METHOD OF POLYMERIZING PHOTO-POLYMERIZABLE COMPOSITION FOR DENTAL USE AND DENTAL LIGHT-CURING APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH

摘要

A method of polymerizing a photo-polymerizable dental composition with the use of a light-curing apparatus including a light source for emitti ng a laser beam and an optical fiber optically coupled with the light source and having a light emitting element opposite to the light source. The photo-polymerizable denta l composition is filled in a dental cavity, and the light emitting element of the optical fiber is subsequently introduced in the filled photo-polymerizable dental composition to a position adjacent a bottom of the dental cavity. Thereafter , the filled photo-polymerizable dental composition is irradiated with the laser beam of 350 to 500 nm in wavelength at 10 to 100 mW, to cause the filled photo-polymerizable dental composite to initiate polymerization progressivel y from a portion thereof adjacent the bottom of the dental cavity towards a surface portion thereof.