Factors that affect alginates: a brief review

Abstract

Alginates are widely used in dentistry for various applications due to their favorable properties, including ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and patient comfort. They are commonly employed for preliminary impressions of oral structures in dental practice. This study aims to assess the impact of different factors on the performance of alginate impression materials in dentistry. The mixing process of alginate involves combining the powder with water, and the technique employed for mixing can significantly affect the quality and porosity of the resulting material. The study employed a comprehensive search strategy using electronic databases and manual searches to gather relevant studies published in English. The results indicated that the amount of water used for mixing and the presence of calcium ions could affect the setting time, hardness, and elasticity of alginate impressions. Proper water-powder ratio and manipulation instructions are crucial in minimizing distortion in the resulting casts. Disinfectants like chlorhexidine can effectively reduce microorganism percentages on the impression surface without compromising quality. Various mixing techniques were evaluated, including manual spatulation, automated spinning bowl, centrifugal mixer, and vacuum mixer. Centrifugal and vacuum mixing showed better surface and internal porosity results-mechanical mixing techniques, such as vacuum mixers, improved performance.