Impression Materials

substances used for recording the form

and dimensions of the oral tissues

They are used to record a negative

replica to teeth and/or supporting
tissues

Material is introduced in the mouth in a plastic condition

to set against the oral tissues.
It is then removed from the mouth when hardened.
1

The set impression is a negative reproduction

of the oral tissues.
A positive reproduction is obtained by
pouring a suitable model or die material into it.

Ideal Requirements of an
impression material

1. Accuracy:

a restoration or an appliance fabricated in the

laboratory cannot be more accurate than the
impression from which the used model is
prepared.
2. Biologically acceptable:
An impression material should be non-toxic, nonirritant and of acceptable odour and taste.
3. It should not be affected by the oral fluids.
4. Easily manipulated, with minimal equipment.
5. It should have a suitable working time to allow
for placement of the impression material in the
tray and then insertion of the tray into the mouth
before beginning of hardening.

Accuracy of the impression materials:

1. High flow at the beginning, i.e. the material must be

in a fluid or plastic state on insertion into the mouth, to

record fine details.
2. Dimensionally accurate: should not expand, contract
or warp during setting.
3. Dimensionally stable: on storage of the impression in
the dental laboratory before pouring the cast
4. Should be elastic on removal from the mouth so that
undercuts can be recorded without distortion of the
impression.
5. During removal from the mouth, it should be
adherent to the tray.

6. Compatible with the gypsum products: not need a

separating medium.

Classification of Impression Materials

I-According to manner of setting:

1) Chemical (irreversible):
harden through a chemical reaction, e.g. plaster impression,
zinc oxide and eugenol, alginate and rubber base impression
materials.

2) Physical (reversible):
they set as a result of a change of temperature without
chemical changes, e.g. agar agar, impression compound and
impression waxes.

II. Behavior after setting:

Depending on their ability to regain their

original shape after removal from the
undercuts.

1. Inelastic impression materials e.g. wax,

Plaster of Paris, ZnO/eugenol and impression
compound. They are used only when no
undercut exists.

2. Elastic impression materials e.g.

hydrocolloids and rubber impression materials.
They can be used when undercut exists.

Impression Materials
Inelastic
Elastic
Plaster of

Impression Zinc oxide

Paris
compound
eugenol

Hydrocolloids
Agar Agar
Alginate
Polysulphide

Silicones

Elastomers
Polyether

Condensation Addition

According to uses
Edetulous
Patient

Plaster, impression compound

and Zinc oxide and eugenol,
hydocolloids, rubbers

Partialy edentulous
patient

Hydocolloids, rubbers

According to the Accuracy

1ry Impression
(stock tray)

2ry Impression
(special tray)

Compound
impression material

Plaster impression
material

Alginate impression
material

Zinc oxide/eugenol
impression material
Agar Agar impression
material
Rubbers
impression
materials

Plaster of Paris
Used for impression of edentulous patients.
Composition:
powder + water
1- - CaSO4.1/2H2O; not and/or improved stone
because:

Weaker: So it will break during removal from the undercut and thus avoids

injury to the patient and the fractured part can be reassembled accurately

Higher W/P ratio, which increases the flow at the beginning and thus
records fine details.

Less exothermic heat evolved during taking of the impression.

2. Modifiers:

** 4% K2SO4 decreases the setting expansion and the setting time

** 1% borax as a retarder

3. Natural gums:
Improve its handling characteristics. They
increase its cohesion and facilitate border molding
of the impression.
4. Flavoring agent:
More acceptable to the patient, through
agreeable taste.
5. Coloring materials:
Distinguish the impression from the cast, which
will also be made of gypsum products.
6. Potato starch:
To obtain the soluble plaster. After the impression
is cast and hardened, it is soaked in hot water and
the starch swells and the impression disintegrates
and will be easy to remove.

