Elastomeric

Impression Materials
o In addition to hydrocolloids – another group - Elastomers

o As per ADA Sp. No. 19 - non-aqueous elastomeric

dental impression materials.
 DEFINITION OF ELASTOMERIC
IMPRESSION MATERIAL

A group of flexible chemical polymers

which are either chemically or physically
cross linked. Generally they can be easily
stretched and rapidly recover their original
dimensions when applied stresses are
released. - GPT
o Large molecules with weak interactions among them

o Tied together at certain points to form 3 dimensional

network

o On stretching chains uncoil – later snap back to original

position

o Liquid polymers which are converted into solid rubber at

room temperature when mixed with catalyst.

o They undergo polymerization / crosslinking by addition or

condensation reaction to produce a solid.

o Liquid polymer is filled with filler to form a convenient

paste
 Types

According to According to
chemistry Viscosity
Light body or syringe
Polysulfides
consistency
Condensation silicones
Medium or regular body
Addition silicones
Heavy body or tray
Polyether consistency
Putty consistency
Polysulfides – low (syringe wash), medium (regular),
heavy (tray).

Addition silicones - extra low, low, medium, heavy,

putty.

Condensation silicones - low and putty consistencies.The

catalyst of the condensation silicone can be supplied in
low and putty consistencies.

Polyether -First supplied in medium consistencies. but

now available in low, medium ,high.
 General properties
o Excellent reproduction of surface details

o Generally hydrophobic (except polyether)

o Good elastic properties (repeated pouring is possible)

o Dimensional inaccuracies are lower but exist due to

various reasons

o Excellent tear strength

o Electroplating – can be copper or silver plated

o Extended shelf-life

o Requires tray adhesive or mechanical interlocking

 Dimensional changes occur due to
o Curing shrinkage

o Loss of by-products (Condensation, Polysulfide)

o Hydrophilic – absorbs water and loses soluble plasticizers

o Thermal contraction

o Incomplete elastic recovery

o Amount of filler

o Uniform thickness of material

o Adhesion of impression tray

o Time of pouring impression

 Supplied as
All elastomers - two paste systems (base & catalyst)
Putty consistency – supplied in jars

General uses
Impression material for all applications including

- Fixed partial dentures

- Dentures and edentulous impressions

Border moldings of special trays (poly ether)

Bite registration

As duplicating material for refractory casts

 POLYSULFIDES
o Ist elastomer to be introduced
o Mercaptan/Thiokol

Mode of supply: Tubes – base

- Accelerator, Catalyst,
Reactor paste

Viscosities – Light, Medium and Heavy

First dental elastomers

Indications

complete denture
removable fixed partial denture
crown and bridge

Examples

Permlastic (Kerr)
Omni-Flex (GC America)
 Composition
BASE PASTE:

POLY SULPHIDE POLYMER - 80 to 85%

FILLER - 16 to18% (titanium di oxide, lithopone, zinc

sulphate, copper carbonate and silica) provide strength.

PLASTICIZER - dibutyl phthalate, confers the

appropriate viscosity to the paste.

SULPHUR - 0.5%,to enhance the reaction.

Catalyst paste or accelerator paste (reactor paste):

LEAD DIOXIDE - 60-68% (gives dark brown colour to

polysulphides).

FILLER - Titanium dioxide & lithopone, provide strength.

PLASTICIZER -30-35% dibutylphthalate, confers the

appropriate viscosity to the paste.

RETARDERS – 2% Oleic acid and stearic acid, control

the rate of setting.

DEODORANTS
 Chemical reaction

PbO2 + S
HS - R- SH HS - R-S-S-R-SH + H2O

Mercaptan + Lead dioxide Poly sulfide + Water

The lead dioxide reacts with the poly sulfide polymer

Chain lengthening by oxidation of the terminal - SH

groups

Cross-linking by oxidation of the pendant - SH groups

Chemical reaction
o Exothermic reaction - 3 to 40 C rise in temp.
o It is accelerated by heat and moisture
o Other cross linking system used are inorganic
hydroxides (Copper)
o Loss of water in reaction ---Dimensional instability

Tray adhesive – Butyl rubber or styrene/ acrylonitrile

dissolved in a volatile solvent such as chloroform or a
ketone
 Manipulation
Adhesive to tray

For uniform layer : Custom tray

Mode of supply :

Two pastes in collapsible

tubes,one labeled as
base and other as
catalyst
Mixing system:
Hand mixing – 45 sec

Impression technique:
Dual viscosity or multiple mix technique

Working time:
23* C. – 6.0 min.
37* C. – 4.3 min.

