IMPRESSION MATERIALS - PART 2

1. List the different types of

impression materials.
2. Describe inelastic impression
materials.
3. Describe reversible and irreversible
hydrocolloids.
 MATERIALS USED IN MAKING
IMPRESSIONS
1. Rigid
Impression plaster
Impression wax
Impression compound
Zinc oxide eugenol
2. Elastic (Hydrocolloids)
Reversible hydrocolloid (Agar)
Irreversible hydrocolloid (Alginate)
 ELASTIC
IMPRESSION MATERIALS
(HYDROCOLLOIDS)
COLLOIDS:
A colloid is one of the three primary types of mixtures,
with the other two being a solution and suspension.
Suspensions are heterogeneous, meaning that the
components don't mix completely together and will
likely separate in the near future (greater than 1000
nm) eg: sand and water, oil and water
On the other hand, solutions are homogeneous
because the components mix thoroughly together and
stay mixed without separation (0.01-1 nm) eg: salt and
water, air
A colloid is intermediate state between a suspension
and solution (1-1000 nm) eg: milk
CLASSIFYING COLLOIDS
The types of colloids includes sol, emulsion, foam,
and aerosol.
Sol is a colloidal suspension with solid particles in a
liquid (paints)
Emulsion is between two liquids (milk)
Foam is formed when many gas particles are trapped
in a liquid or solid
Aerosol contains small particles of liquid or solid
dispersed in a gas
When the dispersion medium is water, the collodial
system is often referred to as a hydrocolloid.
Hydrocolloids exists in 2 forms:
Sol - A viscous liquid
Gel - A jelly-like form
The Sol can change to Gel in 2 ways:
1. Physical (reversible) reaction: Sol ⇌ Gel
2. Chemical (irreversible) reaction: Sol → Gel
2 TYPES of HYDROCOLLOIDS:
REVERSIBLE HYDROCOLLOIDS:
The Gel must be heated to a higher
temperature, to return to the Sol state
The Sol can be cooled to a lower
temperature, to return to the Gel state
The process is reversible induced by a
temperature change
Sol ⇌ Gel
IRREVERSIBLE HYDROCOLLOIDS:
A Gel can also be formed from a Sol by a
chemical reaction
They can be returned to the Sol only by a
reversal of the original chemical reaction
and not by heat, which is not possible.
So, the process is irreversible
Sol → Gel
SYNERESIS and IMBIBITION:
SYNERESIS – The gel may lose water
by evaporation from its surface, or by
the exudation of fluid by a process
known as syneresis
IMBIBITION – If a gel lacking in water
content is placed in contact with
water, sorption of water will occur by
a process known as imbibition
AGAR
A.D.A. Sp. No. – 11
An organic hydrophilic colloid extracted
from certain types of seaweeds
Has low viscosity
Reversible, Elastic type of material
agar hydrocolloid (hot) ⇌ agar hydrocolloid (cold)
(sol) ⇌ (gel)
COMPOSITION:
Agar 12.5%
Potassium Sulphate 1.7%
Borax 0.2%
Alkyl Benzoate 0.1%
Water 85.5%
Color and Flavors Traces
Fillers Small amounts
AVAILABLE AS:
Tray Consistency
Syringe Consistency
The syringe material has different color
and is more fluid than the tray material
MANIPULATION:
EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED:
Hydrocolloid Conditioner
Water cooled Rim Lock trays
MANIPULATION:
 3-chamber conditioning unit:
(1) liquefy at 100°C for 10 minutes- It converts gel to sol
(2) store at 65°C-Place in tray
(3) temper at 46°C for 3 minutes
 Seat tray in patients mouth
 Cool with water at 18-21°C for 3 minutes
 It converts sol to gel
RIM-LOCK TRAYS:
Rim-lock trays with water circulating devices are
used
Rim-lock is a beading on the inside edge of the
tray which helps to retain the material (as agar
does not adhere to the tray)
An inlet and outlet for connecting water tubes
MAKING THE IMPRESSION:
The tray containing the tempered material is
removed from the bath
The water hoses are connected and the tray is
positioned in the mouth by the dentist
Water is circulated at 18-21°C through the tray
for 3 minutes until gelation occurs
Tubes and Cartridges of Tubes and Cartridges are transferred
Hydrocolloid are placed into the from the Liquefying Bath to the Storage
Liquefying Bath Bath
Tray Filled with Impression Material Blunt Needle is attached to the
is placed in the Tempering Bath Impression Syringe
Cartridge of Liquefied Hydrocolloid is Cartridge of Impression Material is
removed from the Storage Bath loaded into the Syringe
DISINFECTION:
The impression is disinfected by
immersing in sodium hypochlorite
solution, iodophor or glutaraldehyde
The immersion time should not exceed
30 minutes
USES:
 Full mouth impressions
 Crown and bridge impressions
ADVANTAGES:
 Good elastic properties and reproduces
most undercut areas accurately
 Good recovery from distortion
 Gives good model surface
 Accurate dies can be prepared
DISADVANTAGES:
 Does not flow well as compared to
other materials
 During impression it may cause harm
to the patient
 Extensive and expensive equipment is
required
 Tears relatively easily
 Difficult to disinfect
ALGINATE
A.D.A. Sp. No. – 18
Mucus extraction derived from a brown
seaweed (algae)
Most widely used impression material in
dentistry
Irreversible, Elastic type of impression material
Has Low viscosity
Records the undercuts accurately
 COMPOSITION:
Potassium Alginate 15%
Calcium Sulphate 16%
Zinc Oxide 4%
Potassium Titanium Fluoride 3%
Diatomaceous Earth 60%
Sodium Phosphate 2%
MANIPULATION:
Plaster bowl and spatula are used for mixing
The weighed powder is incorporated into water
A vigorous figure of eight motion is used for
mixing, with the mix being swiped against the sides
of the bowl
It is important to dissolve all of the alginate
otherwise a good gel cannot form
The result should be a smooth, creamy mix which
does not drip off of the spatula when it is raised
from the bowl
STORAGE OF IMPRESSION:
The impression should be poured as soon as possible
If it becomes necessary to store the impression, the
following methods may be used:
Wrap the impression lightly in a wet paper towel and
cover with a rubber bowl
Keep the impression in a plastic bag
It should be noted that even under these conditions,
storage should not be done for more than 1 hour
Care should be taken not to use a ‘soaking wet’ paper
towel as it can cause imbibition of water
 AVAILABLE IN: 2 types
Type I – Regular set
Type II – Fast set

