Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
07:57
Accuracy in Dental Medicine, A New Way to Measure Trueness and Precision
Published on: April 29, 2014
Do dental impression materials play a role in cross contamination?
Shlomo Matalon1, Amir Eini, Colin Gorfil
1Department of Oral Rehabiliatation, The Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Quintessence International (Berlin, Germany : 1985)
|October 26, 2011
Summary
Dental impression materials showed limited antimicrobial properties against common oral bacteria and fungi. Disinfection remains crucial for preventing cross-contamination in dental practices.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Dental Materials Science
Background:
- Dental impression materials can act as carriers for microorganisms, posing a risk of cross-contamination.
- Implementing effective infection control procedures is paramount in dentistry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of four dental impression materials.
- To determine the efficacy of these materials against common oral pathogens.
Main Methods:
- The direct contact test was used to assess four impression materials: Orthoprint, Impregum Penta, Aquasil Ultra Monophase, and Permlastic.
- Materials were tested against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans.
- Antimicrobial activity was evaluated immediately after setting and after aging up to 1 week.
Main Results:
- Impregum Penta demonstrated the broadest antibacterial spectrum, inhibiting S. aureus and S. epidermidis for at least 7 days.
- Permlastic showed sustained antifungal activity against C. albicans for at least 7 days.
- Other materials exhibited limited or no significant antimicrobial or antifungal properties, particularly against E. faecalis.
Conclusions:
- None of the evaluated dental impression materials possess complete or long-lasting antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
- Routine disinfection of dental impressions is essential to mitigate infection risks.
Related Concept Videos
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:26Standard Precaution
Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They help prevent the spread of common infectious microorganisms to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings.
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization are the methods that help to break the infection chain and prevent disease.
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...