Importance of disinfection time and procedure with different alginate impression products to reduce dimensional instability.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the best approach to reduce the unfavorable change in the three different dimensions of impressions using disinfection durations of 15 and 30 min; three different disinfection procedures; and alginate impression products as research factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CA37, impressional, and cream alginate impressions were used; distortion in the AB, AC, and BC dimensions of impressions using disinfection durations of 15 and 30 min was studied; and no disinfection (ND), conventional disinfection (CD), and sonicator-activated disinfection (SAD) procedures were measured.

RESULTS

Regarding AB dimension, the impressional has best performance when CD was applied for both 15 and 30 min. When SAD was applied for 15 min, impressional and cream alginates provide best performance. When CD was applied for 15 min, CA37 and impressional alginates provide best performance. Although ND-applied CA37 alginate after 30 min provides best performance, because of many outlier values, its implication may not be considered as meaningful. Regarding AC dimension, cream alginate has best performance when CD was applied for 15 min. The AC distances in all the alginates are considerably different from the base model after 30 min. Regarding BC dimension, only the CA37 alginate has the best performance when ND was applied for 15 min. All the alginates are considerably different from that of the base model after 30 min.

CONCLUSION

Preference of 15-min disinfection can provide favorable results to obtain all impressions with minimally distorted dimensions. CD is an adequate procedure. The studied SAD needs to be developed further. All alginates are comparably successful to obtain impressions with desired distortion degrees.