Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Three Disinfectants on Polyvinyl Siloxane Impression Material: An In Vitro Study.

Background Dental impressions represent a potential source of cross-contamination between clinical and laboratory settings. While disinfection protocols are essential for infection control, selecting an agent with reliable antimicrobial efficacy remains a key clinical consideration. This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of three disinfection methods: 2% glutaraldehyde, Sterilox (hypochlorous acid-based), and gaseous ozone on polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression material. Aim The study aimed to determine and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of three disinfectants against Streptococcus mutans on PVS impressions. Methods Eighty disc-shaped PVS specimens were fabricated using a standardized stainless-steel mold and randomly allocated into four groups (n=20 each): control (no disinfection), 2% glutaraldehyde immersion (10 minutes), Sterilox immersion (10 minutes), and gaseous ozone exposure (30 minutes). Specimens were inoculated with S. mutans, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were quantified before and after disinfection. Statistical analysis employed one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc comparisons (α=0.05). Results All disinfectants produced statistically significant reductions in microbial load compared with controls (p<0.001). Glutaraldehyde demonstrated the highest CFU reduction (75.50±4.97), followed by Sterilox (69.20±3.05) and ozone (63.30±5.25). Intergroup differences were statistically significant (p<0.001), indicating variation in antimicrobial effectiveness among the tested agents. Conclusions Glutaraldehyde demonstrated superior antimicrobial efficacy. Sterilox offers a safer alternative with effective disinfection, while gaseous ozone shows promise as a residue-free modality but requires strict protocol standardization for consistent results.