Chapter 1

Rigid Impression Materials

1. Impression material
2. Advantages of impression materials
3. Classification of impression materials
4. Rigid impression materials
● Impression compound (properties, composition, advantages and disadvantages)
● Zinc oxide eugenol impression paste (properties, composition, advantages and
disadvantages)
a. Other zinc oxide pastes

Chapter 2
Elastic Impression Materials

1. Types Elastic Impression Materials

2. Hydrocolloids
3. Agar (properties, composition, setting reaction, advantages and disadvantages)
4. Irreversible hydrocolloid- alginate (properties, composition, setting reaction, advantages
and disadvantages)
5. Trays and tray selection

What is dental impression:

A dental impression is a negative record of the tissues of the mouth. It is used to reproduce the
form of the teeth and surrounding tissues.

The negative reproduction of the tissues given by the impression material is filled up with dental
stone or other model materials to get a positive cast. The positive reproduction of a single tooth
is described as a ‘die’, and when several teeth or a whole arch is reproduced, it is called a ‘cast’
or ‘model’
DESIRABLE PROPERTIES OF AN IMPRESSION MATERIAL
1. Should be nontoxic and nonirritant to dentist and patient.
2. Acceptable to the patient.
● a. Have a pleasant taste, odor, consistency and color.
● b. Should set quickly once placed in the mouth.
3. Should be accurate.
● a. Accurate surface detail.
● b. Elastic properties with freedom from permanent deformation after strain.
● c. Dimensionally stable.
4. Have adequate shelf life for storage and distribution.
5. Be economical.
6. Handling properties.
● a. Sufficient working time.
● b. Set quickly in mouth (saves chairside time).
7. Have adequate strength so that it will not break or tear while removing from the mouth.
8. Should be compatible with the die and cast materials.

CLASSIFICATION OF IMPRESSION MATERIALS

There are several ways of classifying impression materials.
1. According to mode of setting and elasticity.

2. According to tissue displacement Depending on whether tissues are displaced while making
impressions a material may be
1. Mucostatic materials produce minimal displacement of the tissue during impression, e.g.
plaster, zinc oxide eugenol, low viscosity alginates, low viscosity elastomeric materials, etc.
2. Mucocompressive materials are more viscous and displace the tissues while recording
them, e.g. compound, high viscosity alginates, high viscosity elastomers, etc.

3. According to their uses in dentistry

Impression materials used for complete denture prosthesis
Impression plaster, impression compound

Impression materials used for dentulous mouths

alginates and rubber base impressions are sufficiently elastic to be withdrawn from undercut
areas and are suitable for impressions for fabrication of removable and fixed partial denture
prostheses

IMPRESSION COMPOUND
● Impression compound is one of the oldest of the dental impression materials.
● It can be described as a rigid, reversible impression material which sets by physical
change.
● On applying heat, it softens and on cooling it hardens.
● It is mainly used for making impressions of edentulous ridges.
● Synonyms Modeling compound or modeling plastic.
CLASSIFICATION
Type I - Impression compound
Type II - Tray compound

Type II Tray compound is used to prepare a tray for making an impression. A second material is
then carried in it in order to make an impression of oral tissues. Since reproduction of the fine
details is not essential, it is generally stiffer and has less flow than regular impression
compound. The use of dental tray compound decreased with the increased substitution of
acrylic tray materials.
Composition:
In general impression compound is a mixture of waxes, thermoplastic resins, organic acids,
fillers and coloring agents.

Properties:
1.Fusion temperature:
When impression compound is heated in a hot water bath the material starts to soften at
approximately 39 °C.
At this stage, it is still not plastic or soft enough for making an impression. This temperature at
which the material looses its hardness or brittleness on heating or forms a rigid mass upon
cooling is referred to as fusion temperature.
Impression compound exhibits a fusion temperature range rather than a fixed point. On
continued heating above 43.5 °C, the material continues to soften and flow to a plastic mass
that can be manipulated. Thus all impressions with compound should be made above this
temperature. Below this temperature an accurate impression cannot be expected.
2.Thermal conductivity
Impression compound has very low thermal conductivity, i.e. they are poor conductors of heat.
Significance
1. During softening of the material, the outside will soften first and the inside last. So to ensure
uniform softening the material should be kept immersed for a sufficient period in a water bath.
Kneading of the material ensures further uniform softening.
2. The low thermal conductivity affects the cooling rate. The layer adjacent to the oral tissues
cools faster than the inside. Removal of the impression at this stage can cause serious
distortion. Thus it is important to wait for the compound to cool thoroughly before removing it
from the mouth.
3.Coefficient of thermal expansion (COTE)
The CTE of compound is comparatively high due to the presence of resins and waxes. The
linear contraction from mouth temperature to room temperature is 0.3%.

