STUDY ON DECONTAMINATION LEVELS IN DENTAL IMPRESSIONS AND CONSTRUCTIONS

Purpose: Infection control within dental offices is essential for preventing pathogen transmission among patients, staff, and between clinical and laboratory settings. Despite established guidelines, adherence to protocols remains inconsistent, posing a risk of cross-infections. This study focuses on the decontamination rates of dental impressions used in removable and non-removable prosthetics in Bulgaria, aiming to highlight current decontamination practices and their efficacy. Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective microbiological and epidemiological study involving 50 dental impressions and 8 finished constructions from individual and group dental practices, as well as samples taken by dental students. The microbiological examination included screening for facultative anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms, serving as an indicator for conducted decontamination practices. Specimens were obtained from adults by using dry sterile cotton swabs in a transport medium, subsequently inoculated on blood agar, eosin-methylene blue agar, and chromogenic medium for Candida spp. Results: Our results showed that 18 (47.4%) of impressions for non-removable and 4 (33.3%) impressions for removable dental prosthetics tested positive for facultative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria as well as fungi. Predominant bacteria included viridans streptococci and resident Neisseria spp. Additionally, Gram-negative enteric bacteria were also found predominantly in non-removable impressions – 4 (14.8%). A single Candida albicans isolate was cultured in both non-removable and removable impressions. Among finished constructions, one sample tested positive for Escherichia coli. Conclusion: These findings indicate significant gaps in decontamination practices, particularly with non-removable dental impressions, highlighting the necessity for improved training and adherence to infection control protocols.