IMPRESSION MATERIALS

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 WHAT IS AN IMPRESSION?
• A dental impression is a negative replica or
record of the tissues of the mouth. It is used to
reproduce the form of the teeth and
surrounding tissues

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 Desirable Qualities of Impression
Materials
Pleasant odour & Non irritant and
Acceptable color
taste non toxic

Low enough viscosity Adequate wettability Adequate elastic Dimensional

Contained in tray of oral tissues recovery. stability

No release of by-
Compatible with cast
products while Adequate shelf life
& die materials
setting

Biocompatible Cost-effective

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Types of impressions

Diagnostic
impression

Primary
impression

Secondary
impression
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Requirements for making impression

Impression
Mould
trays

Impression
Material
materials

Impression
Method
techniques

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 Impression trays
(Types)

Stock/Prefabricated Custom

Edentulous Dentulous

Perforated Non-perforated Perforated Non-perforated

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 Perforated edentulous Non-Perforated
trays edentulous trays

Perforated dentulous Non-Perforated

trays dentulous trays

Custom tray 6
Criteria To Obtain An Accurate Impression
1. They should be fluid enough to adapt to the oral tissues
2. They should be viscous enough to be contained in the
tray that is seated in the mouth
3. While in the mouth, they should transform (set) into a
rubbery or rigid solid in a reasonable amount of time.
ideally the total setting time should be less than 7 min
4. The set impression should not distort or tear when
removed from the mouth
5. The impression made from these materials should
remain dimensionally stable at least until the cast can be
poured.
6. The impression should maintain its dimensional stability after
removal of a cast so that a second or third cast can be
made from the same impression.
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 CLASSIFICATON
Classified on the basis of setting and elasticity-
Mode of Rigid Elastic
setting

Set by chemical Impression plaster, zinc Alginate, polysulfide,

reaction(Irreversible) oxide eugenol. polyether, silicone.

Set by temperature Impression compound, Agar hydrocolloid

change(Reversible) waxes

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 Plaster CLASSIFICATON
Compound
Non-elastic/
Rigid
Waxes

ZnO - Eugenol
Impression
Materials

Agar (reversible)
Aqueous
Hydrocolloids
Alginate (irreversible)

Elastic
Polysulfide
Condensation
Non-aqueous
Silicones
Elastomers
Addition
Polyether

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 CLASSIFICATON
Based on amount of pressure applied-

Mucostatic Mucocompressive

• Which does not • Which apply

distort the tissues pressure on
• Low viscosity mucosa
• Zinc oxide eugenol • High viscosity
impression • Impression
paste,Impression compound,
plaster impression waxes
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NON-ELASTIC IMPRESSION MATERIALS
♦ Exhibit an insignificant amount of elastic deformation when
subjected to bending or tensile stresses. Cannot be removed
from undercuts without breakage.

♦ Tend to fracture without exhibiting any plastic deformation if

the stress from applied pressure exceeds their strength values.

♦ Because of these materials' inability to sustain a substantial

amount of elastic deformation without fracture, their use in
dental impression making is limited.

Zinc oxide
Impression Impression Impression
Eugenol
plaster compound waxes
Impression paste

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 Impression Plaster

Used for making

Earliest impression Rigid, irreversible,
impressions for
material mucostatic impression
edentulous patients

Useful as a bite
registration material
also

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 Impression Plaster
Composition
Ingredient Function
ß-calcium sulphate Main ingredient
hemihydrate
Potassium sulphate Anti setting expansion, Accelerator
Borax Retarder
Alizarin red Coloring agents
Flavoring agents

Soluble plaster: contains potato starch, making it

easy to separate the cast from impression

Impression plaster must be stored in closed containers

 Impression Plaster
Manipulation

100 gms of powder Armamentarium Cannot be used

mixed with 50-75 required: Parabolic with stock tray due
ml of powder(W/P rubber bowl and to thin consistency.
ratio 50-75 ml) to stiff spatula Used with custom
obtain mix of Premeasured tray.
suitable amount of water is
consistency sifted into water.
Mixing in circular
motion

Setting time 3-5 mins

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ADVANTAGES Impression Plaster

