Hydrocolloids

• The colloid : state of matter in which individual particle

of one substance are uniformly distributed in a dispersion medium
of another substance. When dispersion medium is water it is
termed a hydrocolloid.

• The colloid can exist as a viscous liquid known as a sol or

a solid known as gel.

• If the particles are suspended in water, the suspension is

called a hydrocolloid .

• A sol can be converted into gel in one of two ways:

– Reduction in temperature (Reversible agar)

– Chemical reaction ( Irreversible alginate )

• Composition of Agar

Material Percentage purpose

Agar (seaweed 12-15% Colloidal particles as

extract) basis of the gel

Potassium sulfate 1% Ensures set of gypsum

materials

Borax 0.2% Strengthens gel

Alkyl benzoate 0.1% Antifungal agent

water 85% Dispersing medium for

the colloidal
suspension

Properties
• Flows well and adapts readily to hard and soft tissue
contours
 • Accurate reproduction (hydrophilic nature), however, the
impression need to be poured immediately.

• Need to be stored in 100% humidity for short period of

time if not poured immediately

• Distortion is more likely to occur if impression not

poured within an hour.

• Tear strength is not high.

• Material suffers from loss or gain of water:

Syneresis: a process by which the gel contracts and some of the liquid is
squeezed out, forming an exudate on the surface.

Evaporation: loss of water which causes the material to shrink, and

impression is distorted.

Imbibition: uptake of water, this will swell and distort the impression.

Clinical application
• The use of agar requires special equipment consisting of
hydrocolloid conditioner (has 3 water bath chambers) and water
-cooled tray connected to a rubber hose that delivers water.

• Agar is supplied in two viscosities, thick and thin

(depending on the amount of agar).

Preparing the material for impression:

• Gel heated to 71-100°C, becomes liquid (sol)

• Tray and agar syringe are liquefied in 8-12 minutes in

boiling water in 1st chamber

• 2nd chamber is used to store the agar at 60-66°C.

• 3rd camber kept at 45-47°C to temper agar before use to

prevent burns.

• Tray is loaded and water hose attached and tray is seated

on teeth.
 • Water (13 °C) is circuit through the tray

Advantage
1. Good surface detail.

2. Reusable .

3. Can be used with undercut.(not deep)

4. Disadvantage

5. Need special equipment.

6. Dimensional instability.

7. Evaporation or imbibitions.

8. Slow setting time.

9. Poor tear resistance.

Alginate
Common uses:

• Diagnostic cast (study model)

• Preliminary impression for complete denture

• Partial denture framework

• Custom trays for fluoride or bleaching

Composition
Material Percentage purpose

Na, K alginate 15-20% Basis of the gel

Ca sulfate dihydrate 14-20% Creates irreversible gel with alginate

 Potassium sulfate 10% ensures set of gypsum

Trisodium sulfate 2% Retarder to control setting

Diatomaceous earth 55-60% Filler to increase thickness and

strength

Setting reaction/working time

Setting reaction occurs when the powder is mixed with water:

Ca sulfate dihydrate + NaAlginate Ca alginate

Working time: total time from start of mixing to the final time at which
an impression tray can be fully seated without distortion

– Regular set: 2-3 minutes

– Fast-set: 1.25-2 minutes

Setting time: elapsed time from the start of mixing until impression
material becomes firm enough to resist permanent deformation.

Regular set: 2-5 minutes, Fast set: 1-2 minutes

Control the Setting reaction

• Controlling water temperature shortens or lengthens

setting time

• Changing P:L has adverse effect on materials property

and strength

• Allow extra 1-2 minutes, tear strength increases, and

rebound from undercuts w/out deformation improves

Important considerations to ensure accurate impression

• 2-4 mm bulk material in tray

• Snap action removal from mouth

 • Allow extra 1-2 minutes after setting to improve tear
strength

• Stored in a moist environment to avoid loss of water and

deformation

• Disinfect in less than 10 minutes to avoid dimensional

instability

Impression making
• Fluff powder, wait 30 seconds for the dust to settle

• Measure powder and water according to manufacturer

instruction

• Use spatula to stir water into powder to mix

• Stir vigorously to create homogenous mix (45 seconds for

regular, 30 seconds for fast setting alginate)

• Tray should cover all anatomical features

• Utility wax can be added on tray borders to extend its

coverage

• Adhesive spray is used to prevent separation of alginate

from tray.

• Tray is loaded from posterior towards anterior

• Moisten and smooth alginate

• Posterior part of tray is seated first then anterior.