Regular Set Fast Set

Working 2 min 75 Secs

Time
Setting Time 2-4.5 min 1-2 min
CONTROL OF GELATION TIME:
Ideal gelation time is 2-3 minutes at room
temperature (25°C)
The dentist can control the setting time by
altering the temperature of water used for
mixing alginate
Colder the water – longer is the gelation time
Warmer the water – shorter is the gelation time
It should be noted that control of setting time
should not be done by changing W/P ratio and
mixing time
DISINFECTION:
The impression can be disinfected by immersing
in glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde or sodium
hypochlorite or by spraying with phenol
derivatives
The alginate impressions materials distort when
immersed and hence, should be disinfected by
spraying and placing in a sealed plastic bag for
about 10 minutes
USES:
 Primary impressions for complete dentures
 Impressions to make study models and
working casts
 Impression material for recording undercuts
 Impression of mouths with excessive flow of
saliva
 Duplicating models
ADVANTAGES:
 Easy to mix and manipulate
 Dimensionally accurate if poured within
a short time after removal from the mouth
 Does not lose surface details in wet
mouths
 Wide range of alginate is available for
different clinical situations
 Economical
DISADVANTAGES:
 Does not flow readily into the areas in
which the tray does not extend
 Cannot be added to if faulty
 Liable to distort