Accuracy of plaster impression :

a. Material is semi-fluid when inserted into the mouth
it has excellent recording of the fine details.
b. The dimensional changes on setting in the mouth
are negligible due to anti-expansion additives.

c. A plaster impression fractures on removal

from undercuts and can be reassembled.
e. Elasticity: Being inelastic, it will not record
the form of the under cut.
f. When pouring a plaster impression in plaster or
in stone, a separating medium should be
used, otherwise, the pores of the impression
will be filled with the cast material, and both
will be interlocked and become
inseparable. The film of separation should be
as thin as possible, in order to avoid the
inaccuracies. The use of a separating medium is
considered a disadvantage since fine details
might be obliterated.

Impression compound
Application:
1. Full jaws impression in edentulous mouth.
2. Impression trays
3. Peripheral seal materials.
4. Single impression with copper band for inlays and crowns.

Composition:
sheets, stick cylinder or cones of different sizes and
colors.
1. Thermoplastic material: e.g. Natural resins and
waxes. They soften by heating and give the qualities of
flow and cohesion.
2. Fillers: e.g. Talc, soapstone or diatomaceous earth.
They add body and give a suitable working consistency.
3. Plasticizers: e.g. Stearic acid or stearin. These act as
lubricants and together with fillers control the flow and
consistency of the material.
4. Coloring agents: e.g. Rouge. It produces characteristic
reddish brown color most commonly used. Black and
green colors are also available.

Types:

1- Impression compound (Type I): (Lower fusing materials)

a. For recording prosthetic impressions: Such as preliminary
impressions of edentulous patients, supplied in sheets
about 4-5 mm thick.
b. Peripheral seal materials.

c. Supplied in stick form or cone shape for

copper band impressions for inlays and crowns

2- Tray compound (Type II):

(Higher fusing materials):
Used as tray materials, which are sufficiently
rigid to support other impression materials
(wash impression).

Accuracy of impression compound:

a. Flow: not sufficiently fluid to record all the fine details.
TypeI materials is 85% at 45C but less than 65 at 37C,
TypeII materials is 70% at 45C but less than 2% at 37C.

b. Dimensional accuracy and dimensional stability:

Dimensional changes during hardening are great?????
***High coefficient of thermal expansion.

1*On cooling during setting, there is considerable cooling

shrinkage.
Heating the surface of the set material in a flame and
remaking the impression minimizes the actual
magnitude of the contraction.
2*Shrinkage occurs on cooling from mouth to room temperature
(0.3-0.4%).

Impression Compound should be cast

maximum within an hour???.
***Distortion:
1*Removal from undercuts since they are plastic and
have certain percentage of flow after setting in
the mouth.
2*Stresses can be set up within the material,
subsequently distortion can occur during storage of
an impression due to relief' of these stresses.

c.The material is non-elastic the most serious drawback

of this material is that it drags and distorts when being
removed from an undercut area.

d. compatible with model and die materials and do

not need a separating medium.

 Conductivity:

Compound has poor thermal conductivity

Time must be allowed during either
heating or cooling to allow the dental
compound to come to a uniform
temperature.
These impression can be removed from
the mouth, re-softened and reinserted for
any corrections required..
Accept additions to the impression
Can be electroplated with copper.

Zinc Oxide & Eugenol Impression

As two separate pastes

One paste called the base paste:

Zinc oxide 80%.

Inert oil 15% to form a paste.
Hydrogenated resin.

Second paste called the accelerator contains:

Oil of cloves or Eugenol 12-15%.
Oil of cloves: Sometimes used instead of the eugenol, since it is less
irritant than eugenol.

Gum rosin and oils 65%: Gives body and coherence and
imparts thermoplastic properties to the set materials for easy
removal from the cast by softening it in hot water.

Filler talk or kaolin or diatomaceous earth to form a paste.

Moisture. A very slight amount of moisture water is added to the

zinc oxide parts or accelerator, since it is essential for the
hydrolysis of the zinc oxide to its hydroxide.

Manipulation

Setting Reaction:
Zn O
+ H2O

Zn (OH)

Zn (OH)2 + 2 Eugenol Zn Eugenolate +H2O (Base)

(Acid)
(Salt)
Chelation Reaction
Without H2O, i.e. if eugenol is completely
dehydrated before mixing with ZnO powder, the
resulting paste will not harden.

