Microbiological appraisal of three different brands of commercially available irreversible hydrocolloid impression materials: an in vitro study.

Aim: To evaluate factory-sealed containers of three different commercially available irreversible hydrocolloid impression materials for their microbial contamination and the type of microorganisms present.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six measured samples were taken of each brand and placed on chocolate agar plates or in thioglycolate broth tubes and were incubated along with appropriate parallel controls. After incubation, colonies were enumerated and identified using standard microbiological methods.