Disinfection of impressions

Abstract

With the need of preventing the cross contamination between professionals, laboratory technicians and patients, a lot of techniques and substances have been used to promote biosecurity in dentistry. The impressions can be considered ways of transmitting infectious diseases, so it is required a special attention in the manipulation of these materials. There is some controversy in the process of disinfection of impressions. There are no universal guidelines on how to disinfect impressions. A variety of disinfection techniques, substances, and substance concentrations have been described. Furthermore disinfection procedures might cause dimensional changes in the impressions. An impression distorted by disinfection procedures will not accurately reproduce all the details of dental and oral anatomy present in a patient's oral cavity. The aim of this article is to present techniques of impression disinfection and also to increase awareness among dental professionals of the need of infection control in handling dental impressions.