A review of contemporary impression materials and techniques

The contemporary restorative dentist has a host of impression materials available for making impressions in fixed prosthodontics,implant dentistry, and operative dentistry. With proper material selection and manipulation, accurate impressions can be obtained for fabrication of tooth- and implant-supported restorations. This article outlines the ideal properties of impression materials and explains the importance of critical manipulative variables. Available impression materials are analyzed relative to these variables, and several "specialized" impression techniques are described. Special attention is paid to polyvinyl siloxane impression materials because they have become the most widely used impression material in restorative dentistry.     

Accuracy of three implant impression techniques with different impression materials and stones

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of casts made using three different impression techniques to obtain an accurate definitive cast for fabrication of multiple-implant prostheses. Twelve experimental groups were formed combining the following conditions: three impression techniques, two impression materials, and two cast materials. The main effects of the three factors were analyzed by three-way analysis of variance using the full factorial general linear model between factors. The results showed that there were no significant differences in mean values for the transferred dimensions between the control and experimental groups. None of the measurements in the horizontal plane of the definitive casts demonstrated significant differences among the impression techniques with different impression and cast materials (P > .01).     

Polyvinyl siloxane impression materials: a review of properties and techniques.

Polyvinyl siloxane impression materials have been shown to have excellent properties as impression materials; however, they are sensitive to manipulative variables. Several methods of using very high viscosity (putty) materials to form "trays" to obtain uniform bulk of the wash impression are described, and the disadvantages of each of these techniques is pointed out. It is recommended that for best results acrylic resin custom trays should be used routinely. The interaction of polyvinyl siloxane materials with latex products is also discussed and problems that this inhibition can cause are stated. Suggestions to avoid this interaction are outlined. One of the disadvantages of the impression materials is that it has a relatively short working time. Refrigerating the material will increase working time without affecting accuracy.     

Quality of stone dies produced by different impression materials. A comparative study of impression techniques

A comparison was made of the ability of different impression materials to depict precision made steel blocks. Stone dies poured into such impressions were studied concerning their hardness, dimensional accuracy, detail reproduction, and surface reproduction. The dies were produced in the impression material only to a small extent, with the exception of their surface roughness. Differences between impression materials are otherwise small. The advantages of two-phase alginates over standard alginates lie in the impression technique rather than in the characteristics of the material.     

Radiopacity of impression materials.

The radiographic densitites of twenty-six impression materials were measured and the values expressed as an equivalent thickness of aluminum. Under simulated clinical conditions, only ten of the materials tested could be consistently distinguished from the bone structure in periapical radiographs. It was far more dificult to detect objects with beveled margins than objects of uniform thickness. The minimum radiopacity of a material which could be detected in the periodontal tissue on a periapical radiograph was estimated.     

The dimensional accuracy of four impression techniques with the use of addition silicone impression materials

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of impression technique selection on the dimensional accuracy of the produced casts. METHODOLOGY: Four impression techniques (single-stage, two-stage, monophase, and heavy/wash technique) were used to make addition silicone impressions of a phantom head maxillary jaw. The impression materials used were Aquasil, Extrude, and Imprint. Measurements on casts were made for the inter-abutment distances to assess dimensional accuracy. RESULTS: There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for the anteroposterior distances with the single-stage technique. The crossarch distances were slightly increased compared with the master model for all techniques, but significant statistical differences were only recorded for the single-stage technique and the monophase technique. The monophase technique demonstrated irregular results. The heavy/wash technique showed no significant differences for all the measurements compared with the standard model. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the selection of impression technique is an important factor that can affect the dimensional accuracy of the subsequent models which are used for indirect restorations.     

Evaluation of the precision of three implant transfer impression techniques using two elastomeric impression materials

A master cast representing a completely edentulous mandible was fabricated in polyurethane resin and had four implants secured to the anterior interforaminal area. Impressions were made using six technique-material combinations. Ten definitive casts were fabricated for each technique. Linear distances between implants were measured using a traveling microscope. There was no statistically significant difference between the direct unsplinted and splinted techniques (P > .05), while the indirect technique was statistically significantly different from the other two techniques (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two impression materials.     

Viscosity of elastomeric impression materials.

(1) Some elastomeric impression materials (Omniflex and Impregum) exhibited extreme shear thinning properties. This property was considered useful and these materials can be considered all-purpose. (2) The use of impression materials in syringing applications should not be precluded simply because the substances are thick or heavy during spatulation. A tenfold reduction in viscosity with increasing shear rate was found for three of the materials tested. (3) Viscosity characteristics of the impression rubbers were linked to filler content. (4) The viscosity rise during cross-linking was monitored for various impression products. It was found that each manufacturer's specifications of the length of time for syringing were relatively accurate.     

The dimensional accuracy of polyvinyl siloxane impression materials using two different impression techniques: An in vitro study

Aim of the Study:

To evaluate and compare the linear dimensional changes of the three representative polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression materials and to compare the accuracy of single mix with double mix impression technique.

Methodology:

A study mold was prepared according to revised American Dental Association specification number 19 for nonaqueous elastic dental impression materials. Three PVS impression materials selected were Elite-HD, Imprint^™ II Garant, Aquasil Ultra Heavy. Two impression techniques used were single mix and double mix impression technique. A total of 60 specimens were made and after 24 h the specimens were measured using profile projector.

Statistical Analysis:

The data were analyzed using one-way analyses of variance analysis and significant differences were separated using Student''s Newman–Keul''s test.

Results:

When all the three study group impression materials were compared for double mix technique, the statistically significant difference was found only between Imprint^™ II Garantand Elite-HD (P < 0.05). Similarly, using single mix technique, statistically significant difference were found between Elite-HD and Imprint^™ II Garant (P < 0.05) and also between Aquasil Ultra Heavy and Elite-HD (P < 0.05). When the linear dimensional accuracy of all three impression material in double mix impression technique and single mix impression technique were compared with the control group, Imprint^™ II Garant showed the values more nearing to the values of master die, followed by Aquasil Ultra Heavy and Elite-HD respectively.

Conclusion:

Among the impression materials Imprint^™ II Garant showed least dimensional change. Among the impression techniques, double mix impression technique showed the better results.Key Words: Dimensional accuracy, double mix impression technique, impression materials, polyvinyl siloxane, single mix impression technique