Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41972509›Full record

ArticleOral health & preventive dentistry2026

Evaluating Knowledge and Practice Related to Light-Curing and Resin-Based Composites Polymerization.

Afnan O Al-Zain, Haidar Alhaddad, Rozana A Al-Bukhary, Dalia E Meisha

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Oral health & preventive dentistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Afnan O Al-Zain
Haidar Alhaddad
Rozana A Al-Bukhary
Dalia E Meisha

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDelivering high-quality restorative care requires clinicians to possess a solid understanding of light-curing units (LCUs) and resin-based composite (RBC) polymerisation. Despite growing research highlighting knowledge gaps among dental professionals, a disconnect remains between evidence-based recommendations and clinical implementation. This study assessed knowledge gaps and clinical practices related to LCUs and RBC polymerisation among dental students, general dentists, specialists and consultants in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND

methodsA validated, electronic questionnaire collected data on demographics, LCU and RBC selection criteria, knowledge of polymerisation, and related clinical practices.

resultsAmong the 291 respondents, 63.9% of participants were unaware of their LCU irradiance, and 52.6% were not aware of the emission spectrum. Related clinical practices, maintenance routines, and infection control were suboptimal, with only 7.9% performed daily irradiance checks and 38.5% lacking a defined maintenance routine. Specialists demonstrated better knowledge than students and general dentists (P 0.05), yet knowledge gaps persisted across all groups. Notably, 81% of respondents expressed interest in continuing education on LCUs.

conclusionSignificant deficiencies in LCU selection, photoinitiator compatibility awareness, and maintenance practices were identified across all practitioner categories. Integrating competency-based education and standardised protocols is essential to improve polymerisation quality, ensure long-term restorative success, and safeguard patient care.

Indexed as

Composite ResinsCuring Lights, DentalHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeLight-Curing of Dental AdhesivesAdultFemaleHumansMalePolymerizationSaudi ArabiaStudents, DentalComposite Resinsattitudesdental curing lightdental studentdentistsknowledgepracticeresin compositessurvey

Identifiers

PMID41972509
PMCPMC13077327

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.