Infection Control and Dimensional Stability in Dental Impression Materials

Dental impressions serve as critical negative moulds for prosthetic and restorative procedures, yet they pose a risk of cross-contamination via blood, saliva and plaque. Effective infection control hinges on disinfecting or sterilising impression materials without compromising their dimensional fidelity. Commonly used materials include irreversible hydrocolloids (alginate), elastomeric silicones (addition and condensation types), polyethers and polyvinyl siloxanes. Conventional chemical agents such as sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde and chlorhexidine can achieve high microbial reduction but may induce minor linear or volumetric changes. Emerging methods—ultraviolet irradiation, ozone exposure and incorporation of antimicrobial nanoparticles—seek to deliver rapid, eco-friendly decontamination. Balancing disinfection efficacy with the stringent tolerances for detail reproduction, tear strength and elastic recovery remains central to clinical accuracy. Advances in self-disinfecting formulations and ergonomically designed disinfection devices are reshaping protocols, bolstering both patient safety and prosthetic precision on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have evaluated compact ultraviolet-C light cabinets tailored for dental practice. A portable unit delivered full eradication of Escherichia coli from silicone impressions, stone casts and acrylic bases within 2.5 minutes of exposure. Key design factors—wavelength uniformity, chamber geometry and safety interlocks—were shown to influence germicidal performance. Compared with standard chemical sprays, the UV approach achieved equivalent or superior disinfection without immersion, minimising material handling and drying times while preserving surface detail.

Infection Control and Dimensional Stability in Dental Impression Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in infection control and dimensional stability in dental impression materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Dimensional stability: The capacity of an impression material to resist linear or volumetric changes after setting and during disinfection.

Alginate: An irreversible hydrocolloid impression material derived from seaweed, valued for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

Addition silicone: A class of elastomeric impression materials cured by platinum-catalysed polymerisation, noted for high accuracy and tear resistance.

UVC irradiation: Disinfection using ultraviolet light in the 200–280 nm range, which damages microbial DNA without chemical residues.

Self-disinfecting formulation: An impression mix incorporating antimicrobial agents that act during or immediately after polymerisation, reducing reliance on external disinfectants.

References

1. Mechanical and Physical Properties of an Experimental Chemically and Green-Nano Improved Dental Alginate after Proven Antimicrobial Potentials. Gels (2023).
2. Efficacy and design requirements of UV light cabinets for disinfection of exchangeable non-sterilizable “dental objects”. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Effects of Various Disinfection Methods on the Material Properties of Silicone Dental Impressions of Different Types and Viscosities. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022).