Impression Materials

IMPRESSION MATERIALS
DENTAL MATERIALS LECTURE
DEPT. OF PROSTHODONTICS @ CHETTINAD DENTAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Impression
• A negative likeliness or copy in reverse
of the surface of an object ;
IMPRESSION MATERIALS DR. EAZHIL.R

Dental impression
• An imprint of the teeth and adjacent

structures for use in dentistry.
GPT-8

Dental impression
• A negative imprint of an oral structure
used to produce a positive replica of
the structure to be used as a permanent
record or in the production of a dental
restoration or prosthesis

EDENTULOUS
IMPRESSIONS

Preliminary impression
Tray – Stock tray
Material –
1 Impression
compound
2 Alginate
3 Silicone Putty

Peripheral tracing or border molding
• Done in patients
mouth
Material –
low fusing compound
Addition Silicone (heavy
body)

Secondary or final or wash
impression
Materials –
Zinc oxide eugenol
Addition Silicone
(Medium Body)
Polyether

Final casts or master casts or
working casts

Dentulous or Partially edentulous

Positive cast

Dental Impression
Materials
Silicone
Reversible
hydrocolloids
Irreversible
DEPT. OF PROSTHODONTICS hydrocolloids
@ CHETTINAD DENTAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Impression material
Any substance or combination of

substances used for making an impression
or negative reproduction.
(GPT-8)

Purpose of Impression Materials
• To make an accurate replica of the oral t

issues
• To give a negative reproduction of the ti
ssues
• To be filled with model material to mak
e a positive cast
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS OF
IMPRESSION MATERIALS
• They should be fluid enough to be able to adapt to the oral tissues
• They should be viscous enough to be contained in the tray that is

to be seated in the mouth
• While in the mouth, they should transform (set) into a rubbery or

rigid solid, in a reasonable amount of time. Ideally the total setting
time should be less than 7 min
• The set impression should not distort or tear when removed from
the mouth.

• The impressions made from these materials should remain
dimensionally stable, until the casts can be poured
• The impression should maintain its dimensional stability after

removal of a cast so that a second or third cast can be made from
the same impression
• The materials should biocompatible
• The materials, associated processing equipments & processing

time should be cost effective

“ No impression material fulfills all the
requirements”
 the selection of the material best suited for a particular

clinical situation and technique rests with the dentist.

CLASSIFICATION

CLASSIFICATION OF IMPRESSION
MATERIALS
(by application or mechanical properties)
Plaster
In-elastic Impression compound
Zinc oxide eugenol
Impression Thermoplastic waxes

materials
Reversible - Agar
Hydrocolloids
Elastic Irreversible - Alginate

Polysulfide
Non aqeous
elastomers Silicones Condensation
Polyethers Addition (vinyl)

RIGID IMPRESSION MATERIALS

Impression compound

Impression compound is among the oldest
impression materials used in dentistry.
It is described as a rigid, reversible
material which sets by physical change.
CLASSIFIED AS
Type 1 – Low fusing material
Type 2 – High fusing material
SUPPLIED AS
Sheets, Sticks, Cakes and Cones.
TYPE 1- LOW FUSING (45-55°C)
 It is a low viscosity material

 It is also called low fusing compound
 Used for border moulding
 Supplied in sticks
More rigid when set low fusing (50-55°C)

TYPE 2- HIGH FUSING (60-65°C)
 It is a higher viscosity material

 is also called true impression
compound or tray compound
 Used for impressions of edentulous
arches
Supplied in cake form
Less rigid when set high fusing

(60-65°C)

APPLICATIONS
1. For making preliminary impression in
an edentulous mouth
2. Border moulding
3. For individual tooth impression
4. To check the undercuts in inlay
preparation
5. To make a special tray

REQUIREMENTS OF AN IDEAL
IMPRESSION COMPOUND
It should
1. Harden at a little above mouth temp
2. Be plastic at a temp not harmful to oral tissues
3. Not contain irritating or toxic ingredients
4. Harden uniformly when cooled without distortion
5. Be cohesive but not adhesive
6. Have consistency when softened which will allow to
reproduce fine details
7. Not undergo permanent deformation or fracture while
withdrawing the impression

8. Be dimensionally stable after removal from mouth
and storage
9. Exhibit a smooth glossy surface after flaming
10. Not boil and loose volatile components on flaming
11. Remain stable without losing soluble plasticizers
when immersed in water for long periods
12. Withstand trimming with sharp knife without
flaking or chipping after hardening

COMPOSITION
Has a mixture of waxes, thermoplastic resins, organic
acids, fillers and coloring agents
1. Rosin - 30parts
2. Copal resin - 30parts
3. Carnauba wax - 10parts
4. Stearic acid - 5parts
5. Talc - 25parts
6. Coloring agent - Appropriate amount

Composition
Ingredients Function
Waxes (bees wax) Main ingredient
Carnauba wax Strength & To adjust
fusion temp
Rosin For smoothness
Copal resin For smoothness
Stearic acid plasticizer
Talc filler
Coloring agent
Fusion temperature
The temperature at which the material looses its brittleness
or hardness on heating or forms a rigid mass upon cooling.
It is the temperature at which crystalline fatty acids melts.
For impression compound it is approximately 43 °C, the

material softens to a plastic mass and can be manipulated.

