Effect of disinfectant solutions on the wettability of elastomeric impression materials

The wettability of impression material affects the number or volume of air bubbles generated during the pouring of gypsum casts. This study was done to determine the effect of various commercial disinfectant solutions on the wettability of elastomeric impression materials. The technique of measuring advancing contact angles of aqueous solutions of calcium sulfate was used to determine changes in the wettability of four types of impression material before and after immersion in one of five disinfectants. All disinfectant solutions that were tested increased the wettability of polysulfide. Chlorine dioxide produced the greatest increase in the wettability of polysulfide by decreasing the contact angle on polysulfide at least 48 degrees. All disinfectants decreased the wettability of hydrophilic addition silicone by increasing the contact angle up to approximately 30 degrees. The differences were significant as determined by paired Student t-tests. Addition silicone was the material most resistant to change in contact angle. Chlorine dioxide had the greatest beneficial effect on wettability.