ELASTIC IMPRESSION

MATERIALS:
HYDROCOLLOIDS
Daniel Boyd, PhD.
 REQUIRED READING

• Craig’s Restorative Dental Materials, 13th Edition.

• Chapter 12. (From Start of Chapter to end of Alginate

section)
 BEGIN WITH THE END IN
MIND...
• Purpose and Ideal Characteristics of an Elastic Impression Material.

• Draw the ‘Classification Tree’ of Impression Materials Based on Elastic

Properties and Chemistry.

• Identify key properties associated with Agar and Alginate (advantages /

disadvantages).

• Identify the composition and function of each component in alginate

impression powders.

• Describe with the aid of a diagram the setting reaction of an alginate

impression material.
 PURPOSE / REQUIREMENTS
OF AN IMPRESSION MATERIAL
• Make accurate replica or mold
of hard/soft tissues.

• Animpression is a negative
reproduction - filled with dental
stone or model material.

• The positive reproduction

serves for the construction of
dentures, crowns, fixed dental
prostheses and other
restorations.
 EXAMPLES OF DESIRABLE
PROPERTIES
• Pleasant taste and odor.

• Absence of toxic /irritant substances.

• Setting characteristics that are clinically suitable.

• Readily wets oral tissues.

• Adequate Strength to allow removal without tearing or breaking.

• Dimensional Stability.

• Accuracy.
OVERVIEW OF IMPRESSION
MATERIALS

• Diagram Provided on Board.

 AGAR IMPRESSION
MATERIALS: REVERSIBLE.
• 15% Colloidal suspension of
agar in water. • Manipulation (Conditioning).
• Agaris a complex • 100 - 65 - 45
polysaccharide derived from
seaweed.
• (Gel-Sol) - (Maintain Sol) -
• Formation of ‘gel’ from ‘sol’ (Cooled Prior to use).
associated with chain
alignment and and Van der • Very Susceptible to water uptake
Waals forces being established and loss.
between adjacent chains.
 AGAR: A GLIMPSE AT
PROPERTIES
• Viscoelastic.

• PoorMechanical Properties - inter-proximal and subgingival

areas are difficult to record.

• Poor Dimensional Stability - due to high water content.

• Widely used in laboratories as duplicating materials.

• Main advantage: It can be reused.

 ALGINATE IMPRESSION
MATERIALS: IRREVERSIBLE.
Composition of Alginate Impression Material Powders

Material Amount (approx. %) Function

Main reactive ingredient: forms

Sodium / Potassium Salt of
11-16% sol with water, gets cross-
alginic acid.
linked to form gel.
Gypsum (calcium sulfate
11-17% Source of Ca for cross-linking
compound)

Na3PO4 1-3% Helps to control working time.

Inert Filler 65-75% Gives ‘body’

Color change when setting is

Reaction indicator
complete
 ALGINATE: SETTING
REACTION.

• Diagram Provided on Board.

RECAP ON COMPOSITION
AND FUNCTION.
Composition of Alginate Impression Material Powders

Material Amount (approx. %) Function

Main reactive ingredient: forms

Sodium / Potassium Salt of
11-16% sol with water, gets cross-
alginic acid.
linked to form gel.
Gypsum (calcium sulfate
11-17% Source of Ca for cross-linking
compound)

Na3PO4 1-3% Helps to control working time.

Inert Filler 65-75% Gives ‘body’

Color change when setting is

Reaction indicator
complete
 ALGINATE: PROPERTIES.

• Mixing Time: 45seconds

• Setting time:1-5minutes.

• Tearingdecreases with
increasing rates of
removal.

• Dimensional Stability: loss

of water by evaporation.
 IN PREPARATION FOR THE
EXAM, CAN YOU:
• Articulate the Purpose and Ideal Characteristics of an Elastic Impression
Material.

• Drawthe ‘Classification Tree’ of Impression Materials Based on Elastic

Properties and Chemical Type.

• Identify
properties associated with Agar and Alginate (advantages /
disadvantages).

• Identify
the composition and function of each component in alginate
impression powders.

• Describewith the aid of a diagram the setting reaction of an alginate

impression material.