Avoidance of interaction between impression materials and tooth surface treated for immediate dentin sealing: An in vitro study

Abstract

Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) is an advantageous approach for realizing adhesive restorations, but it interfereswith the polymerization of impressionmaterial due to the oxygen-inhibition layer (OIL),which leaves residues of impressionmaterial on the teeth. The aimof this study is to identify a clinical surface cleaning protocol after IDS in order to achieve defect-free impressions. Sixty extracted human teeth were cut to expose fresh dentin and the IDS protocol was performed. Samples were divided into six groupswhere different surface cleaning protocolsweremade before taking impressions: G1S and G1P groups, IDS and silicone (S) or polyether (P) impressions; G2S and G2P, treatment with prophy paste and impressions; G3S and G3P, final cleaning phasewith surfactant agent and impressions. Teeth were evaluated with a scanning electron microscope to identify the areas (expressed in mm2) where residual impression material was present. The results demonstrate a reduction of residues in the G2 groups and the total disappearance in G3 groups with statistically significant differences between them. Superficial cleaning protocols with the prophy paste and surfactant agent lead to the elimination of the interaction with impression materials and OIL. These results suggest a safe clinical protocol for obtaining defect-free impressions after IDS.