 This temperature indicates a definite reduction of plasticity during cooling.
 Above the fusion temperature, the material is soft and plastic enough while the
impression is being recorded.
 Plasticity of the material helps in recording the very minute details of the oral
tissues.
 When the material cools down at room temp. the plasticity decreases as it
reaches fusion temperature during which the impression should be held firmly
and not to be removed

COOLING CURVE
PART A - softening temperature to fusion temperature (45-43ºC)

PART B - fusion temperature 42.5ºC
PART C - fusion temperature to mouth temperature (42.5ºto37ºC)

Thermal conductivity
• Thermal conductivity is low
• During softening the material outside will soften first and
inside last. So for uniform softening the material should be
immersed in the water bath for sufficient period of time
• The layer adjacent to the oral soft tissue cools faster than
inside. Its important to wait for the impression compound
to cool thoroughly before removing from the mouth

FLOW
• Flow of the impression compound varies depending upon the time
period during the time the material is inserted into the oral cavity
• It should flow easily to confirm the tissue and record all the
details accurately
• Once the material hardens the flow should be minimum

DISTORTION
• Distortion may occur due to relaxation of the stress induced
during manipulation
• To minimize this problem the compound should be allowed to

cool before it is removed from the mouth
• The casts should be poured in the first hour

SOFTENING OF IMPRESSION COMPOUND
•Impression compound can be softened by direct or indirect heat
•Kneading
•It is either shown in direct flame or immersed in hot water until it is softened
•The casts are poured in the usual manner
• The set casts are removed by softening the compound, this is achieved by
immersing in warm water until the compound is softened to permit easy removal
of the casts.
ADVANTAGES
1. Inaccurate portions can be reheated & remade without
having to repeat the entire impression
2. Can support other materials for wash impressions
3. Reusable in the same patients(but with reuse the
constituents are leached out)
4. Non irritant and non toxic

DISADVANTAGES
1. Poor dimensional stability
2. Poor surface detail
3. Thermal discomfort to the patient
4. Will distort if removed from undercuts
5. Compresses the soft tissue while making impression
-Mucocompressive

ZINC OXIDE EUGENOL

• This material is used for recording
edentulous ridges in a close fitting special
tray or the patients existing dentures.
• CLASSIFIED AS
Type I - Hard
Type II - Soft

ZINC OXIDE-EUGENOL IMPRESSION PASTE
ZOE can be classified as rigid, irreversible impression material that

sets by chemical reaction.
MODE OF SUPPLY-TWO PASTE SYSTEM

• Base paste (white in color)
• Accelerator or Reactor or Catalyst paste (red)

COMPOSITION
BASE PASTE % ACCELERATOR PASTE %
Zinc Oxide 87% Oil of cloves or Eugenol 12 %
Fixed vegetable or 13% Gum or Polymerized Rosin 50 %
Mineral oil
Filler (Silica type ) 20%

Lanolin 3%
Resinous Balsam 10%
Accelerator solution and Coloring 5%
agent

• Vegetable or mineral oil – plasticizer & offsets
the action of eugenol as an irritant
• Rosin – facilitates the speed of the reaction &
yields a smooth, homogenous mix
• Canada balsam & Peru balsam – increase flow &
improve mixing properties
• Wax - filler

MANIPULATION
• Mixing is done on a oil impervious paper or glass slab.
• Proper proportion is achieved by squeezing two pastes of equal length on the

mixing pad
• A flexible stainless steel spatula is used for mixing
• The two strips are combined with the first sweep of the spatula and mixing is
continued until a homogenous mix is obtained, usually the mixing time is 45-60 sec.

CHEMISTRY OF SETTING
ZNO +H2O ZN(OH)2
ZN(OH)2+2HE ZNE2 +2H2O

(base) (eugenol) zinc eugenolate
(salt)
THIS CALLED
AUTOCATALYTIC REACTION

CONTROL OF SETTING TIME
• Addition of zinc acetate or glacial acetic acid may hasten the setting time.
• Cooling the spatula and the mixing slab may prolong the setting time
provided the temperature is not lower than dew point.
• Addition of fillers (waxes, inert oils,mineral oil clove oil) and inert powders
(kaolin, diatomous earth) can prolong the setting time.
• Addition of boro glycerine also retard the reaction.
• Alteration of base-catalyst ratio may affect the setting time (not

recommended).
• Longer the mix the shorter is the setting time .