Accuracy of zinc oxide and eugenol:

a. Flow: Very accurate as they are sufficiently fluid to record the
fine details in the mouth.

b. Dimensional accuracy and stability:

** No or very little dimensional change on setting.
** No dimensional change during storage of the impression.

c. Elasticity: inelastic, it will not record the form of the undercut.

d. Compatibility with the die material: It is removed from the
model by softening in hot water at 60C.

e. Eugenol can be irritant, giving a tingling or burning sensation

to the patient and leaves a persistent taste, which may be
unpleasant to some patients.

N.B. Non-eugenol zinc oxide impressions are now available to avoid

such effect.

h. The impression paste can adhere to tissues,

Point of
comparison

Plaster
impression
materials

Impression
compound
Thermoplastic
material

1)
Form of
supply

Powder /
water
5055ml/100gm

Zinc/Oxide &
eugenol
impression
material

Sheets

2 pastes
system

Sticks

Or P/L

cones

2)
Application

1- Whole
edentulous jaw.
1ry impression
using stock
tray.
2- Peripheral
Type I
seal

Whole
edentulous jaw.
2ry impression
using special
tray.

3- single
impression
using copper
band

4- special tray Type II

Whole
edentulous jaw.
2ry impression
using special
tray.

 CaSo4.
1/2 H2O
1- highest
w/p ratio

3)
Composition

1Thermoplasti
c materials:
waxes &
natural resin
2- fillers add
body

high flow
2- Weak

3- Plasticizers
lubricants

Paste 1

Paste 2

80% ZnO

15% Oil of
cloves or
eugenol

15%
inert oil
Hydroge
nated
resin

65% Gum rosin

thermoplasticity

Fillers

4- coloring
3- Less
agent
feeling of
heat evolved

Moisture

On mixing
powder +
water;
4)
Setting
reaction

Compound
(hard)

CaSO4.1/2 H2O
+ H 2O
45C

ZnO + Eugenol

H 2O
37C

CaSO4.2H2O
Compound
(soft)

Zinc
eugenolate
Chelation
reaction

Zn

Type I: at 45C

85%
Properties
I- Accuracy
1) Flow
2) Elasticity

Excellent
Non elastic

Non elastic

Fracture can be
reassembled

Distortion
on removal
of undercuts

3)

0.06%
Dimensional expansion
accuracy
4)
Dimensional
stability

at 37 C 6%
Type II:
70% at 45C
2% at 37C

Shrinkage
may result
does not
affect
accuracy

0.3%
Contraction
Distortion
due to
release of
internal
stresses

Very good
Non elastic
Distortion

Shrinkage
0.1%
High
temperature
cause
distortion

Properties
I- Accuracy
5)
Adhesion
With the tray

6)
Compatibility
with Cast

Compatible
because of
the addition
of gum

Incompatible
Separating
medium
Potato
starch

Adhesive

Adhesive

(resin)

(resin & oil)

Compatible

Compatible

II)
Taste

- Unpleasant
- Dehydrates
the soft
tissue

III)
Manipulation

Easy

IV) Addition

Does not
accept
addition

- Pleasant

Easy

Accept
addition
Can be
electroplated

- Pleasant

Easy

Accept
addition

Elastic Impression Materials

Aqueous

elastic impression materials

(Hydrocolloids)
Non-aqueous

elastic impression

materials (rubber bases)

Elastic Impression Materials

Elastomers
Hydrocolloids
Agar agar

Polysulphide
Silicon
Condensation

Addition

Polyether

Alginate

Hydrocolloids
Solvent and Solute
Solution
single phase, which
means a homogenous
mixture, where the solute
exists as small
molecules or ions in the
solvent.

Emulsion
Colloids

heterogeneous two-phase
system, a dispersed phase
of particles of at least
sufficient size to be seen
microscopically, dispersed
in a medium.

A. HYDROCOLLOIDS:
Colloids

between these two extremes.

heterogeneous two-phase system, like suspension
particle size of the dispersed phase is smaller.

