PURPOSE: To analyze, in vitro, the influence of a quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) and a plasma arc (PAC) on the degree of conversion and hardness of a composite resin, as well as the heat generated by the units. METHODS: Transbond XT disks were prepared and light-cured for 10, 20 and 30 seconds with a QTH (Curing Light XL 3000) or with a PAC (Apollo 95E) for 1, 2 and 3 seconds. The composite resin polymerization was evaluated by infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and Knoop hardness number (KHN). The temperature at the curing tip was evaluated. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). RESULTS: According to FTIR and KHN, the polymerization of the composite resin was statistically higher with the QTH. The temperature obtained with the QTH 20 s (45.44ºC) and 30 s (45.84ºC) was statistically higher than the QTH 10 s (39.90ºC). The PAC 1 s (27.12ºC), 2 s (28.48ºC) and 3 s (29.96ºC) presented the lowest temperature and did not differ statistically among them. CONCLUSION: Transbond XT light-activated for 10, 20 and 30 seconds with the QTH presented higher degree of conversion and hardness in comparison with those obtained with the PAC for 1, 2 and 3 seconds, and the QTH generated more heat than the PAC.
Composite resin; degree of conversion; hardness; PAC; QTH
