Does Steam Autoclaving Affect the Accuracy of Implant Impression Systems?

Journal Article

• Magazine \ Newspaper: J. Biomater. Tissue Eng.
• Issue Number: 7
• Volume Number: 4
• Pages: 550–554

Publication Abstract

The purpose: The aim of this in-vitro pilot study was to evaluate the effect of steam autoclaving
of the implant analog and impression coping on the accuracy of impression procedure. Materials
and methods: A master casts model was constructed, with a pair of commercially available fixtures.
Ten pairs of impression copings were used to make the impression. Implant analogs were then
attached to the copings and ten sets of duplicated casts were prepared and numbered. Baseline
measurements were taken for all the ten casts using a travelling microscope. Two out of the ten
sets of duplicated casts were randomly selected to be the control group. All the ten casts were
manually broken and the analogs were retrieved. Excluding the control group, the remaining eight
pairs of analogs and copings were sent for one, five and ten cycles of sterilization. The distances
between the copings were measured using traveling microscope and compared to the distance
in the master model. Result: No significant difference was observed in the mean value of the
measured distances on the duplicated casts after steam autoclaving. Conclusion: Steam autoclaving
the implant impression components did not influence the accuracy of the impressions procedure.