• Setting time :-
INITIAL FINAL SETTING
SETTING TIME TIME
Type I 3 – 6 minutes 10 minutes
Type II 3 – 6 minutes 15 minutes

• Consistency and flow :-
Type I paste - 30 to 50 mm
Type II paste - 20 to 45 mm

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• Type I is of high viscosity and can compress the tissues .
• Type II is a thin fluid material records the tissues in a relaxed condition with little or no
compression .
• The heavier consistency yields greater strength .

RIGIDITY AND STRENGTH –
• Impression is rigid and is unyielding to stress when removed

from the mouth.
• The compressive strength of is 7mpa(1000psi)
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY-
• Zinc oxide eugenol is dimensionally stable.
• The impression can be preserved indefinitely without any
change that results from relaxation.

Modified ZOE paste
 One of the drawbacks of eugenol pastes is the burning
sensation caused by eugenol when it is in contacts the oral
mucosa .
 May cause gastric problems
Carboxylic acids are substituted for eugenol to over come this problem.
Any caboxylic acid can react with zincoxide and form an insoluble soap by
“saponification”
The most commonly used carboxylic acid is Ortho Ethoxy Benzoic acid
(EBA)
ZNO + 2RcooH (Rcoo)2ZN+H2O

(CARBOXYLIC ACID) (SOAP)

USES
As a wash impression in complete dentures
bite registration paste
temporary relining material for dentures
periodontal surgical dressing

ADVANTAGES
It has enough working time to do border moulding.
It can be checked in the mouth repeatedly without
deforming .
It registers accurate surface details.
It is dimensionally stable.
It does not require any separating media as it does not
stick to cast.
Minor defects can be corrected locally without discarding
a good impression.

DISADVANTAGES
It requires a special tray for impression making.
It adheres to tissues.
Eugenol can cause burning sensation and tissue irritation .
It cannot be used for making impression of teeth and
undercut areas as it is inelastic in nature .

IMPRESSION PLASTER

IMPRESSION PLASTER
• Impression plaster is based on calcined calcium sulphate
hemihydrate, which reacts with water to form a hard mass
of calcium sulphate dihydrate.
This setting reaction is associated with an expansion of

0.3-0.6%. When this is within the confines of an
impression tray it will lead to a significant reduction in
accuracy.

• Mixing the plaster with anti-expansion
solution (containing 4% potassium sulphate
and 0.4% borax) will reduce this.
• The potassium sulphate reduces expansion to
0.05%, but this also accelerates the setting
reaction, and borax is added as a retarder,
which gives more time to take the impression.

Plaster powder, anti-expansion solution,
mixing bowl and spatula

PROPERTIES
• Excellent at recording fine detail (because it is fluid
when inserted in mouth)
• Dimensionally stable if anti expansion solution used
• Fractures if undercuts present
• Mucostatic
• Needs to be treated with a separating medium (e.g.
varnish or soap solution) before being cast in stone
or plaster

• Exothermic setting reaction
• On storage dimensionally stable but a
small amount of shrinkage may occur
• Non toxic but may be unpleasant due
to dryness and heat evolved during
setting.

Plaster impression

A plaster impression with wax
beading around it's periphery

ADVANTAGES
• Good surface detail
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Rate of the setting reaction can be
controlled by the clinician

DISADVANTAGES
• Cannot be used for mucocompressive
impressions
• Properties are affected by operator’s handling
technique
• Taste & roughness is unpleasant &
uncomfortable to the patient.

IMPRESSION WAXES

IMPRESSION WAXES
• Waxes are thermoplastic
materials, which flow at mouth
temperature and are soft a room
temperature. They do not set by
chemical reaction.
• Normally used to correct small
imperfection in other
impressions, especial zinc oxide
impressions.

• They consist of a combination of a low melting
paraffin wax and beeswax in a ratio of
approximately 3:1 to ensure the wax flows at room
temperature.
• Cast should be poured up immediately after
taking the impression to avoid distortion which
readily occurs in wax. These materials are not
commonly used.

• Iowa wax,
• Korecta wax No. 4,
• H-L physiologic paste,
• Adaptol

ELASTIC IMPRESSION MATERIALS

INTRODUCTION
• By definition, an elastic impression material is
one that can transform from a semisolid, non
elastic state to a highly elastic solid state.
• TYPES :-
Two system are used:
1. Hydrocolloids
2.Elastomeric materials

Colloids

• SOLUTION & SUSPENSION :-
Solution is one substance, usually one solid
is dispersed in another liquid and two phases are
microscopically indistinguishable.( sugar in water )
Suspension on the other hand, consists of
larger particles that can be seen under microscope
and also with naked eyes, dispersed in a medium.

