An evaluation of the fit of metal-ceramic restorations made with an autoclaved silicone-based impression material.

Aim: To demonstrate the clinical feasibility of autoclaving certain silicone impression materials in order to avoid potential cross-contamination during handling, transport, and subsequent processing.

Background: Semicritical devices are recommended to be treated at least with high-level disinfectants or actually steam sterilized at 134°C. To date dental impressions have been disinfected rather than sterilized, so the question remains should they be sterilized before being sent to the dental laboratory?

Case Descriptions: Two identical impressions per case were made of metal-ceramic crown and fixed partial denture preparations on the same patient using addition type polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression materials (AFFINIS,® Coltene/Whaledent AG, 9450 Altstätten, Switzerland) in different trays.

Partial cricotracheal resection for pediatric subglottic stenosis: long-term outcome in 57 patients.

Objective: We sought to assess the long-term outcome of 57 pediatric patients who underwent partial cricotracheal resection for subglottic stenosis.

Methods: Eighty-one pediatric partial cricotracheal resections were performed in our tertiary care institution between 1978 and 2004. Fifty-seven patients had a minimal follow-up time of 1 year and were included in this study.