Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Clinicians towards Light-Curing Units: A Cross-Sectional Study
Table 3
Comparison between general dentists and specialists regarding the knowledge towards light-curing unit (LCU) and light-activating materials, maintenance, and infection control.
Item
General dentist (n = 111)
Specialist (n = 199)
Χ2-value
value
No. (%)
No. (%)
1. Knowledge towards light-curing unit (LCU) and light-activating materials
1. What type of LCU are you using?
Quartz-tungsten-halogen lights (QTH)
13 (11.7)
20 (10.1)
3.583
0.465
Plasma-arc lights (PAC)
4 (3.6)
5 (2.5)
Argon-ion lasers
2 (1.8)
2 (1.0)
Light-emitting diodes (LED)
51 (45.9)
113 (56.8)
Unsure
41 (36.9)
59 (29.6)
2. What is the proper term to describe the amount of power output of the LCU received over a defined area of resin-based dental material?
Radiant energy
24 (21.6)
44 (22.1)
1.384
0.709
Radiant power
11 (9.9)
14 (7.0)
Irradiance
12 (10.8)
17 (8.5)
Radiant exposure
64 (57.7)
124 (62.3)
3. Insufficient radiant exposure was found to be associated with which of the following properties of resin-based composite (RBC)
Low mechanical physical properties
97 (87.4)
183 (92.0)
1.724
0.189
More bacterial colonization
45 (40.5)
84 (42.3)
0.084
0.77
High bond strength
20 (18.0)
16 (8.0)
6.936
0.008
Better color stability
11 (9.9)
12 (6.0)
1.577
0.209
4. Location and morphology of the tooth can affect the position between the LCU tip and the resin material surface. The dentist should always aim to
hold the light-curing tip as close as possible to the restoration surface
87 (78.4)
135 (67.8)
3.924
0.047
hold the light-curing tip up to 10 mm
19 (17.1)
51 (25.6)
2.938
0.086
position the light-curing tip at 45-degree angle
20 (18.0)
42 (21.1)
0.427
0.514
position the light-curing tip at 90-degree angle
41 (36.9)
90 (45.2)
2.006
0.157
5. What is the new advancement technology in the latest LED which makes it different than other types of LCUs?
It generates monowavelengths
28 (25.2)
58 (29.1)
0.594
0.743
It generates polywavelengths
53 (47.7)
88 (44.2)
It has an advance filter and ventilation fan
30 (27.0)
53 (26.6)
6. To overcome any clinical factor that might affect the reduction in power output, you might need to
store RBC material in a refrigerator before clinical application
49 (44.1)
97 (48.7)
4.523
0.104
increase the curing time more than manufacturer’s recommendation
50 (45.0)
93 (46.7)
choose darker shade of RBC
12 (10.9)
9 (4.5)
2. Maintenance and infection control of light-curing unit (LCU)
1. Do you inspect and clean the LCU before use to ensure it is on the correct setting, in good working order, and free of defects and debris?
Yes
84 (75.7)
143 (71.9)
0.529
0.467
No
27 (24.3)
56 (28.1)
2. Do you use radiometer to monitor your LCU output before any clinical session?
Yes
14 (12.6)
28 (14.1)
6.445
0.04
No
39 (35.1)
96 (48.2)
Not familiar with this device
58 (52.3)
75 (37.7)
3. What do you use to protect your eyes from “blue light hazards?”
Red laser safety glasses
19 (17.1)
10 (5.0)
12.289
0.005
Light cure shield
45 (40.5)
81 (40.7)
0.001
0.973
Hand-held light shield
30 (27.0)
76 (38.2)
3.96
0.047
Orange protective glasses
49 (44.1)
80 (40.2)
0.445
0.505
My assistant does the curing
35 (31.5)
55 (27.6)
0.525
0.467
I look away from the blue light
71 (64.0)
93 (46.7)
8.531
0.003
4. Infection-control technique was found to affect the light-curing tips and reduce its irradiance value. What is the technique that has the least negative effect?
