Is the soft-start polymerisation concept still relevant for modern curing units?

Shrinkage stress, degree of cure and mechanical properties are contradicting properties, forcing to a compromise between an adequate curing and low stress at the interface tooth-restoration. The purpose of this study was to quantify this relations for a micro-hybrid composite, by analysing in real time the development of degree of cure at depths of 2 and 6 mm, shrinkage stress and curing time until gelation, as well as the variation of micro-mechanical properties with depth, after curing with 13 regimes of one halogen and two light-emitting diode (LED) curing units. A nano-dynamic mechanical test was additionally performed on selected regimes (Ramp, Pulse and Fast Cure) of the same curing unit. The present study showed that the soft-start polymerization concept is still valid for less deep cavities (2 mm), even by curing with high-power LED curing units, since a soft-cure polymerization resulted in a delayed gel point and a lower shrinkage stress, keeping simultaneously the degree of cure and mechanical properties constant. At 6 mm depth, curing with soft-start regimes resulted in a significant decrease in degree of cure, although this decrease was less than 10%, while the mechanical properties were maintained.