The accuracy of polyvinyl siloxane impressions made with standard and reinforced stock trays

A laboratory investigation was done to assess the influence of proprietary stock trays on the accuracy of impressions recorded with heavy light-body (HL) and putty light-body (PL) wash impression techniques. Two brands of trays were tested and the same trays were reinforced with acrylic resin. Individual die accuracy and overall distortion of the resultant casts were assessed. PL impressions in both stock trays gave undersized buccolingual dimensions at the preparation finishing lines whereas reinforcing the trays reduced this distortion. Significant inaccuracy at the second molar was found for all trays when PL impressions were made. These distortions would have resulted in clinically unacceptable dies. HL impressions, regardless of tray type, produced highly accurate dies at this critical site. Resultant overall cast distortion was reduced, but not eliminated, by using reinforced trays with either PL or HL techniques.