Light output of disposable vs. nondisposable curing light tips following high-level disinfection.

Following a pilot study which determined that autoclaving a disposable tip resulted in physical deformation, rendering the tip ineffective for photocuring, this study evaluated the effects of two FDA-cleared high-level disinfectants on the light output and physical integrity of disposable and nondisposable curing light tips. Nine disposable and five nondisposable curing tips were immersed in each of the two disinfectants. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in light output over time were observed for either type of curing light tip in either solution. None of the tips were physically affected by immersion and light output values remained in the acceptable range for resin composite polymerization.