Evaluation of dimensional stability of elastomeric impression materials during disinfection

Disinfection of impression materials is recommended for preventing cross-contamination in dental clinics. However, aspects of the evaluation of elastomeric impression materials only slightly subjected to the effects of disinfectants have not been established. Therefore, the effects of sodium hypochlorite, glutaral, iodine, and ethanol disinfectants on elastomeric impression materials, condensation silicone, polysulfide, addition-type silicone (vinyl silicone), hydrophilic vinyl silicone, and polyether, were evaluated directly in a time-dependent manner by a non-contact displacement meter. Condensation silicone impression materials and polysulfide rubber impression materials greatly shrank over time, but their shrinkage decreased with immersion in disinfectants. Vinyl silicone impression materials and polyether impression materials showed excellent dimensional stability in air. However, hydrophilic vinyl silicone impression materials and polyether impression materials expanded greatly when immersed in disinfectants, especially when immersed in ethanol. Hydrophobic vinyl silicone impression materials showed excellent dimensional stability regardless of the presence or absence of disinfectants.