Dental impression materials

Dr Layla Abu-Naba’a
BDS, PhD, MFD RCS
Assistant professor of prosthodontics

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Indications
• Diagnostic casts
• Working casts for indirect
reconstruction
• Bite registration

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Poly sulfides

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Types
Non-elastic
*Impression compound
✂Must not have
*Impression plaster undercuts

*Zinc oxide eugenol

*impression wax

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Types
Elastomer impression materials
✂ Can be used in
Hydrocolloids aqueous impression (contain
undercuts
water)
*reversible (agar)
*Irreversible (alginate) ✂
(Sol ⇔ gel)
temperature
Non-aqueous elastomers ✂
(Sol ⇒ gel)
*Polysulfides (PS)
*Silicon rubber
Additional (AS, HAS)
Condensation (CS)
✂Set by
polymerisation
*Polyethers (PE)
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 Stock trays

Trays

Individual, special tray

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 Choice and use of trays
• The tray should have enough spacer
• Avoid flexible trays
• Use perforated trays
• Make sure the tray is clean
• Apply only a thin layer of adhesive
• Wait appropriate time before taking
impression
• Don’t mix adhesives and impression
materials

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 Mixing techniques
• Manual:
• Low viscosity
• Less viscous is easier
• Silicones are easiest to mix
• followed by polyethers and polysulphides

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 Mixing techniques
• Automatic mixing
• Reduces mixing time
• Reduces bubbles
• Homogenous mix
• Use correct mixing proportions
2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2 = 256 folds

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 Impression techniques

Full dentures Plaster of Paris Single stage Stock tray / special tray
ZnO-Eug Single stage Special tray
Compo/ZnO-Eug Two stage Stock tray

Partial Alginate Single stage Stock tray / special tray

dentures Elastomers Single stage Special tray

Fixed Compo/wax Single stage Copper ring

dentures Elastomers Single stage (M) Special tray
Twin mix (H+L) Special tray
Twin mix (P+L) Stock tray
Two stage (P+L) Stock tray

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Layering techniques
• Single stage:
– One material, one setting
• Two stage (double impression):
– First material set then another material added as a
second layer
• Twin mix (two phase impression):
– Two material layers are put together and set
together

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Requirements
• Accuracy = ability to replicate the intraoral
surface details.
• Dimensional stability = ability to retain its
absolute dimensional size over time.
• Tear resistance = ability to resist tearing in
thin sections (such as through the feather-
edged material within the gingival sulcus.
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What’s important?
Patient
• Neutral taste and odour DENTIST
• Short setting time
• Small tray • easily mixed
• Easily removed impression
• No retakes • short working times
• Non-toxic
• Cost
– Lowest to highest
• good quality impressions
• Alginate < agar = polysulfide
<condensation silicone <
addition silicone < polyether
• low cost
• easily disinfected
• simple procedure
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Working and setting times
8
7
Total time (min)

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Ideal HAS AS CS PE PS

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Flexibility of impression materials
6

Easy 5

Moderate 3

2
Hard
1

0
Ideal HAS AS CS PE PS
Most stiff to least , or flexible
polyether > addition silicone > condensation silicone >
polysulfide = hydrocolloids
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Resistance to tearing
6

5
High
4

Medium 3
2

Low 1

0
Ideal HAS AS CS PE PS

greatest to least
polysulfide > addition silicone > polyether > condensation silicone >>
hydrocolloids O’brien
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Reproduction of surface detail
• Viscosity
– High - mucocompressive
– Low - mucostatic

• Type 0: very high viscosity: (i.E., Putty)

• Type 1: high viscosity: (i.E., Heavy body)
• Type 2: medium viscosity: (i.E., Medium body)
• Type 3: low viscosity: (i.E., Light body)
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Reproduction of surface detail

Wettability
–Hydrophobic contact angle is from 40 to
70 degrees.1

–Hydrophilic contact angle is from 80 to

105 degrees

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 Why do we want good wetting?

