Biological effects of blue light from dental curing units

The effects of dental photocuring blue light sources on the cellular function of fibroblasts were analyzed. Mouse fibroblasts were exposed to light from dental photocuring units for clinically relevant durations, with total energy exposures ranging from 1.3 to 60 J/cm². The temperature rise of the cell-culture medium was measured to assess any possible effect from temperature increases, and cellular function was assessed by succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of mitochondria. The results indicate that the photocuring sources pose some risk of disrupting cellular function in vivo.