ELASTOMERIC

IMPRESSION
MATERIAL
R . A RT H I

MDS I ST YEAR
CONTENTS :

1. INTRODUCTION 1. REFERNCE
2. DEFINITION
3. CLASSIFICATION
4. ELASTOMERS
5. CONCLUSION
Introduction
“Ideal impression must be in the mind of the dentist before it is in his hand. He must literally make the
impression rather than take it.”
 DEFINITION:
Dental impression:

A dental impression is defined as “a negative imprint or a positive digital image display of

intraoral anatomy used to cast or print a 3D replica of the anatomic structure that is to be used as
a permanent record or in the production of a dental restoration or prosthesis” (GPT 9).

Impression material:  Any substance or combination of substances used for making an

impression or negative reproduction. (GPT-9)
ADA SPECIFICATION NO:
19
Elastomeric impression
Synthetic rubbers
◦ mimic natural rubber

Large polymers
◦ some chain lengthening
◦ primarily cross-linking

Viscosity classes
◦ low, medium, high, putty
 According to Viscosity
1) Light body or syringe consistency
2) Medium or regular body
3) Heavy body or tray consistency
4) Very heavy body or putty consistency
POLYSULFIDE
First dental elastomers
COMPOSITION

Base
◦ Polysulfide Polymers
◦ Fillers
◦ Plasticizer

Catalyst
◦ LEAD DIOXIDE
◦ fillers

By-product
◦ water
Manipulation
Adhesive to tray
Uniform layer
◦ custom tray

Equal lengths of pastes

Mix thoroughly
◦ within one minute

Setting time 8 – 12 minutes

Pour within 1 hour
Advantages
Lower cost
◦ compared to silicones and polyethers

Long working time

High tear strength

High flexibility

Good detail reproduction

Disadvantages
Poor dimensional stability
◦ water by-product
◦ pour within one hour
◦ single pour

Custom trays
Messy
◦ paste-paste mix
◦ bad odor
◦ may stain clothing

Long setting time

Condensation Silicone

By-product
◦ ethyl alcohol
Advantages
Better elastic properties

Clean, pleasant

Stock tray
◦ putty-wash

Good working and setting time

Disadvantages
Poor dimensional stability
◦ high shrinkage
◦ polymerization
◦ evaporation of ethanol
◦ pour immediately
◦ within 30 minutes

Hydrophobic
◦ poor wettability
ADDITION SILICONE
No volatile byproducts are formed in this reaction

minimal dimensional changes occur during polymerization.

If proper balance is not maintained (due to incorrect proportion or impurities)

hydrogen gas is produced which results in pin point voids in stone models.
ADVANTAGES
 Pleasant odor and color •

Excellent reproduction of surface details •

Mixing time of 45 secs ,setting time of 5-9 mins. •

The production of little or no byproduct in the cross- linking reaction of the addition curing material
results in a very stable impression .

Stone pouring delayed by

Good shelf life of 1-2 yrs

DISADVANTAGES
 Hydrophobic

 No flow if sulcus is moist

 High cost
POLYETHER
Mixing time is 30 secs, setting time of 8 mins

Dimensional stability is very good.

Pleasant odor and taste

They have adequate tear resistance & elastic properties approaching those of the silicones

Polyethers are hydrophilic & hence can be used in where effective moisture control is difficult
Tray adhesive: Butyl rubber or styrene/acrylonitrile 

DISINFECTANT : Glutaraldehyde, Cl compounds, Iodophors 

Comparing the cell cytotoxicity for different impression materials reveals that

Polysulfide – lowest cell death count. Polyether – highest cell cytotoxicity scores.

Tear Strength

The amount of force needed to tear a specified test specimen divided by the thickness of specimen is
called the Tear Strength.

 The tear strength from lowest to highest is as follows:

Silicones ( adidition and condensation ) < polyether < polysulfide  Polysulfides have susceptibility to
distortion rather then tear.
 Reference

1.Mahalaxmi S. Materials used in dentistry. Wolters kluwer india Pvt Ltd; 2020 Apr 1.

2.Anusavice KJ, Phillips RW. Philips’ Science of Dental Materials 10th ed Saunders. St

Louis, Mo. 2003;805.

3.Manappallil JJ. Basic dental materials. JP Medical Ltd; 2015 Nov 30.