Does Steam Autoclaving Affect the Accuracy of Implant Impression Systems?

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.