SmartLite™ PS
Scientific
Compendium
5 Thermal
radiation
Besides the emission of visible light in the spectral range of approximately 400-500 nm all
curing lamps radiate heat as well. The amount of heat that is radiated towards the tooth
depends on the output power and the exposure time. A balance between high light power
and low heat irradiation is needed to avoid the risk that heat may have on the pulp tissue and
the oral mucosa.
5.1 In-vitro tooth heating study
A tooth heating study was conducted at the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Medical
College of Georgia (head: Professor F. Rueggeberg, DDS, MS). The purpose of this
investigation was to simulate and determine in vitro the intra-pulpal temperature rise in a
model using extracted human bicuspids (Figure 4) comparing the SmartLite PS to a variety
of commercial light-curing units (Figure 5).
Light tip
water outlet
thermocouple leads
to cold junction
compensator
Inlet for
temperature-controlled water
from infusion pump
thermocouple
junction
1 mm
0.75 - 1 mm
Tooth roots
immersed in a
thermostatically
controlled water bath
Figure 4
In-vitro simulation of light curing and measurement of intra-pulpal temperature
rise (Rueggeberg)
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