Setting time:

23* C. – 16.0 min.

37* C. – 12.5 min.
Pouring not longer than 30 min.

Advantages:

Excellent reproduction of surface details

Proven accuracy
High tear resistance
Less hydrophobic
Long shelf life
Can be electroplated (more with silver than
copper)
Disadvantages:

Require a custom tray

Poured in stone immediately
Potential for significant distortion
Odor offends the patient
Messy and stains clothes
Dimensional stability - Second pour is less
accurate
Long working time
 Disinfection

Immersion in
sodium hypochlorite
iodophors
complex phenolics
glutaraldehydes
phenolic glutaraldehyde
Modifications :

Lead dioxide used as a reactor and has contributed to

disadvantage.
Alternatives :
organic hydroperoxide
eg. T – butyl hydroperoxide have poor dimension
stability because of hydroperoxide volatility

Inorganic hydroxides …… copper – cross linking

system (viable alternative )
 Silicone Rubber
Impression Material

Developed to over come some of the

disadvantages of polysulfide
 Types

Based on the type of polymerization reaction

Condensation silicones Addition silicones

 Condensation silicones
Available in light, medium and putty consistency

Mode of supply: Base paste and

catalyst in paste form or liquid form
 Indications

complete dentures
crown and bridge

Examples

Speedex
(Coltene/Whaledent)
Primasil (TISS Dental)
 Composition
Base paste:

linear silicone
(polydimethylsiloxane) with the reactive terminal
hydroxyl groups.

Fillers - Microsized metal oxide or colloidal silica.

35% (low consistency), 75% (putty)

Color pigments
 Composition
Catalyst paste or accelerator paste (reactor paste):

Tetraethyl ortho silicate (alkyl silicates) – Crosslinking

agent

Stannous octoate - Catalyst

Chemical reaction
 SETTING REACTION:
CH3 OC2H5
Sn
OH-Si-OH + C2H5O-Si- OC2H5 Silicone + CH3CH2OH
octoate
CH3 OC2H5

Dimethyl + orthoethyl Silicone + ethyl

siloxane silicate rubber alcohol

Ethyl alcohol - byproduct - evaporate - shrinkage &

dimensional instability
Tray adhesive – Polydimethyl siloxane & Ethyl silicate
 Manipulation
Adhesive to tray :
Adhesive contain polydimethyl siloxane or other
silicone that reacts with impression material and
an ethyl silicate to create a physical bond with
the tray.
Disposable stock trays to support putty.

Mode of supply :

Low consistency wash and liquid accelerator are in

a small container and bottle.
The liquid accelerator is dispensed with syringe
and mixed with wash material in the container.
Putty and paste accelerator are in large containers
and tube.The putty is dispensed with the scoop.
Impression technique :

Putty wash technique

reduces effect of polymerization
shrinkage

stock tray
putty placed
thin plastic sheet spacer
preliminary impression
intraoral custom tray
inject wash material
Mixing time :
45 sec.

Working time :
23* C. – 3.3 min.
37* C. – 2.5 min.
Setting time :

23* C. – 11 min.
37* C. – 8.9 min.
Preparation of stone die:
compatible with all gypsum products.
Die should be constructed shortly
after the impression is removed.

