AGAR

(reversible)
hydrocolloid

ISHIKA GARG

DEFINITION
An aqueous impression material used for
recording maximum detail; e.g. as required in
the production of dies for fixed restorations.
An organic hydrophilic colloid (polysaccharide)
extracted from certain types of seeweed.

COMPOSITION OF COMMERCIAL
REVERSIBLE HYDROCOLLOID
IMPRESSION MATERIALS
component

function

composition(%)

agar

brush-heap structure

13-17

borate

strength

0.2-0.5

sulfate

gypsum hardener

1.0-2.0

wax, hard

filler

0.5-1.0

thixotropic materials

thickener

0.3-0.5

water

reaction medium

balance

CLASSIFICATION
(ISO 1564: 2001)
TYPE I high consistency (for use as tray
material)
TYPE II medium consistency (for use as tray
or syringe material)
TYPE III low consistency (for syringe use
only)

USES
For cast duplication (e.g. during fabrication of
cast metal removable partial dentures, etc.)
For full mouth impressions without deep
undercuts.
Previously used for FPD impressions prior to
elastomers.
As a tissue conditioner.

SUPPLIED AS
Two forms:
Syringe material
Tray material
Tubes are used to fill the water-cooled trays
and cartridges for use with the syringes.
Differences between two forms are the color
and a greater fluidity of the syringe material.

CARTRIDGE OF AGAR HYDROCOLLOID AND SYRINGES

USED FOR INJECTING ONTO THE PREPARED TOOTH.
ALSO SHOWN IS THE HOLDER FOR CARRYING THE
AGAR INTO THE CONDITIONING UNIT.

MANIPULATION
Manipulation includes:
liquefying the gel
placing it in the impression tray
tempering it to a lower temperature that the
patient can tolerate
maintenance of fluid state to capture details of
oral structures
once in the mouth, material is cooled below
mouth temperature to ensure gelation

 The process requires proper equipment.

Three compartments in conditioning unit
make it possible to simultaneously liquefy,
store, and temper the hydrocolloid.
Temperatures in each of the step are critical.
Equipment should be calibrated weekly.

CONDITIONING UNIT FOR AGAR HYDROCOLLOID

IMPRESSION MATERIALS. THE THREE COMPARTMENTS ARE
USED FOR LIQUEFYING THE MATERIAL, STORING AFTER
BOILING, AND TEMPERING THE TRAY HYDROCOLLOID.

Step 1: Preparation and

conditioning of the agar material
First step is to liquefy the hydrocolloid gel in boiling
water for at least 10 minutes.
After liquefaction, the material may be stored in the
sol condition at 65C until needed for injection into
prepared tooth or for filling a tray.
The material can be stored for several days,
therefore, a number of tubes and syringes can be
prepared for use throughout a week or so.

Step 2: Tempering of the material

65C is too hot for the oral tissues, therefore, the
material used to fill the tray must be tempered.
For immediate preparation step : hydrocolloid sol
removed from storage bath, tray filled with sol, gauze
pad placed over it, placed in water filled tempering
container at 45C.
Tempering time
3-10 minutes.
To ensure that agar temperature is <55C.

 Tempering increases viscosity.

Syringe material is never tempered but always
maintained in a fluid state to enhance adaptation to
tissues.

Step 3: Making the agar impression

Just before completion of tempering for tray material,
low viscosity material syringed directly from storage
compartment is applied to prepared tooth (first applied
to the base, then rest of the preparation covered).
Gauze pack and outer layer of agar is removed from
tempering bath, transferred into stock tray and seated
with light pressure.
Gelation is accelerated by circulating cool water (1821C) through the tray for 3-5 min.
Lower the temperature, more rapid is the gelation and
stronger the material.
Impression removed suddenly with snap (viscoelastic
behavior).

AGAR HYDROCOLLOID IMPRESSION

TRIPLE TRAY TECHNIQUE

Even sufficiently viscous material sometimes does
not offer much resistance to seating making easy for
the patient to bite through it.
This is why, triple tray is commonly used with agar.
With this technique, one impression records oral
structures of both the arches as well as occlusal
relationship.
Technique-sensitive procedure.
Dentist must guide the patient into centric occlusion
as he/she bites into the material.
Optimal consistency of agar allows its successful use.

TRIPLE TRAY IMPRESSION

LAMINATE TECHNIQUE
Recent modification to traditional agar
procedure.
Hydrocolloid in the tray is replaced with a mix of
chilled alginate that bonds with the agar
expressed from a syringe.
Alginate gels by a chemical reaction, whereas,
agar gels by means of contact with the cool
alginate.
Since agar is in contact with the prepared teeth,
maximum detail is reproduced.

Advantages:
Equipment cost is lower.
Less preparation time is required.
Produces an impression with adequate detail.

Disadvantages:
Bond between agar and alginate is not always sound.
Higher viscosity of alginate displaces agar during
seating.
Dimensional inaccuracy of alginate limits its use to
single units.

PROPERTIES OF AGAR
HYDROCOLLOID IMPRESSION
MATERIALS

agar

Gelation
(C)

Elastic
recovery*
(%)

Flexibility**
(%)

Compressive
strength***
(MPa)

Tear
strength
(kN/m)

37-45

99.0

4-15

0.78

0.8-0.9

* At 10% compression for 30 sec.

** At a stress of 1000 g/cm
*** At a loading rate of 10 kg/min.

Other properties
Accuracy:
Highly accurate at the time of removal from the
mouth, but shrinks in air and expands in water.
Viscosity of the sol:
Sufficiently viscous to record every detail of the
teeth and soft tissues if correctly manipulated.

 Compatibility with gypsum:

More compatible with gypsum model materials than
alginates.
Washed of saliva or blood.
Excess liquid blown with an air syringe.
Dimensional stability:
If stored in air, lose water and contract.
Replacement in water leads to absorption and
swelling.
Best stored in 100% relative humidity.

DUPLICATING IMPRESSION MATERIALS

Duplicating is done for two reasons:
The cast on which wax pattern of metal
framework is formed must be made from a
refractory investment, as it has to withstand
casting temperatures.
Original cast is needed for checking accuracy of
metal framework and for processing denture
base portion of partial denture.
Most commonly used material agar
hydrocolloid.

Use of agar as duplicating material

Reversible material.
Can be continuously stored at 54 to 66 C and
used when needed without converting from gel
to sol state.
Have adequate strength and elastic properties to
duplicate undercut areas.
However, dimensional change can occur.
Hydrolysis at storage temperature is
accompanied with loss of elasticity and strength.

ADVANTAGES
Accurate dies can be
prepared.
Good elastic properties help
reproduce most undercut
areas.
Has good recovery from
distortion.
Hydrophilic.
Palatable and well
tolerated.
Economical.
Reusable.
Cost effective.

DISADVANTAGES
Does not flow well.
Cannot be electroplated.
Thermal discomfort on
insertion or gelation.
Dimensional instability.
Tears easily.
Only one model can be
poured.
Needs special equipment
and technique.
Risk of contamination and
deterioration of properties
on reuse.