DENTAL CURING

LIGHTS- (PART I)
QTH LAMP

BY: DR PALLAVI
MADANSHETTY
INDEX
History

UV light curing

Types of light curing units

Components of QTH lamp

Physics behind QTH lamp

Radiometer
Calculation of curing time

Properties of QTH

Alternative photoinitiators

Advantages and disadvantages of QTH curing unit.

HISTORY
Initially, resin based composites were chemically activated.
They were bulk-filled with the direction of polymerization
shrinkage towards the center of the mass.
During mixing it was almost impossible to avoid incorporating
air into the mix.

Provided no control with the working time.

Increased finishing time.

Had less color stability due to breakdown of tertiary amines.

To overcome these problems, UV light activation was first
introduced to the dentistry in 1970s.

This concept served as a major advance over conventional

chemically cured composites by providing premixed, shelf-
stable materials with infinite working time and cure-on-
demand ability.

For the first time, curing restorative materials required no

mixing, provided adequate time for placement and
preparation of anatomy, and delivered instantaneous results.
UV photocuring dramatically changed the direction of
dentistry.
These curing units were designed to emit ultraviolet
light(about 365nm)through a quartz rod from a high pressure
mercury source.
The photo initiating system relied on benzoine- ether type
compounds which broke down into multiple radicals, without
need of an intermediary component.
 But UV curing lights had several drawbacks like;
Limited ability of the light to penetrate deep within the
material (1-1.5mm of penetration)
Altered the oral micro flora.
Units needed warm up time of 5 minutes.

If human (operator and patient’s eyes) are exposed to short

wavelength UV energy , there is danger of formation of corneal
burns and cataract.

Therefore they were replaced by visible blue light-activated systems

THE INNOVATION
The early 1980s led to further advances in the photocuring of
dental materials. The key progress was identification of
Camphoquinone (CQ) as an ideal photoinitiator.
In the process of photocuring, in order to transform a
monomer into a polymer, photoinitiators, which break down
into radicals when irradiated with light, are required.
The advented CQ’s absorption range was found to be between
370-500 nm with a peak at 468 nm, and therefore allowed the
use of visible blue light for photocuring of composite resins.
ABSORPTION SPECTRUM OF CQ

CQ

VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTRUM

CQ
There are Four main types of polymerization sources:

1. Tungsten –halogen 2. LASER

(QTH)

4. Light –emitting
3. Plasma arc diode(LED)
QTH LAMP
COMPONENTS OF QUARTZ- TUNGSTEN –
HALOGEN (QTH)LAMP

QTH
Halogen lamps use an incandescent light bulb consisting of a
tungsten filament surrounded by the halogen gases that give
them their name.
PHYSICS BEHIND QTH CURING UNIT
Basis for light production  heated objects emit
electromagnetic radiation.

In the case of halogen lamps, light is produced when an

electric current flows through a thin tungsten filament.
 When a tungsten filament is
heated to approximately 100 ºC,
it gives off heat energy in the
form of infrared radiation.

100ºC
When the temperature is
2000-3000ºC increased between 2000C and
3000 ºC, a significant portion of
the radiation is emitted in the
visible light spectrum.
 NOTE : To provide visible light for photo polymerization,
halogen lamps must be heated to a very high temperatures.
Therefore, the QTH lamps are not energy efficient.
 RANGE OF WAVELENGTHS COVERED
BY QTH LAMPS
When a tungsten filament in the QTH
bulb is heated, 5% of the total energy is
visible light, 12% heat, and 80% light

Visible light emitted in the infrared spectrum and

some amount of UV light is also
Heat
produced.
Infra-red

An entire Visible light spectrum,
IR radiation and UV light is
emitted than the preferred blue
light spectrum when a tungsten
filament is heated.
As, the QTH unit produces long band
width spectrum, preferential
production of blue light is not
possible with this kind of technology.
In order to produce the blue light
required for the activation of
Camphorquinone, unwanted
portions of the spectrum have to be
filtered out.
As a result, the largest part of the
radio active power of this light
source is wasted.
 NOTE: Since QTH lamps emit a rather wide range of wavelengths, band-
pass filters are required to limit the wavelength between 370 and 550 nm
in order to fit the peak absorption of Camphorquinone. This approach
yields an efficiency rate of only 0.5%; other 99.5% of the energy is given
out as heat.
Band pass
filters QTH Lamp
IR

Visible light

Blue light
UV light

HEAT
 So, the central drawback of the halogen lights is the need to
overcome waste heat produced during a wide spectrum light
production. Therefore, a cooling fan is required for heat dissipation,
which makes the curing unit noisy and produces vibrations.
 NOTE: Halogen curing lights must not be turned off until
the fan has stopped running, as it will overheat.
Because of the degradation of the bulb, reflector and filter
over time, caused by high operating temperatures and
considerable quantity of heat being produced during operating
cycles, QTH lamps have a limited lifespan of 100 hours.
The lamp reflector may lose its reflective properties because of
loss of reflective material, or deposition of surface impurities.
Filter coatings may become pitted, chipped, or flaky and the
filters themselves may crack or break. This implicates a
reduction of curing efficiency over time by aging of the
components.
The power output may also deteriorate over time due to
insufficient maintenance of the light sources and especially the
light tips.
Resin contamination on the curing unit tip tends to scatter the
light, considerably reducing the effective output.
 NOTE: The light guide must be kept free of resin buildup either
by using a sleeve cover to protect the light guide or using acetone to
remove any residue that has formed. When necessary, an
appropriate rubber wheel on a slow speed hand piece can be
utilized.
MAINTENANCE OF QTH UNITS
 Many QTH lamps used in dental offices operate beneath the
minimum power output specified by the manufacturers.

