Can We Use Our Dental Curing Lights to Polymerize Objects Produced with 3D Resin Printer?

Abstract

BACKGROUND Dental treatment objects produced with 3D resin printers barely polymerize after fabrication. They need post-curing and an extra polymerization oven is required. Present study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of dental curing lights for post-curing of objects produced with a 3D resin printer. METHODS Samples were produced with Alias ​​Sharp & Rigid Model 3D Printing Resin in Photon Mono X 3D resin printer. The control set samples were cured with UV light for 2 min in Wash & Cure Plus device. T-20, T-40 and T-60 set samples were exposed to VALO Cordless curing light for 20, 40 and 60 seconds respectively. The hardness was measured with the Shore D Durometer. Then, the samples were subjected to compression. For statistical analysis, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test was used. RESULTS The set cured with VALO Cordless for 20 seconds showed the highest strength. Compressive strength decreased with prolongation of the curing time. All experimental sets showed significantly higher hardness than the control set. Hardness increased gradually in the 20 and 40 second sets, but the difference between the 40 and 60 second sets was not significant. Also, color change was observed in the experimental sets samples. CONCLUSIONS Dental curing lights are effective in post-curing 3D printer resins.