ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Because dental impression can be a cross-infection source, disinfection, such as immersion disinfection is nessecary. However, the disinfection process may change the volume of the impression cast. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out the effects on dimensional change of different storage times and methods, of agar-alginate impression when immersed in a 5% idophor disinfectant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An agar-alginate impression was made from a mandible model and then was disinfected and stored according the experimental conditions and a stone model was produced. Measurements were taken between reference points on the original mandible model and they were compared to measurements taken between reference points on the stone model. The study was divided into 4 groups. In group 1, the impression was stored in a 100% humidor for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours and stone models were made at each time. In group 2, the impression was immersed in 5% idophor disinfectant and then stored in a 100% humidor for the same length of times as group 1, and stone models were made at each time. In group 3, the impression was stored in extend-A-pourR, a special storage solution for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours 3 days, and 7 days and stone models were made at each time. In group 4, the impression was immersed in 5% idophor disinfectant and then stored in stored in extend-A-pourR, a special storage solution for the same length of times as group 3, and stone models were made at each time. 5 impressions and stone models were made at each time to make a total of 180. The Student-t test (P < .05) was used to do a statistical analysis of the measurements of the mandible model and stone models. The repeated-measure 2-way analysis of variance (P < .05) was used to do a statistical analysis of the difference in the 4 groups. RESULTS: The percent liner dimensional change was from 0.25+/-0.03% (group 1, 30 minutes) to 0.34+/-0.06% (group 4, 7 days). No significant change was noticed between the 4 groups. CONCLUSION: According to the above study, in both methods, least dimensional change was recorded when the storage times were short and in both methods, immersion in 5% idophor disinfectant did not effect dimensional change in the agar-alginate impression.