Light Transmission Through Glass Fiber Posts Test Method and Protocol

 

I.        Research Question:  What is the light transmission through esthetic glass fiber posts?

 

II.     Test Method

 

1-     Cut a 2.5 inch diameter circle to use as a mask using 2mm thick rigid rubber. 

2-     In the center of the mask, drill a small hole using #56 Midwest bur.  Hole must be perpendicular to diameter of the mask.

3-     Cut each individual test post to 13 mm in length to standardize.

4-     Enter in calibration settings on a radiometer and integrating sphere (INS250 with IL1500 Research Radiometer with SEE015 detector) to measure total power.

5-     Set scale to measure .01 mW of power.

6-     Place post in rubber mask so that 2 mm of the post end sticks through the top of mask and 9 mm is below the mask.

7-     Place mask over integrating sphere port.

8-     Align curing light 1 mm above end of post with post centered in the curing light (Optilux 501 - Demetron, 7mm Turbo Tip, 1000mW/cm2).

9-     Activate curing light for 10 seconds.

10- Take reading from radiometer at 10 seconds just before deactivating light.

11- Record measurement and repeat steps 6-10 two more times.

12- Average all measurements and analyze using Tukey’s HSD statistical analysis test.