Impression Material Sterilization with Gaseous Ethylene Oxide

摘要

The increase in surgical treatment of oral, facial, and cranial defects has prompted a concomitant increase in requests for impressions to be made in the surgical theater. To avoid violation of the sterile chain, impression materials and equipment should be sterile. Irreversible hydrocolloid and plaster materials are practical for use in the operating room but cannot be sterilized by autoclaving and other high temperature methods; and whether they are sterile as received from the manufacturer is questionable. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of gaseous ethylene oxide treatment in sterilizing hydrocolloid powder and fast-setting plaster; and to determine the effect of the procedure on the physical properties of the hydrocolloid. Both materials were found to be contaminated with gram-positive bacilli and cocci as received from the manufacturer. There was no significant difference between setting times and linear measurements of sterilized and nonsterilized samples. (Author)