Method for curing a dental composition using a light emitting diode

• US 6,318,996 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Photonic Curing, LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: New Photonics, LLC
• Inventors: Melikechi, Noureddine, Pradhan, Ranjit Dinkar
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/412,683
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 362/119, 250/504.H
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/00 Filling or capping teeth

Abstract

A dental composition curing method and device for exposing a dental composition to a beam of radiation emitted by a light-emitting-diode (LED) positioned proximate the composition, LED radiation being more efficient than the conventional use of filtered white light or laser radiation.

Claims

1. A method for curing a dental composition suitable for repairing a dental cavity or a dental surface comprising:

applying the dental composition to the cavity or surface; and

,

exposing the composition to radiation from a light emitting diode having output wavelengths selected to photo-activate a hardening chemical reaction within the composition,

wherein the light emitting diode is operated at a power output in the range of about 25 mW/cm² to about 38 mW/cm², wherein the dental composition comprises a photo-curable composition, the light emitting diode is positioned a distance of about 7 mm±

2 mm from the dental composition, and wherein a depth of cure of about 3 mm is achieved.

2. A method for curing a dental composition suitable for repairing dental cavities or dental surfaces by applying the dental composition to an affected area and exposing the composition to radiation from a single light emitting diode,

wherein the dental composition comprises a photo-curable composition and the light emitting diode is operated for about 60 seconds at a power output of about 20 mw/cm² at a distance of about 7 mm from the dental composition so that a depth of cure of about 3 mm is achieved.