Applied material Level 2

Impression Materials
 Dental Impressions: are negative reproductions of oral structures.
 impression material is a substance used for recording the form and
dimensions of the oral tissues.
 Cast(model): is a positive reproduction of oral structure made from a stone or
plaster.
 Impression material is inserted into the mouth in a plastic condition to set
against oral tissues & removed from the mouth when hardened
• The set impression is a negative reproduction of the oral tissues & a positive
reproduction is obtained by pouring a suitable model or die

• Classification of impression:
1. It may be partial (part of oral tissues) or complete (the entire dental arch)
2. According to type:
a) Preliminary Impression is used for: Diagnostic models & Custom trays
b) Final Impression: used to produce the most accurate reproduction of the teeth and
surrounding tissue
• Objectives of making impression material:
1. Crown &bridge
2. Removable prosthodontics (partial or complete)
3. Study cast of orthodontic cases
4. Study presurgical cases as in implant cases
• impression is soft material, so we use tray to hold & support it.
• Impression tray: is a device used to hold & carry & support
impression material in oral cavity
• Trays may be (readymade) stock tray or custom(special) tray.

Ideal requirements of impression materials:

1. Accuracy:
▪ Definition: ability of impression to replicate the intraoral surface details
▪ the impression should be accurate as accuracy of restoration depends on accuracy of
impression.
▪ The restoration cant be more accurate than impression

1|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

2. Biologically acceptable: non toxic, non irritant & non carcinogenic & of acceptable odor & taste
3.not affected by the oral fluids.
4. It should have a suitable working time to allow for placement of the impression material in the tray
and then insertion of the tray into the mouth before beginning of hardening.
 Working time: time elapsed from beginning of mixing till insertion in pt. mouth
 Initial setting time: time elapsed from mixing till beginning of setting
 Final setting time: time elapsed from mixing till complete setting
6. It should have a suitable setting time to avoid fatigue to both operator and patient. Three
minutes is considered reasonable time for setting.
7 It should accept addition and correction after taking the impression.
8. Readily disinfected without loss of accuracy.
9. It should have a good shelf life.

 Factors affecting accuracy of the impression material:

1. should have high flow at the beginning, i.e. the material must be in a fluid or plastic state on
insertion into the mouth, in order to have the ability to record fine details.

2. Dimensionally accurate: The dimensional changes associated

with its setting reaction should be negligible i.e. should not expand,
contract or warp during setting.
3. Dimensionally stable: There should be negligible dimensional
changes on storage(after setting) of the impression in the dental
laboratory before pouring the cast i.e. it should be dimensionally
stable after removal from the mouth
4. Should be elastic on removal from the mouth so that
undercuts can be recorded without distortion of the impression.
 N.B: undercut is high is dentulous pt. compared to Edentulous pt.
5. During removal from the mouth, it should be adherent to the
tray.
 Or it will be separated during removal from oral cavity.
 So we need to use perforated tray with some impression material as alginate
6. should be compatible with the gypsum products:
o Should not need a separating medium when poured (it would occupy a space or may affect
the accuracy).
o Should not affect the setting or surface qualities of the model e.g. should not react with
the cast material or material which affects the surface of the model.
 N.B.There is no impression material that can fulfill all these requisites however, these
requisites is useful to evaluate an impression material.

2|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

Classifications of impression materials:

a) The manner of setting :
1. chemical reaction(irreversible):
▪ Harden through a chemical reaction
▪ e.g. Plaster of Paris, ZOE, alginates, rubber impression materials etc.
2.physical (reversible):
▪ set as a result of change of temperature without chemical changes.
▪ Thermoplastic substances e.g. wax, impression compound and agar agar
b) Their Behavior after setting:
▪ Depending on their ability to regain their original shape after removal from the undercuts
1. Inelastic impression materials(rigid|)
▪ They are used only when no undercut exists (edentulous pt.)
e.g. wax, Plaster of Paris, ZnO/eugenol and impression compound.
2. Elastic impression materials
▪ They can be used when undercut exists e.g. hydrocolloids and rubber impression materials.
c) Their use:
1. Impression materials used in completely edentulous pt.: Plaster, impression compound
and Zinc oxide and eugenol, hydrocolloids, rubbers
2. Impression materials used in partially edentulous pt.: Hydrocolloids, Rubbers

d) According to the Accuracy:

