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Curing time with the clinic's curing lamp

How many seconds should each layer have?

Answer: Composite hardens from the light energy it receives, and the energy is the lamp's light intensity (mW/cm²) times the time. The manufacturer writes e.g. 20 seconds at minimum 1,000 mW/cm². A lamp loses light intensity with age, with dirt on the light rod and with distance to the filling. Once you have measured the lamp with the radiometer, the calculator works out the time that gives the same energy. It never goes below the manufacturer's own time, because shorter time with a stronger lamp does not necessarily harden just as well.

Formula

Lysenergi (J/cm²) = lysstyrke (mW/cm²) × tid (s) ÷ 1.000

Tid med din lampe = producentens tid × producentens lysstyrke ÷ din lampes lysstyrke, rundet op til hele sekunder

The time will never be shorter than the manufacturer's own time

Samlet tid = tid pr. lag × antal lag

Symbols and units in the formula
SymbolMeaningUnit
prod_tid_sManufacturer's curing time per coat (user manual)s
prod_mwManufacturer's light output for that timemW/cm²
maalt_mwYour lamp's measured light intensity (radiometer)mW/cm²
lagNumber of layers in the fillinglag
=Curing time per layer with your lamps
=Light energy manufacturer requires per layerJ/cm²
=Your lamp's light intensity compared to the manufacturer's%
=Total curing time for fillings

Validity and source

Source
Lysenergi = lysstyrke × tid (Rueggeberg et al. 1994; ISO 10650 for hærdelamper); producentens brugsanvisning

Does not apply when

  • Measure the lamp with the radiometer at regular intervals and after cleaning the light stick, and write the measurement in the clinic's control. Dark colours, opaque materials and long distance between light stick and filling require more. Always follow the material's own instructions.

Worked example

The calculator's own default values inserted. The figures are calculated with exactly the formula the tool uses.

Substituted

  • Manufacturer's curing time per coat (user manual)20 s
  • Manufacturer's light output for that time1,000 mW/cm²
  • Your lamp's measured light intensity (radiometer)800 mW/cm²
  • Number of layers in the filling2 lag

Giver

  • Curing time per layer with your lamp25 s
  • Light energy manufacturer requires per layer20.0 J/cm²
  • Your lamp's light intensity compared to the manufacturer's80 %
  • Total curing time for filling50 s

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Sådan bruger du den

Du bruger den, når du har målt hærdelampen med radiometeret, og lampen er svagere end producentens krav. Den viser, hvor mange sekunder hvert lag skal have for at få samme lysenergi.

Step by step

  1. Find producentens hærdetid og den lysstyrke, tiden gælder for, i brugsanvisningen.
  2. Mål lampen med radiometeret med ren lysstav.
  3. Gang producentens tid med producentens lysstyrke, og del med din lampes lysstyrke.
  4. Rund op til hele sekunder. Brug aldrig kortere tid end producentens.
  5. Skriv målingen i lampens kontrolskema.

Typical errors

  • At måle med en snavset lysstav. Composite-rester tager meget lys.
  • At holde lysstaven skævt eller langt fra fyldningen.
  • At forkorte tiden, fordi lampen er stærk.

Examples from everyday life

Ældre lampe

Producenten skriver 20 sekunder ved 1.000 mW/cm². Klinikkens lampe måler 650 mW/cm², og fyldningen har 3 lag.

Manufacturer's curing time per coat (user manual)
20 s
Manufacturer's light output for that time
1,000 mW/cm²
Your lamp's measured light intensity (radiometer)
650 mW/cm²
Number of layers in the filling
3 layer

It means: Hvert lag skal have 31 s i stedet for 20. Lampen giver kun 65 % af producentens lysstyrke, så den bør efterses eller skiftes. Hele fyldningen tager 93 s.

Stærk ny lampe

Producenten skriver 10 sekunder ved 1.000 mW/cm². Den nye lampe måler 1.400 mW/cm².

Manufacturer's curing time per coat (user manual)
10 s
Manufacturer's light output for that time
1,000 mW/cm²
Your lamp's measured light intensity (radiometer)
1,400 mW/cm²
Number of layers in the filling
2 layer

It means: Beregneren holder tiden på 10 s, selvom lampen er stærkere. En kortere tid med højere lysstyrke giver ikke nødvendigvis samme hærdning.

Rule of thumb

Er lampen 20 % svagere end kravet, skal tiden være 25 % længere.

How to check the answer

Gang din tid med din lampes lysstyrke og del med 1.000. Det skal give mindst producentens J/cm².