• COLLOIDS :-
Often classed as fourth state of matter
known as colloidal state. It is a two phase system :-
• Dispersed phase or Dispersed particle (the
suspended particle)
• Dispersion phase or Dispersion medium (the
substance in which it is suspended)

TYPES OF COLLOIDS
AEROSOLS - LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS IN AIR

LYOSOLS - LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS IN LIQUID
FOAM - GASES IN A SOLID
SOLID EMULSION – LIQUIDS IN SOLID
SOLID SUSPENSION - SOLVENTS IN SOLID.

Hydrocolloids
Basically are Lyosols consisting of gelation
particles suspended in water.
Since dispersion medium is water it is known
as hydrocolloid.
Particle size ranges form 1 – 200 nm .

Gels, Sols, Gelation
A Sol has a appearance and many characterstics of a
viscous liquid.
A Gel is a jelly like elastic semi-solid and is produced
from a sol by a process called Gelation by formation
of fibrils or chain of dispersed phase which become
interlocked.
Gelation may be brought about in two ways :-
 Lowering the temperature (agar )
 by a chemical reaction (alginate )

SOL-GEL TRANSFORMATION
If the concentration of the dispersed phase

exceeds a certain limit the sol may be converted
into a semisolid material know as gel.

Hydrocolloid
Colloidal Solution (Sol.)
Solution Suspension
(emulsion)
•Colloid has two phase:
dispersed phase + dispersion phase
Adequate Semisolid material

concentration = Gel
Sol-Gel transformation
Hydrocolloid
Dipersion phase = water  Hydrocolloid
• Reversible hydrocolloid
(Agar)
• Irreversible hydrocolloid
(Alginate)
SYNERESIS & IMBIBITION
• Water is the dispersion medium in hydrocolloids
• Dimensional change due to either loss or gain of
water
• If left in atmosphere, water is lost to the
environment by evaporation (syneresis)
• SYNERESIS - Expression of fluid onto the surface
of the gel structures

• If immersed in water, it absorbs water (Imbibition)
• IMBIBITION – process of water sorption
• Syneresis & Imbibition can cause dimensional
change & inaccurate casts

Reversible Hydrocolloid
(Agar)
Overview
• The setting of reversible hydrocolloid is called

as “Gelation”.
• It is a solidification process that involves phase
changes from sol to gel states
• The physical change from sol to gel & vice
versa is induced by temp. change

• The gel converts to a sol condition when it is
heated to a certain temperature, known as
liquefaction temperature (70o to 100o C).
• When cooled from this temperature range, the sol
transforms into a gel at a point known as gelation
temperature (37o to 50o C).

• The gelation temperature is critical for impression
making
• If gelation temp is too high, the heat from the sol
may injure the oral tissues, or the transformation
will be rapid & develop surface irregularities.
• If the gelation temp is too far below oral temp, it
will be difficult to chill the material sufficiently to
obtain a firm gel adjacent to the oral tissues

AGAR-AGAR
(REVERSIBLE HYDROCOLLOID)
COMPONENT COMPOSITION FUNCTION
WATER 80-85% REACTION MEDIUM
AGAR 13-17%(TRAY) FORMS BRUSH HEAP

6-8% STRUCTURE
(SYRINGE)
BORAX 0.2%-0.5% INCREASES STRENGTH OF
HYDROCOLLOID BUT
RETARDS THE SETTING
OF GYPSUM
POTASSIUM SULFATE 1-2% GYPSUM HARDENER
DIATOMACEOUS 0.5-1% INERT FILLERS THAT

EARTH,CLAY,SILICA AND HARD CONTROLS VISCOCITY
WAX AND RIGIDITY
GLYCERINE 0.2-0.3% PLASTICIZER
THYMOL 0.1-0.2% BACTERICIDAL
ALKYL BENZOATE 0.1% PRESERVATIVE

Supplied in two forms
• Syringe material
• Tray material

Conditioning unit
Has 3 containers for liquefaction, storage & tempering

Agar manipulation
• Three chambers for conditioning
• Liquefaction temperature 100 o C
• Storing temperature 65 o C
• Tempering in water-filled container (~45 o C )
Final temperature < 55 o C

Preparing & Conditioning
– (1) liquefy at 100C for 10 minutes

• converts gel to sol
– (2) store in the sol condition until it is needed
at 65
– The material can be stored for several days
O’Brien Dental Materials & their Selection 1997

Tempering of the material
• A tube of hydrocolloid sol is removed from the storage
bath, the tray is filled, a gauze pad is placed over the top
of the tray material & the tray is placed in the water
filled tempering container.
• Tempering time (3-10 mins) ensures the material reaches
a lower temperature (less than 550 C). It also increases
the viscosity so that it will not flow out of the tray

Tempering of the material
• The loaded tray should never be left in this bath for more
than 10 mins
• The syringe material is never tempered since it must be
maintained in a fluid state to enhance adaptation to the
tissue

Making the agar impression
• Before the tempering of the tray material is
completed, syringe material is taken from the
storage compartment & applied on to the prepared
teeth.
• The water soaked outer layer of tray hydrocolloid is
removed from the tempering container & the gauze
covering it also removed

• The tray is immediately brought into
position & seated with light pressure &
held with very light force.
• Too much pressure may displace the
syringed agar sol on the tooth & distort
the impression

• Gelation is accelerated by
circulating cool water (18 to
21o C) through tray for 3-5
mins.
• The impression is removed
with a sudden snap.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• According to ADA specification, the compressive strength

should not be less than 0.245mpa(35.6psi).
• Tear strength of 4 psi
• These are viscoelastic in nature .