Advantages:

Adequate working time and setting time

Pleasant odor and no staining
Adequate tear strength
Better elastic properties on removal
Less distortion of removal
Disadvantages:
If poured immediately then adequate accuracy
Poor dimensional stability
Potential for significant distortion
Putty wash is technique sensitive
Slightly more expensive
Pour to adequate shelf life

Disinfection:

Immersion in antimicrobial solution for

short period; less than 1 hour
Modifications :

Change in their setting mechanism

This change has bought a new family of

impression material – THE ADDITION
REACTION SILICONE.
 Addition silicones

Also called as polyvinyl siloxanes

Better properties than condensation silicones.
 Vinyl polysiloxane or Poly vinylsiloxane

Indications
crown and bridge
denture
bite registration
 Composition
Base paste:

Poly methyl hydrogen siloxane

Other siloxane prepolymers
Fillers
 Composition
Catalyst paste or accelerator paste (reactor paste)

Divinyl polydimethyl siloxane and

Other siloxane prepolymers
Platinum salt Catalyst
Filler
Retarder
Palladium - Scavenger
Surfactants
 SETTING REACTION
CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3
Pt salt
Si-H + CH2=CH-Si Si-CH2-CH2-Si
activator
CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3

Vinyl + Silane Silicone

siloxane siloxane rubber

No by product, but moisture or residual hydrides of

base polymers  secondary reaction  hydrogen gas
 air bubbles in the stone models
To avoid this palladium is added  Acts as scavenger
Sulfur compounds retard the setting of
silicones

One source of sulfur contamination is

from latex gloves

Vinyl gloves should be used

Addition Silicones Brand Names

Aquasil (Dentsply)
Mono, LV, XLV, Heavy

Imprint (3M, ESPE)

Extrude (Kerr)

President (Coltene)

GC (Fuji)
Properties:
Pleasant color and odour
Excellent reproduction of surface details
Setting time 4-6 mins, mixing time – 45 Secs
Best dimensional stability
Good tear strength
Extremely hydrophobic
Can be electroplated
 230 C. – 3.1 min.
Working time:
370 C. – 1.8 min.

Setting time: 230 C. – 8.9 min.

370 C. – 5.9 min.
 Manipulation

Tray adhesive:

Mode of supply:

Mixing system:

Static mixing (auto mixing system)

Dynamic mechanical mixing system
Impression technique:

Single or monophase viscosity technique

Putty wash technique

Preparation of stone die:
Hydrophobic characteristics

Difficult to wet surface

Difficult to pour a bubble free from

stone cast

Hydrophilic – water contact angle 30 – 36*

Hydrophobic – water contact angle 95*

 Use of surfactants sprays (hydro
system manufactured by zhermack )

Reduction of surface tension

Pooling of spray liquid

Affect dimensional Stone surface soft and

accuracy of impression porous
Advantages:
Shorter setting time
Automatic mixing devices – easy
to mix
Adequate tear strength
High accuracy
Undetectable distortion on
removal
dimensionally stable even after a
week
Less distortion on removal
 Disadvantages :
Bubbles on die

Hydrogen gas evolution

Palladium added to absorb

Hydrophilic material needs careful handling

and dry field

Sulfur inhibits setting

latex gloves
Disinfection :

10 - 15 minutes immersion in 10%

Hypochlorite or 2% Glutharaldehyde solutions

Disadvantage of longer immersion –

leaching of surfactant molecule
 Polyether Rubber
Impression Material

Introduced in Germany in late 1960’s.

Good mechanical properties and dimensional

stability, but short working time,
very stiff material.
Indications
Crown and bridge
Bite registration
Partial dentures
Implants
Over dentures Examples

Impregum F (3M/ESPE)
Permadyne (3M/ESPE)
Pentamix (3M/ESPE)
P2 (Heraeus Kulzer)
Polygel (Dentsply Caulk)
 Composition

Base paste Catalyst paste

Polyether polymer Aromatic sulfonate

ester - cross-linking
Filler - colloidal silica agent
Plasticizer - glycolether Filler - colloidal silica
or phthalate
Plasticizer - glycolether
Colouring agent or phthalate
Colouring agent
Reaction is between aziridine rings.
The main chain is a copolymer of ethylene oxide
and tetrahydrofuran.
Cross linking is by aromatic sulfonic ester
 SETTING REACTION:

H O O H

CH3 – C - CH2 – C – O – R – O – C - CH2 – C - CH +  Crosslinked

rubber
N N

CH2-CH2 CH2-CH2

Polyether + Sulfonic ester  Cross linked rubber

Exothermic reaction  4-50 C

Mode of supply:

Low viscosity
Medium viscosity
Heavy body viscosity

Two paste system – base

paste and catalyst paste.
The assembled cartridges
and static mixing tip in the
holder. A cartridge showing
separate tubes of catalyst
and base,the static mixing
tip and optional syringe tip
for direct injection.

