Table 4. Results of included studies evaluating surface properties of disinfected alginate impression materials.

Study	Disinfection procedures				Surface properties evaluatedb
	Type and concentration of disinfectants	Disinfection method	Disinfection duration	Control groupa	Dimensional stability	Detail reproduction	Surface roughness
Babiker, Khalifa & Alhajj (2018)	1%/5.25% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	5 min	NR	S	NR	NR
		Spray			NS	NR	NR
Guiraldo et al. (2012)	2% sodium hypochlorite	Spray	15 min	NR	NS	NS	NR
Hamedi Rad, Ghaffari & Safavi (2010)	5.25% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion, Spray	8 min	WE	NS	NR	NR
	2% glutaraldehyde				S	NR	NR
Herrera & Merchant (1986)	0.5%/1% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	30 min	W, A	NS	NR	NR
	0.13% glutaraldehyde				S	NR	NR
	2% glutaraldehyde				NS	NR	NR
Hiraguchi et al. (2012)	0.5% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	15 min	NR	NS	NR	NR
Rentzia et al. (2011)	0.5% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	30/60/90/120/ 180/240/300 s	NR	NS	NR	NR
Rueggeberg et al. (1992)	0.525% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	10 min	NR	S	S	NR
		Spray			NS	S	NR
Shambhu & Gujjari (2010)	0.525% sodium hypochlorite	Immersion	1/5/10 min	NR	NR	NS	NR

Notes.

^aDental impressions of control groups were kept in air (A), water (W) or wet environment (WE). NR: Dental impressions of control groups were not reported to be kept in air, water or wet environment.

^bEffects of disinfection on the surface properties of dental impressions are indicated as follows: S, significant difference was found when compared to control group; NS, no significant difference; NR, not reported.