Colloids are termed hydrocolloids when the

dispersion medium is water.

Colloids may exist in the sol and gel state.

sol = viscous liquid &
sol gel, (agglomeration of the molecules of dispersed
phase, to form fibrils or chains of molecule), in a network
pattern, called brush heap structure.
Agglomeration of the molecules of the dispersed phase to
form chains of molecules in a network pattern,
By : Reduction in temperature = (reversible as in agar),
or a
Chemical reaction = (irreversible as in alginate).

General properties of hydrocolloids

1. Gel strength:
The strength or toughness of a gel depends on:
a. The concentration of the fibrils: The greater
the concentration, the stronger the material.
b. The concentration of fillers: Which are inert
powders added to a gel to render it less
flexible.
c. In reversible gels: The lower the
temperature, the stronger the gel and vice
versa.

2. Dimensional changes after setting:

A gel can either loose or take up water.

The loss of water is termed synersis and

occurs either by:

Evaporation.
Excruding of fluids.

The uptake of water is called imbibition,

synersis and imbibition of the gel should be avoided as

the former causes shrinkage, and the latter results in
swelling and expansion.

Storage media, such as:

** 2% potassium sulfate or ** 100% relative humidity,
reduce the dimensional changes.
The best results are obtained with 100% relative humidity
(storage in 100% relative humidity results in minimum
amount of shrinkage).

3. Disinfection:
Hydrocolloid impression must be poured within a short
time after removal from the mouth
Disinfection should be relatively rapid

to prevent dimensional changes.

Disinfectant is sprayed on the exposed

surface.
The impression should not be soaked in the
disinfectant. Immediately wrap the impression in a
disinfectant soaked paper towel and place it in a
sealed plastic bag for 10minutes.
Finally remove the wrapped impression from the bag,
unwrap, rinse thoroughly, shake off the excess water
and pour the model with stone.

4. Compatibility with gypsum:

[Gypsum cast may be too soft]:
This may be due to the presence of the water on the
surface of the hydrocolloid which affects the setting
and surface properties of the gypsum cast
Or due to the chemical composition of some
hydrocolloids which retard the setting of gypsum
products.
This disadvantage can be overcome by two ways:
** By immersing the impression in a solution containing an
accelerator for the setting of gypsum products, before
pouring the impression with the gypsum.
** By incorporating a plaster hardener or accelerator in
the hydrocolloid material by the manufacturer.

***The
cast should not be left too long in contact
***
with the impression. The set stone absorbs water
from the water-filled impression. The result is a

Point of
comparison

1) Form of
supply

Agar agar

Gel in sealed
container or
collapsible
tube

Whole
edentulous jaw
2)
Application Quadrant
impression
Duplicating
material
13-15% agar
agar
0.2% borax

3)
Composition Strength of the gel +
gypsum

- retardation of the

2% potassium
sulphate
83% water
Fillers

Agar agar
(gel)

4)
Setting

100C

43C

reaction
Agar agar
(sol)

Point of
comparison

Agar agar

1) Form of
supply

Gel in sealed
container or
collapsed tube

Alginate

Powder and
water

2)
Application

Whole
edentulous jaw
Quadrant
impression
Duplicating
material
13-15% agar agar

3)
Composition

0.2% borax
- Strength of the gel
- retardation of
the gypsum

2% K2SO4

83% water
Fillers

Whole
edentulous jaw
Quadrant
impression

1) Soluble salt of
alginic acid e.g. K or
ammonium alginate
12%. It reacts with
calcium ions to give
calcium alginate gel.
2) Calcium sulfate
12%. It releases Ca
ions to react with
alginate (reactor).

3) Trisodium phosphate 2%:

It reacts with Ca++
to give Ca (P04), to delay the gel
formation, (retarder)

3)
Composition

4) Filler: diatomacous earth70%for

strength
5) Fluoride: To improve the surface of
the stone model by accelerating
setting time.
6) Flavoring agents: To make the
material acceptable to the patient.
7) Chemical indicator: To change the
color with ph changes in order to
indicate the different stages in
manipulation.
8) Glycol: dustless.
9) Disinfectant agents.

