Resumo

RIBEIRO, Benícia Carolina laskieviscz et al. Effect of light sources on the microhardness of composite resins. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2011, vol.59, n.2, pp. 229-236. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective This study assessed the surface microhardness of compound resins cured by different light sources. Methods Three micro hybrid (Vit-l-escenceTM, Amelogen® Plus, Opallis) and one nanoparticle (FiltekTM Z350, 3M ESPE Dental Products, St. Paul, USA) compound resins were selected. The resins were polymerized by a halogen light unit (Ultralux, Dabi Atlante, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil) with two tips, one semi-guided made of glass and another of painted acrylic and a LED-based source (UltraLume 2, Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA). Specimens constructed from a circular aluminum matrix were photopolymerized for 40 second after they received the compound resin and stored dry for 24 hours. After this period, a Vickers surface microhardness assay was performed, measuring the top (hardness 1) and base (hardness 2) surfaces four times each. Variance analyses were complemented by Newman-Keuls method, with significance set at 5%. Results The Opallis (FGM, Santa Catarina, Brasil) resin subjected to UltraLume 2 (Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA) obtained the lowest mean hardness values for the top surface. The Vit-l-escenceTM (Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA) compound cured by Led UltraLume 2 (Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA) and by Ultralux PCP (Dabi Atlante, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil) halogen light obtained the highest mean hardness, followed by the FiltekTM Z350(3M ESPE Dental Products, St. Paul, USA) resin subjected to UltraLume 2 (Ultradent® South Jordan, USA). The Opallis (FGM, Santa Catarina, Brasil) resin cured by LED UltraLume 2 (Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA) also obtained the lowest mean hardness for the base surface and the Vit-l-escenceTM (Ultradent®, South Jordan, USA) resin obtained the highest value, followed by Amelogen® Plus, when cured by Ultralux (Dabi Atlante, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil) using the semi-guided tip. Conclusion The polymerization and, consequently, the microhardness achieved by the LED unit was equivalent to those achieved by conventional halogen units for three of the four composites tested

Palavras-chave : Hardness; Composite resins; Light.