Surface characteristics of polyether and addition silicone impression materials after long-term disinfection

It has been demonstrated that short-term disinfection can affect the surface properties of impression materials. This study evaluated advancing contact angle, receding contact angle, imbibition and mass loss of a polyether impression material, and two different viscosities of an addition silicone impression material after long-term immersion disinfection (18 hours). The brand names of the impression materials tested were Impregum F, Extrude Extra, and Extrude Wash, and all were tested by use of the Wilhelmy technique; first, for the nondisinfected state, which served as controls, and then after 1 and 18 hours of disinfection in a full-strength solution of acid glutaraldehyde. Weight changes before and after the disinfection process were also measured to detect weight loss and mass change over time. All materials exhibited some degree of imbibition. Polyether lost 0.4% mass in air, which indicated loss of a volatile component. Polyether and addition silicone were both relatively hydrophobic and could be disinfected with acid glutaraldehyde for up to 18 hours without affecting wettability.