Disinfecting dental impressions

Many common dental procedures involve taking a dental impression such as in the creation of crowns, veneers, retainers, bridges and mouth guards to name but a few. However, dental impressions are also a potential source of cross infection, particularly when transported between the clinical area and the laboratory. They may be contaminated with saliva or blood, which can contain both viral and bacterial pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis A, B, and C viruses.

Generally, most pathogens cannot survive for long periods of time outside the body, but they may survive for several days in protein-containing body fluids. This means that microorganisms can be transferred from contaminated impressions to dental casts, and oral bacteria may remain viable in set gypsum materials for several days [Pandis, 2006].