1. 1ry Impression (stock tray): Compound impression material, Alginate impression material
2.2ry Impression (special tray): Plaster impression material (not used now) , Zinc
oxide/eugenol, Agar -Agar, Rubbers impression materials , Alginate impression material
e) According to viscosity:
1) High: compound, putty elastomers
2) Medium: regular elastomers
3) Low: plaster, ZOE,
hydrocolloids, light body
elastomers

3|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

Inelastic impression materials

1) Plaster of Paris:
• Application:
1. 2ry impression for completely edentulous patients in
non-perforated special tray(shellac or acrylic).
2. used in wash impression over compound.
 Composition: supplied in the form of powder, to which
water is added, composed of:
1. CaSO4.1/2H2O. not alpha
The  Ca sulfate is used rather than α and/or improved stone because:
a)weaker: So break during removal from undercut avoiding injury to the patient
and the fractured part can be reassembled accurately.
b)requires higher W/P ratio, which increases the flow at the beginning and thus records fine details.
c)The higher W/P ratio will reduce the exothermic heat evolved during taking of the impression.
2. Modifiers: Chemicals used to regulate the setting time & setting expansion:
 accelerator: 4% potassium sulphate : decreases the setting expansion(anti expansion) and the
setting time.
 retarder; 1% borax : decrease the setting expansion.
 Setting mechanism: (chemical reaction)
• On mixing the powder with water, calcium sulfate hemihydrate reacts with water to produce
calcium sulfate dihydrate and setting occurs in the mouth.
CaSO4.1/2H2O + H2O CaSO4.2H2O + Heat
• Properties of plaster impression materials:
1. Accuracy of plaster impression materials:
a) semi-fluid → excellent recording of the fine details.
b) dimensional changes on setting are negligible due to anti-expansion additives.
c) A small degree of drying shrinkage during storage of the impression in the laboratory may occur
and may induce small dimensional changes
d) A plaster impression fractures on removal from undercuts and can be reassembled.
 e)When pouring a plaster impression in plaster or in stone, a separating medium should be
used, otherwise, the pores of the impression will be filled with the cast material, and both will
be interlocked and become inseparable.
 The film of separation should be as thin as possible, in order to avoid the inaccuracies.
 The use of separating medium is disadvantage as it may obliterate the fine details.
f) taste and consistency are unpleasant to the patient
g) it dehydrates the Patient mouth
h) due to its fluidity, it runs through the throat.
2)Impression compound: (modeling composition)
 Form : 1)sheets(round or square 4-5
mm),
2)stick ,cylinder or cones
 Application :
1)full jaw primary impression for
completely edentulous patient
2)peripheral molding of impression trays

4|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

3)single tooth impression in copper band for inlay & crowns

4) act as a tray for 2ny impression material (wash impression tech.)

 Composition:
1. Thermoplastic material: Natural resins & wax soften by heating & harden by cooling…it and give
the qualities of flow and cohesion.
2. Fillers: Talc or diatomaceous earth(add body & ↑ strength &↓ thermal contraction &give a
suitable working consistency).
3. 3 %Plasticizers(lubricant): Stearic acid or stearin, act as lubricant and with fillers control
the flow and consistency of the material
4.coloring agent : e.g. Rouge. It produces characteristic reddish-brown color most commonly
used. Black and green colors are also available.
 Types:
1)impression compound (type 1)( lower fusing materials)
a)For primary impressions (preliminary impression) for
edentulous patient supplied as sheets
b)stick form or cone shape for copper band impression for inlays
& crown.
c)sticks used in tracing (recording vestibule)

2)impression trays (type II) higher fusing used as an

impression trays to support another impression (wash
impression)
 (Wash impression): the aluminum stock tray
containing the impression of the dental compound is
used to hold a second impression material as zinc
oxide-eugenol, which will record the final impression (corrective wash)
 Setting mechanism:
*thermoplastic,warmed at 45ºC & cooled to mouth temperature 37ºC → rigid. *reversible physical
process rather than a chemical reaction. Hard Heating Soft
Cooling

 Manipulation:
1) For completely edentulous cases:
a) Heating: over a flame or in water bath. For impressions it is heated in water bath at 55-60ºC. water
bath should be lined with napkin or it will adhere to the bath.
*it has a low thermal conductivity so it must be immersed in the water bath for sufficient time to
ensure complete softening & should be kneaded to obtain homogenous soft mass. but, if it is left too