MANIPULATION
STICKS
Small amounts of compound (stick compound) can be softened over a flame

CAKES
Larger amounts of compound are softened in warm water in a thermostatically controlled water
bath usually in the range of 65 to 75 °C. After the compound is removed from the water bath, it
is usually kneaded with the fingers in order to obtain uniform plasticity throughout the mass.

LOADING THE TRAY

A slightly oversized tray is selected. The softened material is loaded onto the tray and quickly
seated on to the tissues to be recorded. Any delay can cause the impression to harden
prematurely. If the compound is too hot, it may be tempered by briefly immersing in slightly
cooler water. The lips are manipulated to mold the borders of the impression while it is still soft.

Disinfection
The recommended disinfectant is 2% glutaraldehyde.

ADVANTAGES
1. The material can be reused a number of times (for the same patient only) in case of errors.
2. Inaccurate portions can be remade without having to remake the entire impression.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Records less detail because of its high viscosity.
2. Compresses soft tissues during impression.
3. Distortion due to its poor dimensional stability.

ZnOE impression paste

Uses:
1. Temporary filling material.
2. Root canal filling material.
3.Surgical pack in periodontal surgical procedures.
4. Bite registration paste
5. SECONDARY IMRESSION

Availability:
In paste form in two tubes
 Base paste (white in color)
 Accelerator or reactor or catalyst paste (red in color)

Composition

Fixed vegetable or mineral oil acts as a plasticizer and also aids in masking the action of
eugenol as an irritant.
Oil of cloves contains 70–85% eugenol. It is sometimes used in preference to eugenol because
it reduces burning sensation.
Gum or polymerized rosin speeds the reaction and improves homogeneity.
Canada and Peru balsam improves flow and mixing properties.
Calcium chloride acts as an accelerator of setting reaction.

Setting reaction
The setting reaction is a typical acid-base reaction to form a chelate. This reaction is also known
as chelation and the product is called zinc eugenolate.

Properties:
Consistency and flow
These are clinically important properties. A paste of thick consistency can compress the tissues.
A thin free flowing material copies the tissues without distorting them.
According to ADA specification No. 16, the spread is
 Type I pastes — 30 to 50 mm
 Type II pastes — 20 to 45 mm
Clinically, these materials have a very good flow.

Detail reproduction
It registers surface details quite 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 approximately 7 MPa two hours after mixing.

Dimensional stability
The dimensional stability is quite satisfactory. A negligible shrinkage (less than 0.1%) may occur
during hardening.

Biological considerations
Some patients experience a burning sensation in the mouth due to eugenol. It can also cause
tissue irritation. Non-eugenol pastes can be substituted
 Elastic Impression Materials—Agar and Alginate

An elastic impression material is one that can transform from a semisolid, nonelastic state to a
highly elastic solid state

TYPES OF ELASTIC IMPRESSION MATERIALS

Two systems are used
1. Hydrocolloids
2. Elastomeric materials

Gelation
A gel is a jelly like elastic semisolid and is produced from a sol by a process called gelation by
the formation of fibrils or chains or micelles of the dispersed phase which become interlocked.
Gelation is thus the conversion of a sol to gel.
The dispersion medium is held in the interstices between the fibrils by capillary attraction or
adhesion.
Gelation may be brought about in one of the two ways
1. Lowering the temperature, e.g. agar.
2. By a chemical reaction, e.g. alginate.

Based on the mode of gelation, they are classified as

 Reversible hydrocolloids They are called reversible because their physical state can be
reversed. This makes them reusable.
 Irreversible hydrocolloids Once these set, it is usually permanent, and so are known as
irreversible.

