Comparison of microleakage of photo-cured composites using three different light sources: halogen lamp, LED and argon laser: an in vitro study

In this study, we compared the microleakage of composite fillings cured with halogen bulb, LED and argon ion laser (488 nm). Twenty-four extracted human molars were divided randomly in three groups. Six cavities were prepared on the coronal part of each tooth. Standard cavities (1.7 x 2 mm) were prepared. Cavities were acid etched, sealed with Scotch Bond 1 and filled by a hybrid composite. Cavities were exposed to one light source, thermocycled and immersed in a 2% methylene blue dye solution. Dye penetration in the leakage of cavities was recorded using a digital optical microscope. Mean values of percentage of dye penetrations in microleakages of cavities were 49.303 +/- 5.178% for cavities cured with LED, 44.486 +/- 6.075% with halogen bulb and 36.647 +/- 5.936% for those cured by argon laser. Statistically significant difference exists between cavities cured by halogen vs LED (P < 0.01), halogen vs laser (P < 0.001) and LED vs laser (P < 0.001). The lowest microleakage was observed in the cavities and composites cured with argon ion laser.