• Fewer voids
• Less entrapment of oral fluids by displacing water
and other oral fluids from the surfaces in the mouth
• Bubble-free in the impression then in dies and
models
• Fewer retakes
• Improve adaptation of gypsum so as to prevent voids
in the casts.
• Disinfection procedure should be altered

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Wettability
Good wetting is the ability of a liquid
to cover the surface of the
substrate completely

non-wetting partial wetting perfect wetting

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Wettability of impression materials
Excellent 6
5

4
Good
3

Fair 1

0
Ideal HAS AS CS PE PS

•hydrocolloids > polyether > hydrophilic addition silicone >

•polysulfide > hydrophobic addition silicone = condensation silicone
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Dimensional accuracy and stability

• Choice and use of tray

• Setting shrinkage
• Permanent set
• Storage stability

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Dimensional change of impressions
IDEAL

PS

PE

CS

AS

HAS

0 1 2 3 4
Low Medium High
best to worst
addition silicone = hydrophilic addition silicone > polyether >
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condensation silicone > polysulfide > hydrocolloid
Rating of impression materials
IDEAL 100%

Hydrophilic addition silicone HAS 93%

Hydrophobic addition silicone AS 84%

Condensation silicone CS 68%

Polyether PE 87%

Polysulphide PS 60%

Dental Advisor vol9, no4, 1992

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Elastic recoil

Strain rate sensitive elastomers !

Impression Tray

Impression
Fast removal

VERY
FAST
(SNAP)
Slow removal

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Permanent deformation
100
90
Under pressure
80
70
60 100%
95%
50
40
30 70% Recovered
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10
0 Original
Condensation Addition
Agar Alginate Polysulfide Polyether
Silicone Silicone
Elastic
Recovery 98.8 97.3 96.9 – 94.5 99.6 – 98.2 99.9 – 99 99.0 – 98.3
)%(

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Permanent deformation
In dentate patients removal of an
impression will result in some
deformation (strain) due to the
presence of undercuts.
The elastic impression materials
have visco-elastic characteristics.
This means that one may not see
100% recovery of the original
dimensions in the mouth.
This lack of recovery is described
as permanent set.

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Impression composition

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Forms
• Sheet
– Primary impression of
edentulous mouth
– Close fitting special tray
used with zinc oxide
/eugenol wash
• Stick
– Single crown impression
(copper ring technique)
– Border molding
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Composition
• Natural or synthetic
resins
– Shellac, dammar,
colophony, sandarac
• Plasticisers
– Stearic acid or gutta
percha (avoid brittleness)
• Fillers
– Talc, calcium carbonate or
limestone (avoid
tackiness) 34
Properties
• Softening temperature ↑ flow by temp
(Tg) 55-60oc ✂45-60 ° flow

✂37 ° solid
• Poor thermal conductivity
– Subject to stress relief
temper with warm
• High coefficient of water
thermal expansion do not over heat
(loose oils& burn
– Cooling contraction
pt)

↑ with solid tray

pour immediately 35
Properties
• High viscosity
– Mucocompressive

• Rigid

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Impression plaster

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Impression plaster type 1
•Mucostatic impressions ↑ Calsium hemihydrate
of edentulous ridges K sulfate, K chloride
•ST 3 min
•High W/P
•Score, fracture,
reassemble, put
separator
•Can be combined with
impression compound

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Properties of impression plaster
Advantages Disadvantages
 Easy to mix
– Working time 2-3 min
 Low strength
– Setting time 2-3 min  Rough surface finish
 Low viscosity  Poor abrasion
– Mucostatic
resistance
 Good dimensional stability &
accuracy  Rigid once set
 Cheap  Dry sensation in the
mouth

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Zinc oxide / eugenol

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Zinc oxide / eugenol
 Impression wash
Impression paste )SS White(
Luralite )Kerr(
 Temporary filling material
Kalzinol )De Trey(
 Temporary cementation
Kalzinol )De Trey(
 Periodontal pack
 Endodontic sealer
Tubli-Seal EWT )Kerr(

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Zinc oxide eugenol

Two pastes, different size opening

•sticks to dry surfaces
•Put vasiline

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 Setting time factors
Inside the mouth it sets
faster by increased
•Initial ST 3-6 min
Temperature, and
•Final ST 10 min moisture

Or add drops of water ,

alcohol, zinc acetate
crystals to mixture
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Zinc oxide eugenol
•Euginol irritant, causes
burning sensation of lips Use non euginol mixes,
use rubbers

•Mucostatic impressions
edentulous ridges
•Not elastic

•Protect unsupported
edges, it has low tear
resistance
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Zinc oxide / eugenol
Hydrophilic
Accurate reproduction of surface details

Dimensionally stable
Pour any time,

Compatible with dental stone

No separator needed
Separated by softening the set paste (thermoplastic)
in water at 60C
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Impression wax
•See waxes lecture later

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Hydrocolloids
Hydro=water Kola=glue Oid=Like

