ZINC-OXIDE EUGENOL

IMPRESSION PASTE
 ZINC-OXIDE EUGENOL
IMPRESSION PASTE

- Zinc-oxide eugenol impression pastes produce a rigid

impression with a high degree of accuracy & good
reproduction of surface detail.
 USES:-
1) Cementing medium
2) Surgical dressing
3) Temporary filing material
4) Root canal filling material
5) Temporary relining material for dentures
6) For stabilization of base pastes in bite registration
7) Bite registration material
8) In full denture prosthodontics to register final impressions
under
saddle areas at try-in of the cast framework.
9) In partial denture prosthodontics as corrective washes.
10) In cases exhibiting pronounced nausea.
 TYPES:-
- Impression pastes may be classified on the basis of eugenol
content
as:
1) Eugenol containing impression pastes
2) Non-eugenol pastes
- ZOE impression pastes are available in 2 types as hard & soft set.
- Soft set material is tougher& not as brittle.
- Hard set material generally has a more fluid consistency when
mixed, a shorter final setting time & a higher resistance to
penetration when set.
 COMPOSITION:-
- The major constituents are zinc-oxide & eugenol with additional
components.
- This impression material is dispensed as two separate pastes.
Tube No. 1 (base)
1) Zinc oxide 80-87%
2) Fixed vegetable or mineral oil 13-15%
Tube No. 2(catalyst)
1) Oil of Cloves/eugenol 12-15%
2) Gum or Polymerised rosin 50%
3) Filler 16-20%
4) Lanolin 3%
5) Resinous balsam 10%
6) Accelerator, colour & moisture 4-5%
 CHEMISTRY:-
- The reaction between zinc oxide & eugenol is very complex & has
never been completely defined.
OH
OCH3 Structural formula for EUGENOL.

CH2-CH=CH2

ZnO + H2O Zn(OH)2

Zn(OH)2 + 2HE ZnE2 + 2H2O

Base Acid Salt
(Eugenol) (Zinc Eugenolate)
 e

PROPERTIES:-
1) Setting Time:
- Setting time is important, since there must be sufficient time for mixing, filling
the tray & seating the impression.
- Once the material, in a plastic condition, has been carried to the mouth, only a
minimal time should elapse before the impression hardens.
- 2 setting times, initial & final, are recognised by the American Dental
Association Specification No. 16 for dental impression pastes.
- The initial setting time is the period from the beginning of mixing until the
material ceases to pull away or string out when its surface is touched with a
metal rod of specified dimensions. The impression should be seated in the
mouth before the initial set. Initial set may vary between 3&6min.
- The final set occurs when the rod fails to penetrate the surface of the specimen
more than 0.2mm under a load of 50gm. Final set should occur within 10min.for
Type I pastes & 15min.for Type II pastes.
Control of Setting Time:
- The setting time of ZOE is not as easily controlled by the operator.
- Methods by which the operator may control the setting time are:-
a) By adding small amount of zinc acetate or other accelerators.
Also, a small drop of water or alcohol may be mixed into the
paste containing eugenol before blending the 2 pastes.
b) When the setting time is too short, the cause is usually high
humidity & or temperature. Cooling the spatula & mixing slab
may help increase setting time.
c) The setting time can also be prolonged by the addition of certain
inert oils &waxes during the mixing, such as olive oil, mineral oil
& petrolatum.
4) Strength:
- It is not a critical requirement for this impression material since it
is
supported by a tray & is not used in areas where it would be
required to withstand extensive deformation & stress during
removal from the mouth.
5) Hardness:
- The hardness of the set material varies with different products.
- It is measured by noting the extent to which a loaded needle will
penetrate a small specimen of the set material.
- It is expressed in terms of millimeters penetrated in a given time.
- Hardness values for ZOE pastes may vary from 0.2-2.5mm.
6) Dimensional Stability:
- The dimensional stability of most of the impression pastes is quite
satisfactory.
- ZOE impression materials shrink in the order of 0.1% or less at the
end of 30min. after mixing.
- No significant further change occurs at the end of 24 hours & these
materials can be considered to be reasonably stable in dimension.
7) Reproduction of Details:
- The relatively low initial viscosity of the mixed paste, coupled with
its pseudoplastic nature, allows fine detail to be recorded in the
impression.
 MANIPULATION
Oil impervious paper or glass slab + stainless steel spatula
Two ropes of pastes of same length and width
Circular mixing till uniform streak free mix is obtained
Mixing time- 60sec
Setting time-
initial final
Type 1 3-6min 10min
Type 2 3-6min 15min

- Pouring of the cast

- Disinfection of the impression-2%gluteraldehyde.

Advantages
Sufficient working time
Accurate surface details
Dimensionally stable
Does not stick to cast material
Disadvantages

Requires special tray

Sticky in nature
Causes burning sensation and tissue irritation
Cannot be used in dentulous areas
 Non eugenol pastes
- Occasionally, eugenol may promote an allergic response in some
patients . There may be a stinging or burning sensation when
eugenol contacts soft tissues.
- Alternative non-eugenol materials are based upon the reaction
between zinc oxide and a carboxylic acid such as
orthoethoxybenzoic acid, to form an insoluble soap
(saponification reaction). The carboxylic acid may be present as a
liquid or as a powder dispersed in a medium such as ethyl alcohol.
ZnO + 2RCOOH -> (RCOO) 2 Zn + H20
- The reaction is not greatly affected by temperature or humidity.