Unless they are properly maintained and the output

monitored, they could be a source of sensitivity due to uncured
resin.

Therefore, the power output must be constantly checked with

the help of a radiometer. Newer models house a radiometer
right in the unit.

CAUTION : A study by Friedman showed that polymerization units used

in dental practices have lost 45-89% of their initial light intensity
EXTERNAL RADIOMETER

BUILT IN RADIOMETER
HOW TO CALCULATE THE CURING TIME?

• TOTAL ENERGY CONCEPT

As a general rule, a dose of maximum 16,000 mW/cm² is required
to adequately cure an increment of 2 mm.
The Total Energy Concept states that the light-curing process
depends on the energy and is basically determined by the
multiplication of light intensity and time.
For example: 40 seconds at a light intensity of 400 mW/cm²=
40 s x 400 mW/cm² = 16,000 mW/cm²).
Therefore, QTH lamp which produces an average power density of
400 mW/cm² has a minimum of 40 sec curing time.
 NOTE : Based on this maximum value, various curing
times can be calculated depending on the light intensity of
the polymerization light used.

It is estimated by Ruggeberg that 280 mW/cm²is the

minimal intensity necessary to adequately polymerize a 2
mm thick increment of universal shade composite. This
minimally acceptable intensity is very similar to the 300
mW/cm² value reported by Bayne.
 PROPERTIES
QTH

Wave length emitted 400-500nm

Band width Broad

Time of curing in seconds 40-60 sec

Performance Low energy performance

Power density 500 mW/cm²

 LASER CURING LAMP

VITAL TOOTH BLEACHING AND INTRODUCTION OF

THE “ALTERNATIVE INITIATORS”
Vital tooth bleaching was becoming an overnight success in
the early 1990s. However, following bleaching, manufacturers
were not able to provide direct esthetic restorative materials
that were of high enough value to match the newly bleached
teeth.
 LASER CURING LAMP

This situation arose because the photo initiating system of

used CQ, which is bright canary yellow, and photo bleaches
only slightly upon exposures within clinically relevant times.
Thus after curing, the restoration tended to have a yellow,
residual tinge.
To overcome this problem, manufacturers have incorporated
a variety of other photoinitiators such as phenylpropanedion
(PPD) or Lucirin TPO into light-activated restorative materials
to minimize the yellowing effect and inefficiency of CQ.
These class of photo initiators directly break into multiple

radicals without need for any co-initiator, and although they are

pale yellow in color, get photo bleached to clear, once utilized.

These “alternative” initiators are much more efficient than CQ, but

require light of a much shorter wavelength (between 350 and 430 nm in

the violet range)

Their downside is that violet light will not penetrate deeply into

restorative materials, and thus CQ must always be present.

Therefore, to activate a product containing both of these photo-

initiators, the light curing unit must be capable of emitting in both the

violet and blue regions.

A QTH lamp that generates photons continuously between 400 nm

(violet) and 500 nm (just past the blue region), will work well with these

composites.
 QTH lamps cover the
whole radiation absorption
spectrum of CQ and part of
the spectra for PPD and
Lucerin.

photoinitiator absorption spectra

Curing light emission and
ADVANTAGES
Longest history in dentistry.
Low cost technology.
Broad bandwidth allows curing of
composites containing photo-
initiators other than
Camphoroquinone
DISADVANTAGES
Continuous spectrum must be
narrowed by filter systems.
Low energy performance, since use of
the filter wastes (99%) of radiation.
Generation of high temperatures
(need for ventilating fan to cool the
lamp) so, they are loud.
May deteriorate over time due to
insufficient maintenance of the light
sources.
Long exposure time of 40-60sec.
Greater pulpal heat if prolonged
curing times are used.
HALOGEN LAMPS
WARNING
The future for QTH light is not “bright”, as many governmental
agencies are banning this tremendously inefficient
incandescent light sources from general usage soon.
US govt. has stipulated deadlines by which incandescent light
sources will be stopped being marketed: elimination of the 100-
W bulb in 2012 and removal of 40-W source by 2014.
State-of –the –art: Dental photo curing- a review Frederick A.
Rueggeberg dental materials 27 (2011) 39-52
Visit
https://manipaluniv.academia.edu/pallavimadanshetty for
other curing units.
REFERENCES
Developments in polymerization lamps Amparo Jimenez-

Planas, Juan Martín, Camilo Abalos, Rafael Llamas (Quintessence Int

2008;39;180.e74–84).

Light curing of resin-based composites in the LED era

Norbert Kramer, Ulrich Lohbauer, Franklin García-Godoy, and

Roland Frankenberger, Am J Dent 2008;21:135-142 .

Exposure Times for Contemporary Composites Frederick A.

Rueggeberg, 2013 ;Vol 25: 2 82–84 Journal of Esthetic and

Restorative Dentistry.
Effect of light intensity and exposure duration on cure of resin

composites. Rueggeberg FA, Caughman WF, Curtis JW Jr. Oper Dent

1994;19(1):26-32.

State-of –the –art: Dental photo curing- a review Frederick A. Rueggeberg

Dental materials 27 (2011) 39-52

Light Emitting Diode - The unsung heroes Dr.Deepak.J.Parekh Monday,

14 December 2009http://www.onlinedentallearning.com Generated: 2

November, 2011, 17:58

Light Curing Devices-A Clinical Review Dr.Tarun Kumar Singh, Dr. Ida

Ataide, Dr. Marina Fernandes, Dr. Rajan T. Lambor Journal of Orofacial

Research Volume 1: Issue 1 : 2011

Thank you