(viscoelastic behaviour is intermediate between than that of
solid and liquid)

• DISTORTION DURING GELATION - there is some
contraction because of physical change in the hydrocolloid
transformation from a sol to a gel.
• ELASTIC RECOVERY - highly elastic and recovery up to

99%.
• REPRODUCTION OF DETAILS - can reproduce details up to

a limit of 25microns

USES OF AGAR-AGAR:
• FULL MOUTH IMPRESSIONS
• SINGLE TOOTH IMPRESSIONS IN
PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS JAWS
• MAINLY AS AN DUPLICATING
MATERIAL.

Advantages
• Dimensionally accurate
• Hydrophilic
– displace moisture, blood, fluids
• Inexpensive
– after initial equipment
• No custom tray or adhesives
• Pleasant
• No mixing required
Phillip’s Science of Dental Materials 1996

Disadvantages
• Initial expense
– special equipment
• Material to be prepared in advance
• Tears easily
• Dimensionally unstable
– immediate pour
– single cast
• Difficult to disinfect
Phillip’s Science of Dental Materials 1996
Hysteresis
• The temperature lag between liquefaction
temp. (60-700c) & gelation temp (370C)

Irreversible Hydrocolloid
(Alginate)

• Algin is a mucous extraction from a brown seaweed
(algae).
• this is a linear polymer with numerous carboxyl acid
groups called b-d-mannuronic acid (alginic acid)
• Alginate is the most successful and most commonly used
impression material due to
ease of manipulation
comfort to the patient
relatively inexpensive

Composition
• Potassium alginate (15%) • Sodium phosphate (2%)
– Soluble alginate – Retarder - reacts with
• Calcium sulfate dihydrate (16%) calcium ions to slow
– Reactor the working time
• Diatomaceous earth (60%) • Glycols
– Fillers - Decrease dust formation
– Strength, Stiffness, Texture • Quaternary ammonium
salts
• Potassium titanium fluoride (3%) – Disinfectants
– Accelerator for the setting of the •
stone to be poured in the impression Flavoring agents
• Zinc Oxide(4%) • Coloring agents
– Filler

Gelation Process
(Sol) (Gel)
Soluble Alg + CaSO4 Insoluble Alg
(rapid reaction)
Sodium or Potassium alginate Calcium alginate
Add water-soluble salt e.g. sodium phosphate

to react with CaSO4 --> prolong the working
time.
Gelation Process (con’t)
Calcium sulfate
Potassium alginate + Water
Trisodium phosphate
2Na3PO4 + 3 CaSO4 --> Ca3(PO4)2 + 3 Na2SO4

Na3PO4 used up
K2nAlg + nCaSO4 --> nK2SO4 + CanAlg

Gel Structure
• Once gelation starts, the
impression material must not be
disturbed because the growing
fibrils will fracture and the
impression would be significantly
weakened.
• The final structure
Sodium alginate cross-linked
with calcium ions.
Cross-linking of Sodium
alginate
Controlling setting time
Best regulated by the amount of retarder added
during manufacturing
– Fast setting = 1.5 - 3 mins.
– Normal setting = 3 - 4.5 mins
• Can safely influence the setting time by
altering the temperature of the water
– Cool water for mixing.
– Cool the mixing bowl & spatula

• Water Temperature
– 1 min. of reduction in gelation time for each 10°C
of temp. increase

Manipulation
• The measured powder is sifted into premeasured
water that has been poured into a clean rubber
bowl.
• The powder is incorporated into the water by
carefully mixing with a flexible metal or a plastic
spatula.
• The water is added first to wet the mixing bowl
& ensure complete wetting of powder particles

• A vigorous figure-8 motion is done, with the mix
being swiped or stropped against the sides of the
rubber mixing bowl with intermittent rotations
(180o ) of the spatula to press out air bubbles.
• Mixing time is 45 sec – 1 min
• Smooth, creamy mixture that does not readily
drip of the spatula when it is raised from the bowl

Making the impression
• Perforated tray
• Plastic tray or Rim-lock trays
• The thickness of alginate between the
tray & tissues should be atleast 3mm

Strength
• Gel strength doubled during the first 4-min
period.
• Water amount (too much or too little)
– Weakened, less elastic
• Spatulation
– Insufficient spatulation --> failure of the ingredients
to dissolve sufficiently
• Overmixing
– Breaks the CaAlg gel network --> decrease strength

Viscoelasticity
• Strain-rate dependent
• Avoid torquing or twisting when
remove the impression.