Catalyst and base in

large foil bags with in
the mixer
Mixing system :
Hand mixing
Static mixing ( auto mixing system )
Dynamic mechanical mixing system
Working time :
23* C. – 3.3 min.
37* C. – 2.3 min.
Setting time :

23* C. – 9.0 min.

37* C. – 8.3 min.
Preparation of stone die:

Stiffness of polyether makes it difficult

to remove the stone cast from impression

A weak stone may fracture during removal

Advantages:

Fast setting time and working time

Proven accuracy
Adequate tear strength
Less hydrophobic – so better wetting
Less distortion on removal
Long shelf life
Good dimensional stability
Multiple casts
Disadvantages:
Adequate accuracy if poured
immediately
Poor dimensional stability
Clean but tastes bad
Stiffness requires blocking
undercuts
Disinfection:

Cl compounds or iodophors

Undergo dimensional changes if

immersion time is longer than
10 min. ; because of the
hydrophilic nature.
Modifications:
Reduction of the stiffness and producing
polyethers with low and high viscosities.

Low viscosity is supplied with an automatic

mixing device
Physical and Mechanical Properties of
Elastomeric Impression Materials
 Comparison of Properties

Working time
longest to shortest
agar > polysulphides > silicones > alginate >
polyether

Setting time
shortest to longest
alginate < polyether < agar < silicones <
polysulphides
 Dimensional stability

Polymerization shrinkage
Loss of byproduct
Thermal contraction from oral to room temperature
Imbibition
Incomplete recovery of deformation because of
viscoelastic behavior

best to poor
addition silicone > polyether > polysulphides
> condensation silicone > hydrocolloid
 ELASTICITY
Elastic properties of elastomeric impression materials
improve with an increase in curing time in the mouth
Permanent deformation following strain in compression
increases in following order - addition silicone,
condensation silicone, polyether and polysulphides

ELASTIC RECOVERY

Addition silicone > Condensation silicone >

Polyether > Polysulphides
 Tear strength
Measures the resistance to fracture of
elastomeric material subjected to a tensile
force acting perpendicular to a surface
flaw

greatest to least
polysulphides > addition silicone >
polyether > condensation silicone >>
hydrocolloids
 Biocompatibility

Polysulphides - lowest cell death count

Polyether - highest cell toxicity

 Mixing systems

Hand mixing Dynamic

mechanical
Static mixing mixing
Two paste system
Paste and liquid system
Two putty system
Putty and liquid system
 Hand mixing

Two paste system

Mixing accomplished in 45 sec.
Initial mixing and final mixing

Paste and liquid system

Polysulphides, condensation silicones,

addition silicones, polyether all are
available for mixing in this fashion.
Two putty system

Dispensing with scoops

Kneading with fingers
Condensation and addition silicones

Putty and liquid system

Static mixing (auto mixing system)
Plastic cartridge
Cylinders
Base and catalyst paste
Mixing gun with two plungers
Static mixing tip with internal spirals
Intraoral delivery tips
 Dynamic mechanical mixing

Dynamic mechanical mixer

Base and catalyst paste
supplied in large plastic
bags
Cartridge
Plastic mixing tip
Internal spirals are motor
driven.
Impression techniques
 Dual viscosity or multiple mix technique

Simultaneous mixing of
Application of tray adhesive
light bodied and heavy
bodied

Syringe material Injected Low viscosity material

into critical areas loaded ( syringe )
High viscosity material Bond & set together to
( impression tray ) produce single and highly
accurate impression

Also called as WASH TECHINQUE

Single or monophase viscosity technique
Medium viscosity impression
material ( of choice )

Shear
Syringe material thinning Tray material
(viscosity forces ( viscous
decreases when enough to
forced through reside in the
syringe ) Pseudoplastic tray )
material

Viscosity decreases

Addition silicones and polyethers.

1 2

3 4
5 6

7 8
FINAL IMPRESSION
PUTTY RELINE TECHNIQUE
(SINGLE STAGE)
1 2

3 4