Essentials of light curing

Every day, dentists use their curing lights when making resin-based composite (RBC) restorations, curing sealants, bonding brackets to teeth or cementing all-ceramic restorations. Unfortunately, light curing is seldom given the attention it deserves, as evidenced by technique articles on how to deliver successful resin-based composite restorations.¹ Recent surveys have revealed that there is a wide range of technical knowledge and safety awareness about light curing procedures.² Dental resins vary in their energy requirements for adequate curing. Undercuring resins may cause increased rates of post-operative sensitivity, increased wear and fracture, more debonding, more bulk discoloration or marginal staining, and increased incidence of recurrent caries and pulpal pathoses. The following is a brief evidenced-based list of the key points to ensure safe, effective and efficient light curing protocols in clinical practice. These recommendations are based on the research literature and a series of consensus statements developed by a group of key opinion leaders who have met regularly at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada for the last five years (Figure 1).^3,4