CE
Vinyl Polysiloxane
Impression Material in
Removable Prosthodontics
Part 1: Edentulous
Impressions
Abstract
Joseph J Massad, DDS Recent advances in impression materials and stock edentulous impression trays have
Director of Removable Prosthodontics resulted in simplified approaches to impression making in removable prosthodontics.
The Scottsdale Center for Dentistry
Scottsdale, Arizona
Once considered an absolute necessity, it is now possible to avoid the need for custom
impression trays. In an effort to achieve reliable master casts in a single appointment,
Associate Faculty new and innovative procedures are now available. This article, the first in a 3-part
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
series, will review historical information, basic concepts, materials considerations, and
Boston, Massachusetts philosophic approaches to impression making in complete-denture therapy. A modern
technique using readily available impression materials will be described and illustrat-
Adjunct Associate Faculty
Department of Prosthodontics
ed so readers can consider the benefits of incorporation into their daily management
University of Texas Health Science Center of edentulous patients.
Dental School
San Antonio, Texas Learning Objectives
After reading this article, the reader should be able to:
David R Cagna, DMD, MS
Professor and Director • list basic principles of edentulous • discuss the benefits of vinyl polysiloxane
Department of Restorative Dentistry impression making. as an edentulous impression material.
Advanced Prosthodontic Program
University of Tennessee Health Science • explain criteria for selecting stock eden- • describe modern concepts of impression
Center College of Dentistry tulous impression trays. making in removable prosthodontics.
Memphis, Tennessee
T
he fabrication of conventional tly influenced the process, dentistry’s
complete dentures is an indi- approach to impression making has
rect dental prosthetic process. remained remarkably consistent over
Early in the treatment sequence, an the years. Conventional wisdom, as
analogue of oral conditions must be taught in most US dental schools,
developed to proceed with denture includes: (1) primary irreversible
construction. The degree to which this hydrocolloid impressions; (2) con-
analogue accurately represents a struction of custom impression trays;
detailed simulation of oral conditions, (3) intraoral modification of custom
both anatomically and mechanically, impression tray border dimensions;
determines in large part the quality of and (4) definitive impressions made
the therapeutic outcome. One impor- using a suitable impression material.1-4
tant aspect of this oral simulation Since their introduction to the
involves making impressions of the profession, zinc oxide-eugenol paste5-7
denture-bearing and peripheral struc- and polysulfide8-9 impression materials
tures and fabricating the dental casts. have been standards for definitive
Techniques used to make dental edentulous impressions. Because of
impressions of edentulous patients their material proprieties and handling
have been known to the profession for characteristics, these materials require
many decades. Although improve- the use of custom impression trays.
ments in available materials have sub- Custom impression trays may be
Figure 3—Tray stops are trimmed with a sharp knife to minimize the tissue con- Figure 4—Border molding after removal from the mouth. High-viscosity material
tact area. is used to border mold the maxillary tray, and medium-viscosity materials are used
for the mandibular tray. Note the show-through areas (indicated by arrows).
formed using chemical-activated resins or light-activated edentulous impressions are to be achieved. The basic
resins. Clinical modification of tray borders is typically objectives of edentulous impressions are to facilitate den-
accomplished using modeling plastic impression com- ture retention, denture stability, denture support, optimal
pound, a technique that dates to the early 1900s.10-13 More esthetics, and the maintenance of health of the oral tis-
recently, the use of polyether14-18 or vinyl polysiloxane sue.26 To consistently accomplish these objectives, den-
(VPS)16,19-25 impression material for custom-tray border tists should be knowledgeable about the anatomy and
correction has been described. function of the relevant oral structures, the materials
Without question, these standard edentulous involved in impression making, basic impression tech-
impression procedures have served the dental profession niques, and the clinical management of patients.
