What are Dental Impression

What are dental Impression

A dental impression is a negative imprint of the teeth and gums, often made out of a soft material such as alginate. It is used as a diagnostic tool in dentistry to create a model of the teeth and jaws, which can be used to plan treatment, make study casts, or fabricate dental appliances such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. Impression materials can be either putty-like or flowable, and are typically mixed and placed in a tray that is then inserted into the mouth. The material sets or hardens in the mouth, and the resulting impression is then poured with a gypsum-based stone to create a plaster model of the teeth and gums.

Type of dental Impression material

There are several types of dental impression materials that dentists can use, including:

• Alginate: a fast-setting, water-based material that is commonly used for making impressions of the teeth and gums. It is inexpensive, easy to use, and safe, but it is also relatively brittle and can distort easily.

• Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS): a silicone-based material that is known for its accuracy, elasticity, and stability. It is more expensive than alginate, but it is also more durable and can be used for a wider range of applications.

• Polyether: a synthetic, rubber-like material that is known for its high accuracy and dimensional stability. It is more expensive than alginate or PVS, but it is also more durable and less prone to distortion.

• Agar: a naturally occurring seaweed-based material that is used in some countries as an impression material. It is known for its biocompatibility and ability to produce accurate impressions, but it can be difficult to work with and is not commonly used in the United States.

• Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA): a synthetic, acrylic-based material that is known for its accuracy and flexibility. It is more expensive than alginate or PVS, but it is also more durable and can be used for a wider range of applications