Accuracy
• Not as good as elastomeric impression

materials
– Reproduction of fine detail
– Dimension stability
– Roughness of the impression surface
• Can be used for Removable Partial Denture

(RPD)

Modified alginates
• Form of a sol, containing water but no source
of Calcium ions. A reactor of plaster of paris
can then be added to the sol
• Two component system in the form of two
pastes: one containing alginate sol & the
second containing calcium reactor

Disinfection
• Certain disinfectants may result in gypsum casts
that have a lower surface hardness or diminished
surface detail
• Current protocol
– Impression --> thoroughly rinsed --> spray
disinfectant --> wrap in a disinfectant-soaked
paper towel --> place in a sealed plastic bag for
10 minutes
– Iodophor, Sodium hypochlorite, Glutaraldehyde

Dimensional Stability
• Syneresis, imbibition
• The impression should be
exposed to air for as short a
time as possible.
• Immediately constructing the
stone cast (within 10-12 air water
mins)

Dimensional Stability
• 100% relative
humidity is the best
storage environment
to preserve the
normal water content
of the impression.
Percentage of change in water
content by weight
• Borax – Gypsum retarder
• Sodium sulfate – Gypsum accelerator
in low conc.

Compatibility with Gypsum
– Immerse the impression in the accelerator for

gypsum product (2 percent pottasium sulfate
– Incorporate a plaster hardener or accelerator in the
impression material (fluoride)

Shelf Life
• Storage temperature and moisture contamination

• Individually sealed pouches are preferred
• Lid should be firmly placed on the container after
dispensing powder from can.
• Should not stock more than one year’s supply.

ADVANTAGES :
 EASY MIX
 MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF EQUIPMENT
 FLEXIBILITYOF THE SET IMPRESSION
MATERIAL
 COMFORT TO THE PATIENT
 ECONOMICAL
 CAN RECORED DETAILS EVEN IN
PRESENCE OF SALIVA.

DISADVANTAGES :
 METALLIC DIES ARE NOT POSSIBLE AS
THEY CANNOT BE ELECTROPLATED.
 POOR DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
 POOR TEAR STRENGTH
 NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH FOR CROWNS
AND BRIDGE IMPRESSION

Laminate technique
• This tech uses both reversible & irreversible
hydrocolloids.
• The tray reversible hydrocolloid is replaced with a mix
of chilled alginate that will bond with the agar expressed
from a syringe.
• The alginate sets by chemical reaction, whereas agar gels
by means of contact with cool alginate rather than water
circulating through the tray,
• Maximum detail is reproduced since agar is in contact
with prepared teeth.

Advantages:
• fine details.
• Equipment cost is lower.
• Less preparation time is required
• impressions made with ordinary stock tray.

Disadvantages:
bond failure between alginate & agar
Higher viscosity alginate can displace
agar during seating
Dimensional inaccuracy of alginate

Elastomeric Impression materials

• Group of polymers which are either chemically or
physically cross-linked
• Easily stretched & rapidly recover their original
dimensions when the applied stress is released
Four elastomeric impression materials
• Polysulfide
• Condensation-polymerizing silicone
• Addition-polymerizing silicone
• Polyether

• Two component systems supplied in paste form
• The different colored pastes are dispensed either through
a spiral mixing tip or in equal lengths in a mixing pad &
spatulated to a homogenous color
• Setting occurs through a combination of chain-
lengthening polymerization & chemical cross-linking by
either a condensation reaction or addition reaction
• Also called as Nonaqueous elastomeric impression
materials

Viscosity
Each type is further divided into four viscosity classes
• Light-body
• Medium-body or regular-body
• Heavy-body
• Putty
• These materials are into the mouth as viscous pastes with
carefully adjusted flow properties. The setting reaction
then converts them into viscoelastic solids

Light body

Medium or Regular

Heavy body

Putty

• Putty – to form the body of the impression
• Heavy body – border molding
• Medium body – secondary impression
• Light body – record the fine details

• Putty + Light body (Putty Wash
Impression)
• Heavy body + Light body or Medium
body (Simultaneous dual-viscosity
technique)
• Medium body (Single viscosity or
Monophase Technique)

PUTTY WASH (Single step)

Advantages
• Reduced chair side time
Disadvantages
• Absolute lack of control in the bulk of wash material
• By mixing putty, syringe material simultaneously, setting distortion of
putty included in over all distortion of impression
• Possibility of margins duplicated in putty
• Tendency of bubbles to be formed and occluded in the set impression

PUTTY WASH (Two step)

Advantages
• Impression can be captured with the wash materials
Disadvantages
• To confine the wash material to area of relieved
impression
• If entire area is washed - creates hydraulic displacement of
putty impression resulting in smaller dies

Simultaneous dual-viscosity technique

• low-consistency material is injected with a syringe into
critical areas & the high- consistency material is mixed &
placed in an impression tray.
• After injecting the low viscosity material, the tray
containing the higher viscosity material is placed in the
mouth.
• Since both the materials are mixed together, they join, bond
& set together.
• After the materials have set, the tray & the impression are
removed.

