title: Effect of mixing techniques on bacterial attachment and disinfection time of polyether impression material.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was 2-fold. The first aim was to evaluate the effects of mixing technique (hand-mixing or auto-mixing) on bacterial attachment to polyether impression materials. The second aim was to determine whether bacterial attachment to these materials was affected by length of exposure to disinfection solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polyether impression material samples (n = 144) were prepared by hand-mixing or auto-mixing. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used in testing. After incubation, the bacterial colonies were counted and then disinfectant solution was applied. The effect of disinfection solution was evaluated just after the polymerization of impression material and 30 min after polymerization. Differences in adherence of bacteria to the samples prepared by hand-mixing and to those prepared by auto-mixing were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. For evaluating the efficiency of the disinfectant, Kruskal-Wallis multiple comparisons test was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E. coli counts were higher in hand-mixed materials (P < 0.05); no other statistically significant differences were found between hand- and auto-mixed materials. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, significant differences were found between the disinfection procedures (Z > 2.394).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods used for mixing polyether impression material did not affect bacterial attachment to impression surfaces. In contrast, the disinfection procedure greatly affects decontamination of the impression surface.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Umut
authors: U
authors: Guler
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Yasemin
authors: Y
authors: Budak
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Emrah
authors: E
authors: Ruh
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Yesim
authors: Y
authors: Ocal
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Senay
authors: S
authors: Canay
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: Yakut
authors: Y
authors: Akyon
keywords: Bacterial contamination; hand-mixing; polyether auto-mixing