• *tips to control gag reflex*

Troubleshooting alginate impression

• Premature set

• Slow set

• Voids

• Distortion

• Excess alginate at back of tray

Advantage

1. Simplicity of manipulation.

2. Little discomfort to the patient.

3. Short chair time.

4. Accurate reproduction of undercut area

Disadvantage

1. Not accurate in reproduction of hard object as rubber imp.

Materials.

2. Affect hardness of surface of stone( potassium sulphate).

3. Poor dimensional stability.

4. Setting time dependent on operator handeling

Elastomers
• Often called rubber materials since they have properties
similar to rubber.

Clinical uses:

Bridges, Implants. Partial dentures complete dentures and Indirect

esthetic restorations

Polymerization reaction

• Involves formation of long-chain polymers and cross-

linking of chains

General properties:
 – These are used a high degree of accuracy is needed,
especially in crown and bridge work. They have two main
advantages over the hydrocolloid;

– Good tear resistance .

– Dimensional stability.

They are mainly hydrophobic rubber based materials. All of these

materials come in different viscosity ranging from low to high viscosity.
The light boded material may be used as a wash impression over a
medium or heavy-bodied material. There are two ways this can taking
impression:

One stage impression: light body impression material is placed in a

syringe , and placed over the areas high detail is required. Some is then
squirted over the heavy-bodied impression material that has been loaded
into an impression tray. The impression is then taken as normal.

two stage impression: an impression is taken with the heavy body

impression material. This is then removed from patient mouth and
inspected, the light body impression material is then prepared and again
placed in a syringe. Then squirted over heavy body impression and then
the impression replaced in its original placed..

Polysulfides
Dispensing & Composition
• Supplied in two tubes as base and catalyst, equal lengths
are mixed. Light, regular, heavy viscosities

• Chemical composition of base:

– 80% low-molecular-weight organic polymer containing

mercaptan reactive groups (-SH), and 20% reinforcing
agents: titanium dioxide, silica, zinc sulfide

• Chemical composition of catalyst:

– Lead dioxide or copper hydroxide (causes polymerization

and cross linking)
Uses
• Crown and bridge impressions

• Partial and complete denture impressions

Properties of clinical interest

• Setting time: 8-14 minutes

• Higher tear strength than hydrocolloids

• Accuracy improves if impression is poured within 30

minutes

• very unpleasant taste and odor

• Messy (orange solvent to remove stains)

• Can be irritant to oral mucosa

• need to Use tray adhesive

• Used with custom trays

For all these reasons, Polysulfides have been largely

replaced by other rubber materials

Silicon rubber

Addition silicon

Condensation silicon

• Developed
as alternative to Polysulfides

• Has more
desirable qualities in comparison:

– Easy mix
 – Better taste
and odorless

– Shorter
setting time (5-7 minutes)

Dispensing & composition

• Light,
regular and heavy viscosities and also putty

• Dispensed
as cartridge with 2 chambers (pastes), or two putty- system

– Base: low-
molecular-weight silicon with vinyl groups (paste system),
or low-molecular-weight silicon with silane hydrogens
(putty) + silica filler

– Catalyst:
chloroplatinic acid

Setting reaction
• These
material are supplied as 2 past. One past contain a polydimethyl
siloxan polymer in which the methyl group are replaced by
hydrogen and the other past contain a prepolymer in which the
vinyl group replaced the methyl group. One of past contain a
catalyst such as chloroplatinic acid .

Depending on the content of filler four viscosities are available

Impression making techniques

• Putty/wash
technique

– One step

– Two step

• used with
stock or special tray

Advantage
 1. Adequate
working and setting time.

2. Pleasant
odour.

3. Adequate
tear resistance.

4. Good
elastic properties (used in case of sever undercut).

Disadvantage
1. Should
poured immediately.

2. Poor
dimensional stability.

3. Poor self
life.

4. expensive

Polyethers
• Also used
for crown and bridge and over denture work since they are very
accurate and also more hydrophilic than other silicons

Dispensing & composition

• Dispensing
same as other rubber materials (2 tubes)

• In addition
it’s supplied in pouches of base and catalyst placed in mechanical
mixer.

Composition:
– Base: low-
molecular-weight polyether with cation reactive group
 – Catalyst:
aromatic sulfonic acid

*mix well to avoid irritation from unmixed catalyst.

Properties
• Stiff,
difficult to remove from undercuts

• Short
working and setting times

• Setting time
3-5 minutes

• Sensitive to
moisture and temperature

• More
hydrophilic (must not be stored in water or disinfectant)

• accurate

Disinfection of impressions
• The
disinfectant should be compatible with the impression materials.

• After taking
the impression, it should be rinsed with water, excess water shaken
off, and disinfectant sprayed or impression immersed in
disinfectant

• Protective
gloves should be worn

• Rinse after
disinfection is complete