Premium
Curing Dental Resins and Composites by Photopolymerization
Author(s) -
STANSBURY JEFFREY W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of esthetic and restorative dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.919
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1708-8240
pISSN - 1496-4155
DOI - 10.1111/j.1708-8240.2000.tb00239.x
Subject(s) - photopolymer , photoinitiator , dental composite , materials science , curing (chemistry) , composite material , dental restoration , polymer , dentistry , polymerization , monomer , composite number , medicine
The development and continued evolution of photopolymerizable dental materials, particularly dental composite restoratives, represent a significant, practical advance for dentistry. The highly successful integration of the light‐activated curing process for dental applications is described in this review. The basic mechanisms by which the photoinitiators efficiently convert monomers into polymers are discussed along with the variety of factors that influence the photopolymerization process. The conventional camphorquinone‐amine visible light photoinitiator system used in most dental restorative materials is illustrated in addition to some alternative initiator systems that have been studied for dental materials applications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Photopolymerization has become an integral component of the practice of dentistry. A better appreciation of the photopolymerization process as well as its potential and limitations may aid the dentist in the delivery of both esthetic and restorative dental care.