Advantages
• Over comes the polymerization shrinkage of the light body
material
• Margins duplicated in light body
Disadvantages
• Use of custom tray
• An assistant required for mixing the material - tray/syringe
simultaneously
• Margins duplicated in heavy body in case of excess pressure

Single Mix or Single Viscosity or Monophase
technique

Advantages
• Reduced wastage of the material
• Less time consumption
• Avoids the time involved in fabrication of custom tray
Disadvantages
• Relatively high viscosity & reduced flow of the monophase materials,
makes their injection onto the preparation more difficult to control
-increased incidence of surface voids

MIXING SYSTEMS
hand mixing,
static Automixing,
dynamic mechanical mixing

Hand mixing
• hand mixing is done for putty
• Two separate Scoops are supplied by the
manufacturer for dispensing base & catalyst paste
• The two pastes are most often kneaded with
fingers until free from streaks.

Static Automixing,
• The base and catalyst are in separate cylinders of the

plastic cartridge.
• The cartridge is placed in a mixing gun containing two
plungers that are advanced by a ratchet mechanism to
extrude equal quantities of base and catalyst

Static Automixing,

dynamic mechanical mixing

Dynamic mechanical mixing
• The catalyst and base are supplied in large plastic bags housed in a cartridge,
which is inserted into the top of the mixing machine.
• A new, plastic mixing tip is placed on the front of the machine, and when the
button is depressed parallel plungers push against the collapsible plastic bags,
thereby opening the bags and forcing material into the dynamic mixing tip

Polysulfide
• This was the first elastomeric impression material to be
introduced. It is also known as Mercaptan or Thiokol
• Supplied in collapsible tubes as base and accelerator.
Base in white color and accelerator is brown or grey.
Available in three viscosities
• Light body
• Medium body
• Heavy body

Base paste
• Polysulfide polymer
• Lithophone or titanium-di-oxide - filler
• Dibutyl pthalate – plasticizer
• 0.5% sulfur - accelerator

Catalyst or accelerator paste
• Lead-di-oxide – Initiates polymerisation
• Lithophone or titanium-di-oxide - filler
• Dibutyl pthalate – plasticizer
• Oleic acid & stearic acid – Retarder

Lead di-oxide initiates polymerisation through
• Chain lengthening between terminal –SH groups
• Cross linking between the pendant –SH groups
Mercapatan + lead dioxide polysulfide + water

Chemical Reaction

Chemistry
• Basic ingredient ( polyfunctional mercaptan)
• It’s a linear polymer
• It cross links with lead dioxide
• Pb dioxide gives polysulfide its brown colour
• Reaction is condensation type
• Chain lengthening and cross linking takes place

• Chain lengthening causes viscosity
• Crosslinking ties the chains forming 3D network thus confering

elastic property to the material
• Polymerization reaction is exothermic ( temp increase 3-4

degrees )
• Reaction by product is water
• Hydrated copper oxide used to substitute lead dioxide provides a

green mix
Properties
• No elastic memory – shows permanent deformation following

strain
• High viscosity – displaces fluids while seating the impression
• Radioopaque component – Pb dioxide useful to detect when a

piece of impression material is left in gingival sulcus
• Biocompatible

• Because of less extensive cross linking polysulfide materials exhibit
more permanent deformation during removal from mouth
• Within 24hrs the material undergoes polymerization shrinkage of

0.3%
• The dimensional changes during storage due to :

1) evaporation of water
2) polymerization shrinkage
3) thermal changes when impression removed
from mouth and stored at room temperature

Advantages
• Long working time

• High tear resistance
• Margins easily seen
• Modest cost

Disadvantages
• Requires custom tray

• Stretching leads to distortion
• Stains clothing
• Obnoxious odor
• Pour within 1 hour
• Good with stone

Condensation silicone

Introduced in the year 1955
Available in three viscosities
• Light body
• Medium body
• Putty
• Putty developed to overcome large polymerisation
shrinkage
• Also called “ room temperature vulcanization silicone”

• Paste: two pastes in unequal sized
collapsible tubes. The base paste
comes in a large tube while the catalyst
paste is supplied in much smaller tube.
• Putty: supplied in large plastic jars.
Catalyst may be in paste form. The
catalyst may be in paste form or liquid

Base
• Polydimethyl siloxane (hydroxy-terminated)

• Colloidal silica or microsized metal filler – 35% to 75%
• Color pigments

Accelerator
• Orthoethyl silicate – crosslinking agent
• Stannous octoate - catalyst

