ELASTIC IMPRESSION

MATERIALS
Polysulfides

Dr rabia anwar
 INDICATIONS
 Impressions for:
 Crowns and bridges
 Inlays and onlays
 Partial dentures

Polysulphide have the longest history of use in dentistry of all

the elastomers and are available in a range of viscosities
 AVAILABILITY

 2-paste system:  3 grades of paste

 Base paste
 Catalyst (reactor) paste
are available :
 Light-bodied
 Normal/regular-bodied
 Heavy-bodied
 COMPOSITION
Base paste
Polysulphide The main component. It is further polymerized and undergoes
prepolymer with cross-linking to form rubber.
terminal and pendant
thiol (-SH) groups
Inert filler e.g. titanium dioxide or chalk. Provides body to the material.
Controls viscosity and gives strength.
e.g. di-n-butyl phthalate. Controls viscosity.
Plasticizer

Color: White due to fillers

Odor: Unpleasant due to high concentration of thiol (–SH) groups
COMPOSITION…
Catalyst (reactor) paste
Lead dioxide Oxidizing agent. Reacts with the thiol (–SH) groups,
causing setting

Inert oil e.g. paraffin or di-n-butyl phthalate. To form a paste

Sulphur Accelerator of the setting reaction

Color: Dark brown due to lead dioxide

 SETTING REACTION
 On mixing terminal and pendant thiol group of
prepolymer chains react with lead dioxide
 Result in chain extension and cross-linking
 Water is produced as a byproduct
 With chain extension and cross linking, viscosity
increases
 When certain level of cross-linking is achieved the
material develops elastic properties
 Polysulfide Reaction
--SH HS---------------------SH HS-- -S-S---------------S-S-
O O
=

=
Pb Pb + 3PbO + H2O
S S
H
=

=
O O = Pb = O O S
H
S

Mercaptan +Lead dioxide polysulfide rubber + lead oxide + water

SETTING REACTION…

2 PbO2

2 H2 O
 MANIPULATION
 Adhesive to the tray
 Uniform layer
 Equal lengths of pastes
 Mix thoroughly
 Within one minute
 Setting time 8 – 12 minutes
 Pour within 1 hour
MANIPULATION…
 MANIPULATION…
 Used in two viscosities

 Light bodied material is injected

around the teeth
Heavy bodied material is loaded in
the tray
 Tray is then inserted and the two
material set simultaneously
 Heavy bodied material gives
accuracy and dimensional stability
Light bodied material gives fine
details A: Heavy
bodied. B: Light
bodied
 Influence of filler content on
properties of polysulphides

Filler content Light-bodied Viscosity Setting contraction Thermal contraction Dimensional

stability
Increasing Regular-bodied
Regular-bodied Increasing Decreasing Decreasing Increasing
Heavy-bodied
 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
 Continuation of the setting reaction

 Custom trays
 Bad odour
 Bad taste
 May stain clothing
 Long setting time
 TROUBLESHOOTING
Inadequate working time
 This could result from excessive humidity and/or temperature.
 An improper base to catalyst ratio could also produce inadequate working
time.
 Insufficient catalyst will result in prolonged setting times

Surface bubbles or voids

 By the incorporation of air into the mix. For that impression material
should always be mixed carefully with the flat surface of the blade.
 If the material is partially polymerized prior to insertion in the mouth, voids
may occur in the impression
TROUBLESHOOTING…
Loss of detail
 Premature removal from the mouth, as removal prior to sufficient
polymerization or before the material is sufficiently elastic will result in
inaccurate registration of detail.

 Incomplete mixing, failure to incorporate all the catalyst into the base
will result in incomplete polymerization of portions of the surface.

 Movement of the tray prior to the time of removal. The impression tray
should be held firmly until the elastic stage is attained.
TROUBLESHOOTING…
Distortion
 The impression should not be placed face down on the laboratory
bench.
 Improper removal from the mouth could also cause distortion of the
impression; removal should be rapid because permanent
deformation is a function of duration of stress.
 If a bubble is located just below the surface adjacent to a
preparation (internal porosity), the impression may distort.
 DISINFECTION
 Polysulfide impressions can be disinfected by
immersion in sodium hypochlorite and
glutraraldehyde.
Thank you