Editor's Note Carol Murphy, Executive Editor
carol@dentaltown.com

As I write this, the current survey question on the homepage at DentalTown’s website (www.dentaltown.com) asks do you agree or disagree that 'The fast curing lights have shorter curing times, but the rapid rate of shrinkage has a detrimental effect on the composite and may create white lines.' The results–45% agree and 55% disagree–illustrate why this topic finds dental professionals clearly divided.

The introduction of faster curing lights has been embraced by many dentists as a way to improve composite cures and reduce chairtime. But, are these clinicians comprising quality control and drastically altering a restoration's lifespan by utilizing a fast cure light? Would a slow cure be better or is the cure method even an issue? Perhaps the root of the problem lies in the composite material and cure method has little or no effect on shrinkage or white lines.

An article in the April, 2002 issue of DentalTown Magazine, authored by Dr. Xinyi Yu, Clinical Research Director at Den-Mat Corporation, ignited a literal bonfire of allegations that made their way to the message boards at the DentalTown website. Townie, FLSteve began the message thread under the title: Fast Cure vs. Slow Cure. What originated as a public reprimand to DentalTown Magazine for the truly accidental exclusion of Dr. Yu's corporate affiliation within his article quickly turned into a volatile debate on many issues.

The topic became embroiled in controversy when Dr. John Kanca, a prominent speaker on polymerization, publicly and adamantly disagreed with Dr. Yu's position that composite brittleness isn't really affected by a fast cure. Dr. Kanca's main contention regarding fast curing is that it causes margins to be opened and the lamination layer of bonding agent between the composite and the tooth structure to become overstressed.

Allegations of inadequate research were many but when Dr. Kanca made accusations about the lack of details and quality of research of CRA's (Clinical Research Associates) data on the clinical effects of fast and slower curing lights, Dr. Rella Christensen passionately defended CRA's integrity and the caliber of their scientific and impartial research.

Although space does not permit us to present all messages on this topic, we have included the exchange between Drs. Kanca, Yu and Christensen in this issue. If you are intrigued by this exchange of some of the prominent leaders within the dental industry, you can view the entire dialogue online at DentalTown's website. Locate 'Fast Cure vs. Slow Cure' under the forum for the April 2002 issue of DentalTown Magazine. Or, you can take advantage of the easy-to-use search function to locate all messages related to this highly controversial topic.