- Records fine details - Unpleasant taste

- Mucostatic - Brittle, cannot be used
- Minimum dimensional in areas with undercuts
change - May irritate underlying

DISADVANTAGES
- Low cost soft tissues due to heat
evolved.
- Separation of cast may
be difficult sometimes.
 Impression Compound

Supplied as cakes
Reversible/
Rigid Mucocompressive or sticks or cones or
thermoplastic
cylinder

Various colors like

red, green, Grey & Used for making
Fabrication of
white indicating impressions for Bite registration
custom trays
different softening edentulous patients
temperature

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 Impression Compound
COMPOSITION

Component Quantity Function

Resin and copal resin 30 Forms the matrix & provides thermoplastic properties
Gum rosin 30 Forms the matrix & provides thermoplastic properties
Carnauba wax 10 Forms the matrix & provides thermoplastic properties
Stearic acid 5 Plasticizer
Talc 25 Filler
Rouge Colouring agents

Plasticizers: Components which are added to improve plasticity and workability

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such as stearic acid, gutta percha and shaellac
 Types of
Impression
compound

Type I Type II
(Lower fusing) (Higher fusing)
Impression material Tray material

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Type I (Lower fusing material)
• Cakes- as an impression
material for completely
edentulous patients, the
material is softened in
water bath,
inserted into the tray and
placed against the tissues
before it cools to a rigid
Mass.

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• Sticks- as a border
molding material for
the custom tray ,the
material is used
before making the
final impression

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Type II ( Higher fusing material)
• Used as an adaptation material which requires more
viscous properties
• Used for making primary impression of the soft
tissues and then used a tray to support a thin layer of
a second impression material such as ZnOE paste,
Hydrocolloids or nonaqueous elastomers

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 Manipulation
• Setting mechanism– reversible physical process
• Preheated and used warm (>45°C) in a water bath
• Then cooled to the intraoral temperature(37 C) at
which it is fairly rigid.
0

Prolonged immersion or overheating in water bath makes the

compound brittle or grainy due to leaching of low molecular
weight ingredients. 35
• Once the impression tray is seated , it should be held
gently(passively) in position until the impression cools
below the fusion temperature

• When direct flame is used, the material should be moved

over the flame in such a manner that it will not be allowed
to boil or ignite so that the constituents are volatilized

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 PROPERTIES
Dimensional stability
• Allow thorough cooling of the impression before
removal from the mouth.

Construct the cast or die as soon as possible after the

impression has been obtained(at least within the hour)

Disinfection – 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde solution

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 THERMAL PROPERTIES

a) Thermal conductivity-low thermal conductivity

Significance
• During softening of the material, the outside will
soften first and inside last, so to ensure uniform
softening, the material should be kept immersed
for a longer time in water bath.
• The layer adjacent to tissues will remain soft and
the layer adjacent to the tray will become rigid.
Thus, it is important to let the compound cool
thoroughly before removing the impression.
b) Coefficient of Thermal Expansion- high COTE
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(0.3% acceptable)
 Fusion & Glass Transition Temperature

Glass Transition Temperature

The temperature at which the material loses its hardness or
brittleness on heating or forms a rigid mass upon cooling
Approx 39°C
Fusion temperature
It is the temperature above which the material is completely
soft or plastic. Approx 43.5°C.
Below this temperature there is a definite reduction in the
plasticity.

Impression tray is seated above the fusion temperature and

removed when the temperature is below the glass transition
temperature. 39
 Significance of Fusion temperature and Glass
Transition Temperature
• Above Fusion temperature the fatty acids are liquid and
lubricate the softened material to form a smooth plastic
mass while the impression is being obtained.
• Thus all impressions with compound should be made
above this temperature
• Once the impression tray is seated,it should be held firmly
in position until first fusion temperature and later the
glass transition temperature is reached
• Thus, impression is made above the fusion temperature
and removed after it cools down to its glass transition
temperature
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 Important considerations for proper
use of Impression Compound

