Laboratory contamination of dental prostheses

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Microbiology
• Infection control

Background:

• Cross-contamination in dental laboratories is a known risk factor for pathogen transmission.
• Previous guidelines have been published to mitigate microbial contamination risks.
• Dental laboratories handle prosthetics from multiple patients, increasing potential for microbial exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential for pathogenic microbiologic cross-contamination during dental laboratory prosthetic repair.
• To assess the microbial safety of dentures after undergoing repair services at various dental laboratories.

Main Methods:

• Ten sterile, complete dentures were intentionally fractured.
• Fractured dentures were sent to multiple dental laboratories for repair services.
• Returned dentures were subsequently tested for microbial contamination.

Main Results:

• Nine out of ten repaired dentures were found to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms.
• The contamination suggests microbial transfer occurred during the laboratory repair process.
• Microorganisms may have originated from other patient prosthetics handled within the laboratories.

Conclusions:

• Dental laboratory repair processes present a significant risk for pathogenic microbial cross-contamination.
• Dentists must implement stringent protocols to ensure patient safety and prevent infection transmission via prosthodontic treatment.
• Further research into effective sterilization and handling procedures within dental laboratories is warranted.