Agar:
Agar hydrocolloid was the first successful elastic impression material to be used in dentistry. It is
an organic hydrophilic colloid (polysaccharide) extracted from a type of seaweed (Gelidium,
Gracilaria, etc)
Composition:
Functions of the Ingredients
Agar Basic constituent 13–17% for tray material 6–8% for syringe material.
Borates Improves the strength of the gel (it also retards the setting of plaster or stone cast when
poured into the finished impression—a disadvantage).
Potassium sulfate It counters retarding effect of borates, thereby ensures proper setting of the
cast or die.
Hard wax It acts as a filler. Fillers affect the strength, viscosity and rigidity of the gel. Other fillers
are zinc oxide, diatomaceous earth, silica, rubber, etc.
Thixotropic materials It acts as plasticizer. Examples are glycerine, and thymol. Thymol acts as
bactericide also.
Alkylbenzoates It acts as preservative.
Coloring and flavoring For patient comfort and acceptance.
Water It acts as the dispersion medium.

Gelation or setting of agar

Agar changes from the sol to the gel state (and vice versa) by a physical process.
As the agar sol cools the dispersed phase groups to form fibrils called micelles.
The fibrils branch and intermesh together to form a brush-heap structure.
The fibrils form weak covalent bonds with each other which break easily at higher temperatures
resulting in gel turning to sol.
The process of converting gel to sol is known as liquefaction which occurs at a temperature
between 70 and 100 °C.
On cooling agar reverses to the gel state and the process is called gelation.
Gelation occurs at or near mouth temperature which is necessary to avoid injury to oral tissues.

Manupulation
1.Hydrocolloid conditioner
46 °C for about two minutes with the material loaded in the tray. This reduces the temperature
so that it is tolerated by the sensitive oral tissues. It also makes the material viscous.
2. Impression trays
Rim lock trays with water circulating devices are used.
The rim lock is a beading on the inside edge of the tray border which helps to retain the
material. It also has an inlet and outlet for connecting the water tubes

Making impression
The tray containing the tempered material is removed from the bath. The outer surface of the
agar sol is scraped off, then the water hoses are connected, and the tray is positioned in the
mouth by the dentist. Water is circulated at 18–21 °C through the tray until gelation occurs.

Storage of impression
Storage of agar impression is to be avoided at all costs. The cast should be poured immediately.
Storage in air results in dehydration, and storage in water results in swelling of the impression.

Properties of Agar:
Gelation, liquefaction and hysteresis
Gelation (solidification) occurs at 37 °C approximately, whereas liquefaction (melting) occurs at
a higher temperature, i.e. 60–70 °C higher than the gelation temperature. This temperature lag
between liquefaction and gelation is known as hysteresis.

Syneresis and imbibition (dimensional stability)

Since hydrocolloids use water as the dispersion medium, they are prone for dimensional change
due to either loss or gain of water. If left in a dry atmosphere, water is lost by syneresis and
evaporation, and if it is immersed in water, it absorbs water by a process known as imbibition.
The exuding of fluid from the gel is known as syneresis.
Syneresis and imbibition can result in dimensional changes and therefore inaccurate casts.

Flexibility
Requires flexibility ranging between 4% and 15%, when a stress of 12.2 N is applied. On an
average a flexibility of 11% is desirable.

Elasticity and elastic recovery

They are highly elastic, and elastic recovery occurs to the extent of 98.8% (

Gel strength including tear and compressive strengths

The gel can withstand great stresses particularly shear stress, without flow, provided the stress
is applied rapidly. Thus, the impression should be removed as rapidly as possible in order to
avoid distortion. Agar has a tear strength of 0.8–0.9 kN/m and compressive strength of 0.5–0.9
g/cm2 .
Advantages and disadvantages of Agar:
Advantages
1. Accurate dies can be prepared, if the material is properly handled.
2. Good elastic properties help reproduce most undercut areas.
3. It has good recovery from distortion.
4. Hydrophilic, moist mouth not a problem. It also gives a good model surface.
5. It is palatable and well tolerated by the patient.
6. It is economical when compared to synthetic elastic materials.
7. It can be reused when used as a duplicating material
8. Low cost because it can be reused.

Disadvantages
1. Does not flow well when compared to newly available materials.
2. During insertion or gelation the patient may experience thermal discomfort.
3. Tears relatively easily. Greater gingival retraction is required for providing adequate thickness
of the material.
4. Only one model can be poured.
5. Has to be poured immediately. Cannot be stored for too long.
6. Requires special and expensive equipment.
7. A soft surface of the gypsum cast results unless a plaster hardener is used.
8. Although it can be reused, it is impossible to sterilize this material. Also with repeated use
there may be contamination of the materials and a deterioration in its properties