The effect of immersion disinfection of elastomeric impressions on the surface detail reproduction of improved gypsum casts.

This investigation examined improved gypsum casts for surface roughness and line-detail reproduction after the immersion disinfection of elastomeric impression materials in an acid glutaraldehyde, an alkaline glutaraldehyde, and a phenol. Impressions were made of a surface roughness standard (Ra = 3.08 microns) that was custom made to include engraved grooves following American Dental Association specification No. 19. Mean surface roughness (Ra) values for all casts of all combinations of disinfectant treatments, impression materials, and improved gypsum stones were obtained with a surface analyzer. Untreated impressions served as controls. Data examined by an analysis of variance indicated that the addition silicone and polyether impression materials provided a surface roughness similar to the precision displacement specimen standard. The acid glutaraldehyde disinfectant demonstrated enhanced line-detail reproduction compared with the standard. Addition silicone and polyether impression materials combined with the acid glutaraldehyde provided the model system closest to the mean surface roughness of the reference standard. These combinations revealed differences in the surface roughness reproduction among the represented improved dental stones.