well and will continue to serve the profession for many Impressions of edentulous arches must accommo-
years. However, it is important that the profession con- date the anatomy and function of the oral tissue. The fol-
tinuously strives to develop new procedures aimed at lowing basic principles should be considered26:
improved accuracy, convenience, and patient acceptance. • Impressions should extend to include the entire
The area of impressions in complete-denture prostho- denture foundation within the health and function
dontics is no exception. In this 3-part article, a fresh look of the supporting and limiting tissue.
at a variety of impression procedures associated with • Impression borders should be in harmony with
complete-denture prosthodontics will be provided. New anatomic and functional limits of the denture
concepts, modern materials, and innovative techniques foundation and adjacent tissue; therefore, impres-
will be highlighted for those interested in modifying sion borders should be identified using functional
standard approaches to complete-denture therapy while movements.
reducing appointment times. • Adequate space for impression material within the
impression tray should be available.
The Basics • A guiding mechanism should be available to
As thoroughly discussed in a number of textbooks accommodate correct positioning of the impres-
on the subject, dentists should appreciate basic princi- sion tray relative to the edentulous ridge and asso-
ples and objectives of impression making if successful ciated tissue.
• The impression tray and impression material polysulfide, polyether, and VPS. Consideration of material
should be made of dimensionally accurate and sta- handling properties, working time, setting time, viscosi-
ble materials. ty and flow, 3-dimensional accuracy, surface detail accu-
• Impression contours and dimensions should cor- racy, hardness, elasticity, tear strength, biocompatibility,
respond to the intended contours and dimensions mixing requirements, cost, repeat pourability, time to
of the planned complete dentures. pour, dental– stone interactions, disinfection properties
Physical properties of the impression tray and its and consequences, dimensional stability, shelf life, color,
manipulation constitute important considerations in the odor, taste, availability, and clean-up characteristics may
impression process. Historically, the use of custom contribute to material selection. Most currently available
impression trays to make definitive edentulous impres- impression materials perform satisfactorily for edentu-
sions has been considered essential for accurate results. lous impressions when applied under appropriate clinical
Today, stock edentulous impression trays are available conditions and in the hands of skilled operators.27
that conform to the dimensions and anatomical contours Ultimately, the choice of impression material may
suitable for edentulous patients. If stock edentulous trays depend more on the dentist’s familiarity with a material
are selected to make definitive edentulous impressions, rather than specific handling characteristics or material
several important aspects of the trays and the associated properties. The concept of the “correctable impression”
impression techniques should be considered: is a convenience worth consideration (eg, modeling plas-
• Trays should be sufficiently rigid to withstand the tic impression compound is thermoplastic and repeated-
physical manipulations of the impression process ly molded to refinement, while VPS can be cut back and
and support dimensionally accurate definitive laminated to improve contours). With the recent popu-
impressions. larity of VPS and polyether for fixed prosthodontic
• Trays should be sized appropriately for the variety impressions and the convenient availability of these
of edentulous arches that may be encountered. materials in most dental offices, their use for edentulous
• Trays should permit both additive and subtractive impression making may be based on convenience and
border and flange modifications. Trays constructed dual use in the dental environment.
from thermoplastically formable materials are
ideal in this regard. Although metal stock trays are VPS Impressions
easy to additively adjust, the grinding of overex- VPS, an addition reaction silicone impression material,
tensions or bending of tray flanges may be prob- offers a number of distinct advantages for making definitive
lematic. impressions during complete denture therapy, including:
• Tray handles should be fashioned to extend from • Manufacturers provide a series of materials from
the tray and exit the mouth without disturbing the which to choose that possess different viscosities
relaxed posture of the lips. and working times. Material viscosity can be var-
• The tray or impression system should provide a ied throughout the impression surface based on
means of adequate retention of impression materi- tissue consistency and impression philosophy.
al within the tray. • The material delivery system typically involves
Historically, much attention has been given to the wide automix cartridges, manual dispensing guns or
variety of materials available for making edentulous impres- automatic mixing machines, and spiral mixing
sions including plaster, modeling plastic impression com- tips. The mixing tips that introduce the material
pound, zinc oxide-eugenol paste, irreversible hydrocolloid, into the impression tray are sized for this task.