• Condensation reaction
• Cross-linking between terminal groups of the silicone
polymers & the alkyl silicate forms the 3D network.
• Ethyl alcohol is the by-product
Dimethyl siloxane + Orthoethyl silicate
Silicone + ethyl alcohol

Chemical Reaction

Advantages
• Putty for custom tray
• Clean and pleasant
• Good working time
• Easily seen margins

Disadvantages
• High polymerization shrinkage
• Volatile by-product
• Low tear strength
• Hydrophobic
• Pour immediately

Addition silicone

Addition Silicone
• Introduced in the year 1975

• Also called “ vinyl siloxane” or “vinyl polysiloxane”
• Traditionally hydrophobic
• Surfactant added to make it hydrophillic
• Supplied as two paste system and putty in jars

Available as
• Light body
• Medium body
• Heavy body
• Putty
The different viscosities come in different color
• Paste: two pastes in equal sized collapsible tubes.
• Cartridges for use with dispensing gun
• Putty jars

Base
• Poly methyl hydrogen siloxane
• Siloxane prepolymers
• Hybrid silicones
• Fillers

Accelerator
• Divinyl polydimethyl siloxane

• Platinum salt – activator
• Palladium
• Retarders
• Fillers

• Addition reaction
• The addition reaction polymer is terminated with vinyl
groups & is cross-linked with hydride groups activated
by a platinum salt catalyst.
• Secondary reaction between moisture & residual
hydrides of the base polymer can lead to the
development of hydrogen gas
• Platinum or palladium acts as a scavenger for the
released hydrogen gas

Poly methyl hydrogen siloxane
+
Divinyl polydimethyl siloxane
platinum salt
Silicone

Chemical Reaction

• The polymerisation reaction has no by products
• No impurities
• If proportions out of balance then hydrogen gas is formed as by

product
• It can leave pin point voids on the stone casts if poured

immediately

• Palladium or platinum added to scavange the hydrogen gas
• Surfactants added allow the material to wet soft

tissues better
• Surfactant used is polyether carbosilane
• Still they are relatively hydrophobic
• Monophase materials are the current trend (one mix of the

material is used for both syringe and tray)
• Fast setting and regular setting materials available ( no diff in
properties )
• Multiple casts can be poured with same accuracy
• Biocompatible
• After polysulfide or polyether has been used avoid using PVS

material as the two materials leave a chemical film in the
mouth that inhibits the setting of pvs

• The polymerization reaction requires a platinum catalyst
• Sulfur or sulfur compounds eg. From latex gloves , rubber

dam can interfere with the platinum catalyst thus affecting the
polymerization reaction
• This causes the surface of the impression to remain tacky as

the polymerization is not complete
• Preparation and adjacent soft tissues can be cleaned with 2%

chlorhexidine solution to remove contaminants
Advantages
• One material
• Putty for custom tray
• Automix dispense
• Clean & pleasant
• Ideally elastic
• Pour repeatedly
• Stable : Delay pour

• Hydrophobic
• No flow if sulcus is moist
• Low tear strength
• Putty displaces wash
• Wash has low tear strength
• Putty too stiff
• Putty & wash separate
• Difficult to pour cast
• High cost

Polyether

Polyether
• Introduced in Germany 1960
• This was the first material developed primarily to

function as an impression material
• Supplied as 2 pastes

Available as
• Light body
• Medium body
• Heavy body
• Paste: two pastes in unequal sized collapsible
tubes. The base paste comes in a large tube while
the catalyst paste is supplied in much smaller tube.
A third tube containing thinner is also provided

Base
• Polyether polymer
• Colloidal silica – filler
• Glycoether or pthalate - plasticizer

Accelerator
• Alkyl aromatic sulfonate ester – Initiator

• Colloidal silica – filler
• Glycoether or pthalate - plasticizer

Cross linking is brought by the initiator , aromatic
sulfonate ester through the imine end groups
polyether + sufonic ester
Polyether rubber

Chemical Reaction

• Material is radiolucent
• No reaction by product
• Can be poured immediately , after several hours , after several

days too
• Multiple pours accurate
• Material has tendency to absorb water or fluid and leach out

water soluble plasticizer , thus the stored impression must be
placed in a cool dry place

• Both stock and custom trays can be used
• Bitter taste objectionable to some patients
• High stiffness after setting
• Rigid , does not tear easily

Advantages
• Fast setting
• Clean
• Automix dispense
• Least hydrophobic
• Good stability
• Delay pour
• Shelf life: 2yr

Disadvantages
• Stiff, high modulus
• Bitter taste
• Need to block undercuts
• Absorbs water
• Leaches components
• High cost

Manipulation
• Multiple mix or dual viscosity technique
• Monophase technique or single viscosity
technique
• Putty wash technique – one stage
Two stage ( reline technique)

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IMPRESSION MATERIALS

DENTAL MATERIALS LECTURE

DEPT. OF PROSTHODONTICS @ CHETTINAD DENTAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE