2123406
Hirata M., Koizumi H., Tanoue N., Ogino T., Murakami M., Matsumura H. Influence of laboratory light sources on the wear characteristics of indirect composites. Dent Mater J. 2011; 30 (2): 127-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4012/dmj.2010-043
Luo Q., Kitchen M. Microhardness, Indentation Size Effect and Real Hardness of Plastically Deformed Austenitic Hadfield Steel. Materials (Basel). 2023 Feb 1; 16 (3): 11-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031117
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ammar Abdullah, Nurhayaty Natsir, Maria Tanumihardja.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
ODOVTOS - Int. J. Dent. Sc. endorses CC BY-NC-SA
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-NC-SA includes the following elements:
BY: credit must be given to the creator.
NC: Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.
SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