• A solution is a homogeneous mixture consisting of a single

phase
• A suspension is a mixture of two phases
• A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture of two phases, where
the two phases are not readily differentiated
colloidal silica in resin
Agar and alginate impression materials

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Hydrocolloids

Reversible hycrocolloids – e.g. agar

Gel ⇒ Sol ⇒ Gel

heating cooling

Irreversible hycrocolloids – e.g.

alginate

Sol ⇒ Gel
chemical reaction

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Agar
✂Sea weed ✂Similar to gelatine
Uses 1. Crown & bridge imp
Composition 2. Cast duplication- lab
✂Agar 15%

✂Borax 0.2% ✂Strengthens gel

✂Sodium sulphate1% ✂Affect gypsum setting

✂Anti fungal (alkyl

against?
benzoate) ✂Good storage
Water 85%
✂Two viscosity forms

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Manipulation
• Gel in tubes
– Syringe and tray material

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Agar

Manipulation
✂5 min cooling - snap?
✂Space for thick imp
✂ Water-cooled trays ✂Cool to 30-45

✂Conditioner ✂ > 70 degree, 60-66,

45-47prevent burns
✂Hysteresis, and pulp death
hydrophilic
✂ Intimate contact
✂Wetting agent on
teeth

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Properties
✂Dimensional change ✂Pour immediately
✂Syneresis ✂Affects detail accuracy

✂And prosthesis fitting

✂Short storage < 1H 100% humidity

(wet tissue in sealed bag)

✂ Spray disinfectant
✂Imbibition
✂Poured only once

✂Tear strength ✂= Alginate,< rubber snap

✂Support (tray)

✂Elastic limit ✂Rigid box storage

✂Cheap ✂Expensive instruments

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Alginate

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Alginate
Ca- alginate ✂ Diagnostic casts,
Widely used? primary imp for CD,
PD, opposing jaw for
CB, repairs of
prosthesis,
provisional
restorations, fluoride
Not C&B, inlays, & bleaching trays,
onlays
night guards, sport
protectors
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✂
Alginate impression materials
COMPOSITION
Sodium alginate hydrogel former

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Alginate impression materials
Calcium sulphate dihydrate:
provides calcium ions

CaSO4.2H2O ⇒ 2Ca2+ + 2SO4- + H2O

calcium ions displace the sodium ions in the sodium
alginate polymer

Don’t use a bowl with previous gypsum mix

✂

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Alginate impression materials
Setting Process
1. Acid-base Reaction

NanAlg + n/2CaSO4 ⇒ n/2Na2SO4 + Can/2Alg

2. Crosslinking reaction

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Alginate impression materials
Sodium phosphate: controls working time

Na3PO4 ⇒ 3Na+ + PO43-

3Ca2+ + 2PO43- ⇒ Ca3(PO4)2

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Alginate impression materials

Potassium sulphate enhances

setting

Fillers controls
consistency
✂tri Na phosphate retarder
Sodium silicofluoride
✂glycols for dustless
controls pH
alginate
✂colour, disinfectants,
flavour, filler 59
 Properties: Setting Time
✂Wt ✂Reduced if long mixing
Regular 2-3 min
Or fast 1.25-2 min ✂Cold water ↑ st, warm water ↓ st
Setting time ✂W/P severely affects properties so

Regular 2-5 min, fast 1-2 min not used

+ 1-2min in mouth after bowl ↑ Tear resistance, ↑ elastic limit

ST

✂↑Tear resistance,↓ permanent

Spacer 2-4 mm deformation,
Snap removal
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Properties
✂Dimensional stability as agar ✂Store several hours
✂Use wet napkins but not soaked ✂Wash from saliva

one ✂Drops of water cause local

imbibtion- distort
✂Tear strength
✂Thin < thick ✂ ↑ W/P reduce it
✂Compatibility with tray and agar

✂Pouring > 8-10 min ✂Allows for rebound, disinfect 10 min

✂But not more than 1 hour
✂To prevent syneresis

✂ Only pour one gypsum cast ✂If another cast is poured in the same
impression, then it is not accurate
because of previous imbibition 61
Alginate impression materials
PROPERTIES
 Dust free powder
 Cheap
 Limited shelf life
 Well controlled working and setting times
 Mucostatic
 Hydrophilic
 Poor surface reproduction
 Poor storage stability
–Imbibition (water sorption)
–Syneresis (water loss)
 Low tear strength
 Excessive permanent deformation

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To be continued

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