• Low thermal conductivity- adequate time needed to

attain thorough heating and cooling
• Incorporation of water(wet kneading)- excessive flow of
the material at mouth temp. producing distortion as the
impression is removed from mouth
• Tray used for impression must be strong and rigid enough
to support the material and to avoid distortion of the
impression
• Relatively high viscosity limits its ability to record fine
details
• Cast should be poured as soon as possible to minimize
distortion due to relaxation of the compound 41
Advantages IMPRESSION COMPOUND

- Non toxic and non - Poor dimensional

irritant. stability.
- Can be reused for - Unsatisfactory
same patient. reproduction of details.
- Easy to use. - Fractures while

Disadvantages
- Economical. removal from
undercuts.
- Good shelf life.
Zinc-oxide Eugenol Impression Paste

Rigid Irreversible Mucostatic

Wash impression
Available as a 2-
of edentulous Bite registration
paste system
patients

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 Zinc-oxide Eugenol Impression Paste
COMPOSITION
Component Percentage Function
Tube no 1 (base)
Zinc-oxide 87 Main ingredient; reacts with catalyst
Vegetable or mineral oil 13 Plasticizer; reduces the irritant effect
of eugenol
Tube no 2 (accelerator)
Oil of cloves or eugenol 12 Reacts with ZnO
Gum or polymerised rosin 50 Increases speed of reaction, provides
a smooth homogenous mix
Filler(silica type) 20 Increases flow, improves mixing
properties
Lanolin 3 Provides proper consistency of the
mix
Resinous balsam 10 Accelerator
Calcium Chloride
Zinc acetate
Setting Reaction of ZOE

Chelation Autocatalytic
reaction reaction

Ionic in Requires
nature ionic medium
 Setting Reaction of ZOE

1st reaction-hydrolysis of zinc oxide to its hydroxide form

The phenol –OH of the eugenol acts as a weak acid and

undergoes an acid-base reaction with zinc hydroxide.

Forms a salt- zinc eugenolate

• Mixing time- 1 minute

• Setting time-
Initial Final
Type 1(hard) 3-6 min 10 min
Type 2(soft) 3-6 min 15 min
 Manipulation
• The mixing of the two pastes is generally accomplished on an
oil-impervious paper or a glass mixing slab.
• The proper proportion of the two pastes is generally obtained
by squeezing two strips of paste of the same length, one from
each tube, onto the mixing slab.
• A flexible stainless steel spatula is typically used for the mixing
procedure. The two strips of contrasting colors are combined
with the first stroke of the spatula, and the mixing is continued
for approximately 1 min, or as directed by the manufacturer,
until a uniform color is achieved.
 PROPERTIES
• Dimensional stability
The dimensional stability is quite satisfactory . Shrinkage is less
than 0.1% may occur during hardening. Impressions can be stored.
• Consistence and flow
A paste of thick consistency can compress the tissue . A thin,
free flowing material copies the tissues without distorting them.
• Detail reproduction
It registers surface details accurately due to the good flow
• Rigidity and strength
The impression should resist distortion and fracture when
removed from the mouth after setting . The compressive
strength of hardened ZOE is 7 Mpa two hours after mixing.
• Biological consideration :
Some patients experience a burning sensation
due to eugenol. Non eugenol pastes can be
substituted.
• Disinfection
2 % alkaline glutaraldehyde solution
 Non-eugenol Pastes
• One of the chief disadvantages of the ZOE pastes is the
possible stinging or burning sensation caused by the
eugenol that leaches out and contacts soft tissues

• Zinc oxide can react with various carboxylic acids and

form ZOE-like materials.

• Orthoethoxybenzoic acid, commonly abbreviated as

CBA, is a valuable substitute for eugenol in this regard.

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Applications of ZOE
• Final impression of edentulous ridges
• As a wash impression with other impression
• As an interocclusal registration material
• As a temporary relining material for dentures
• As a surgical dressing

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 ❑ ADVANTAGES
▪Dimensionally stable.

▪Good surface details.

▪Can be reinforced with wax and compound for bite

registration.
❑ DISADVANTAGES
▪Can not used in undercut areas.

▪Burning sensation and allergy are experienced by

some patients.
IMPRESSION WAXes

Rigid Reversible

Corrective Bite
impression registration
Examples:
IOWA
Korecta
H L Physiological paste