Bactericidal effect of a disinfectant dental stone on irreversible hydrocolloid impressions and stone casts.

Infection control in dentistry focuses on the prevention of cross-contamination among patients, dentists, and dental auxilary personnel. This study evaluated the bactericidal effect of a dental gypsum material containing 0.25% chloramine-T on oral irreversible hydrocolloid impressions and dental casts. Eighty irreversible hydrocolloid impressions from 40 human volunteers were prepared. Forty impressions were poured with the disinfectant dental stone and a similar number were poured with a comparable, nondisinfectant stone. After setting for 60 minutes, the impressions and separated casts were sampled for bacterial contamination. The disinfectant stone inhibited bacterial growth in 39 of 40 impressions and casts, whereas all casts and impressions poured with the nondisinfectant stone were contaminated. The disinfectant dental stone containing chloramine-T was effective in eliminating bacterial contamination of both the irreversible hydrocolloid impression and stone cast.