1) Retardation Reaction:
Agar agar
(gel)

4) Setting
reaction

Trisodium phosphate +
calcium sulphate
Calcium phosphate +

100C

Sodium sulphate

43C

2) Gelation reaction
Agar agar
(sol)

Calcium sulfate +
Potassium alginate
(sol)
Calcium Alginate+

(gel)

Potassium sulphate

Manipulation

4-6mm inside the tray because of

their low tear strength

Properties
I- Accuracy
1) Flow
2) Elasticity
3)
Dimensional
accuracy
4)
Dimensional
stability

Agar
Excellent
Elastic
98.8%
No
dimensional
changes
Imbibition
and synersis

Alginate
Can record fine
details
Elastic 97.3%
No dimensional
changes
Imbibition
and
synersis

5) Adhesion
With the tray

6) Compatibility
with Cast

Manipulation

Special
perforated
tray

needs perforated stock

tray

Dipped in
2% K2SO4

Dipped in
2% K2SO4

Removed
easily

Removed
easily

Special equipments No Special equipments

Addition
accept addition Does not accept addition
Tear strength
low used in 4-6mm in tray
Electroplating

Can not be electroplated

Rubber impression materials

M.W polymers (liquid) + Reactor

Solid rubbers with M.W
Polysulphide
Silicon:
Condensation silicon
Addition silicon
Polyether

Point of
comparison

1) Form of
supply

Polysulphide
rubbers

Silicon

Polyether
rubbers

Supplied as two pastes system

Light
Regular
heavy

Light
Regular
Heavy
Putty

Light
Regular
heavy

Polysulphide
rubbers

2)
Application

Silicon

Whole edentulous jaw

Quadrant impression
Single impression

Polyether
rubbers

Quadrant
impression
Single
impression

Polysulphide
Silicon
rubbers
Condensation
Addition
Paste 1
Polysulphide
with SH
terminal gp
(liquid)

3)
Composition

Fillers 1-54%
Plasticizers
to regulate
the viscosity
Sulfur aids
the reaction

Paste 2

Silicon
Paste 1

Paste 1

Polydimethyl
siloxane with
OH terminal
gp

Low M.W.
polymer with
silane gp

Orthoalkyl
silicate for
cross
Fillers linking

Paste 2
Tin octoate

Lead oxide for Liquid: diluent

polymerization paste:
Retarders

Silicon

thickening
agent

Fillers

Polyether
rubbers
Paste 1
Polyether
polymer with
ethylene amine
gp
Fillers
Plasticizers

Paste 2
Low M.W.
polymer with
vinyl gp
Chloroplatinic
acid
Fillers

Paste 2
Aromatic
sulphonic
acid ester
Fillers
Plasticizers

Manipulation
Special tray with adhesive
Equal length of the two pastes
2-3mm in thickness inside the tray
except for polyether due to its high stiffness

Properties

Polysulphide
rubbers

Condensation
Silicon

I- Accuracy

Addition
Silicon

Record fine details according to

consistency

1) Flow

2) Elasticity

Polyether
rubbers

Silicon

98%

99.5%

3)

98.9%

0.6%
0.2%
0.25%
0.05%
shrinkage
shrinkage
shrinkage
Dimensional shrinkage
accuracy Shrinkage also occurs due to differences in temperatur
between the mouth & the room as well as by products.
4)
Dimensional
stability

Should be cast within 1hr.

Silicon
Polysulphide
Properties
rubbers
Condensation
Addition
Silicon
Silicon
I- Accuracy
5)

Polyether
rubbers

Needs adhesive

Adhesion
With the tray

Incompatible
evolution of
H2

Compatible
6)
Compatibility
with Cast
Surfactant is needed to improve
their wetability

Compatible
Does not
need
surfactant
to improve
the
wetability

II) Taste

Sulfur odour

III) Tear
strength

High

IV)
Disinfection & Can be
electroplating

- Pleasant

Least

Can be

- Pleasant

less

Can not be
because it is
hydrophilic