Techniques

Immediate Temporary Abutment and Coping

Proper Care and Maintenance for the Accu-Torque Wrench

IPS e.max Prep Guide

Implant Insurance Codes

17 Tips for Taking a Good Impression

Did You Know?

- Thirty percent of conventional impressions received by laboratories are inadequate!

Here are some impression taking tips to help you avoid costly retakes and remakes!

1. Seat impression tray with a slow, steady, vertical seating motion to allow for

blending of tray/wash materials.

2. To reduce voids, use a stirring motion while syringing and keep the syringe tip

immersed to avoid trapping air.

3. To avoid tearing at the margin and insufficient retraction, displace tissue to

allow the impression material to better access the prepared area. Also use an

impression material that ensures sufficient tear resistance, such as Impregum.

4. To ensure dimensional stability, the impression must be placed in a Ziploc bag

not more than 120 hours after washing, rinsing and removing excess water.

5. If it’s necessary to delay the pouring of the model, wrap a wet towel around the

impression and store it in a plastic or sealed container.

6. Always keep the material in front of and ahead of the syringe tip and only push

the material forward. Do not lift or pick up the tip while pushing the material

around the margin.

7. Make sure the tray is adequate enough to allow 2mm of impression material

between the tray walls and the teeth.

8. Use passive pressure to hold the tray in position until completely set.

9. Don’t allow the material to slump or drip into the oral cavity.

10. Wash material should be syringed 360* around the preparation.

11. To avoid pulls and voids, submerse the intraoral tip into the material until you

finish syringing around the preparation.

12. Use the correct type of double-bite impression trays to prevent distortion.

13. Use a dual-phase technique for better accuracy.

14. Use a double cord retraction technique to obtain a better impression.

15. If you impression material fails to set around the prep, check to see if the

retraction cord contains sulfates (ferric subsulfate or aluminum sulfate) both

inhibit the set of PVS materials.

16. If you’re using wash and tray materials from different manufacturers for singlestep

I mpressions, check the set times of both and leave the impression in the

mouth as long as is needed for the slower-setting material to full set.

17. When taking a second-wash impression inside a previously taken impression,

relieve the contact areas of the first impression prior to taking the wash

impression. This minimizes the possibility of tight contacts in your final

restoration.