Disinfection of prosthodontic impression materials: a literature review

With the steadily growing frequency of AIDS, many dental researchers and clinicians have become more interested in disinfection and sterilization procedures. Impressions made in the clinic are potential contamination pathways. All patients may be considered as potentially infectious and the impressions must be treated the same as those made on so-called high-risk patients. Zinc oxide-eugenol, polysulfide and silicone rubber, and probably polyether materials are compatible with effective disinfectant solutions. The solutions do not substantially diminish the dimensional stability and the sharpness of surface detail reproduction of these impression materials. Impression compound as well as reversible and irreversible hydrocolloid, however, are not compatible with effective disinfectant solutions.