5|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

long some of the ingredients may be leached out into the water bath → sticky material.
 Properties:
1. Accuracy of impression compound:
a)Flow: not sufficiently fluid to record all the fine details.
45ºC 37ºC
type I 85% less than 6%
typeII 70% less than 2%.
b) Dimensional accuracy and dimensional stability:
Dimensional changes during hardening are great why ??
1- High coefficient of thermal expansion.
*On cooling during setting, there is considerable cooling shrinkage.
*Shrinkage occurs on cooling from mouth to room temperature (0.3-0.4%)
2. Distortion: when it occurs?
a) During removal from undercut: Internal stresses occur on removal from undercuts as it is plastic
material & has low flow (deformation)
b) during storage: as internal stresses will be relieve leading to distortion
▪ 3 factors are responsible for these internal stresses:
a.The high value of coefficient of thermal expansion.
b. The poor thermal conductivity
c.The relatively large temperature drop from the softening temperature to room temperature.
 Therefore, the impression should be cast maximum within an hour
2. The material is non-elastic : the most serious drawback of this material is that it distorts when
being removed from
an undercut area
3. Compatible with model and die materials and do not need a separating medium
4. Conductivity:
▪ Compound has poor thermal conductivity.
▪ so when softened, its outside will soften first & inside will soften later
▪ so Time must be allowed during either heating or cooling to allow the dental compound to come
to a uniform temperature
5. These impression can be removed from the mouth, re-softened and reinserted for any corrections
required..
6. Accept additions to the impression
7. Can be electroplated with copper.
8. Disinfection by different materials affects its properties
3) Zinc oxide/ eugenol:
• Applications: 2ry impressions for completely edentulous patient .
• Form: two pastes in two metallic collapsible tubes
• Composition
Base accelerator
a))Zinc oxide 80%: Reactive a)Oil of cloves or eugenol: 12-15%
ingredient which takes in ▪ Reactive ingredient takes part in setting reaction.
setting reaction. ▪ Oil of cloves: Sometimes used instead of the eugenol,
b)inert oil 15% → form a since it is less irritant than eugenol
paste with zinc-oxide powder b)Gum rosin and oils 65% (Gives body & cohesion &

6|Page Dr. eslam ezzat

Applied material Level 2

c)hydrogenated resin. thermoplastic properties for easy removal from the cast by
softening it in hot water.
c)Filler talk or kaolin or diatomaceous earth →form a paste.
d) Moisture: A very slight amount of moisture water is added to
the zinc oxide parts or accelerator?? Since it is essential for
the hydrolysis of the zinc oxide to its hydroxide
N.B. Water is essential since the dehydrated ZnO can’t react
with eugenol and the reaction is called chelation reaction.
e) zinc acetate: act as accelerator
 Manipulation and setting mechanism:
• Two paste: provided in contrasting colors & equal lengths of two are mixed over a glass slab or
special oil-resistant paper pad, until a homogenous color is obtained.
▪ Zinc-oxide in the presence of moisture reacts with eugenol to form a chelate of zinc eugenolate,
which forms an amorphous matrix holding the unreacted particles of zinc oxide
▪ Zn O + H2O → Zn (OH)2
Zn (OH)2 + 2 Eugenol → Zn Eugenolate +H2O (salt)
Acid) (base) Chelation Reaction
▪ Water is essential for the reaction since the dehydrated ZnO cannot react with eugenol.

 Properties:
1. Accuracy of zinc oxide and eugenol:
a. Flow: Very accurate (sufficiently fluid to record fine detail).
b. Dimensional accuracy and stability:
1)no or very little dimensional change on setting (0.1% Shrinkage).
2)no change during storage but ↑temp→distortion due to thermoplastic part.
c.Inelastic so use in completely edentulous patient with no undercut(fracture).
d.Compatibility with gypsum : removed by softening in hot water 60ºC.
2. Other properties:
a. Eugenol can be irritant →tingling or burning sensation to patient & leaving a persistent taste
(unpleasant ).
N.B. Non-eugenol zinc oxide impressions are now available to avoid this.
b. adhere to tissues, so the lips of the patient are usually coated with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) before
making the impression.

7|Page Dr. eslam ezzat