Infection control in the dental laboratory: a review of the literature.

The dental laboratory has been shown to be an area of potential disease transmission between patients and to laboratory personnel. This paper reviews pertinent literature on the subject and describes the "Barrier System," a proven infection control protocol to manage dental prostheses in the laboratory.

The use of warm solutions for more rapid disinfection of prostheses.

The barrier system of specific sequential steps for cleansing and disinfecting dental prosthesis as they enter and leave the laboratory was tested by comparing the use of room-temperature disinfectants for 10 minutes with warmed chlorine-based disinfectants at decreased immersion times. There were no statistically significant differences between 1- or 2-minute disinfection times using warmed 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, Alcide Expore, and Tetravalent Oxident, and using room-temperature Sporicidin for 10 minutes.