The dimensional accuracy of 12 impression material and die stone combinations

This study determined the dimensional accuracy of dies made using a combination of four impression materials and three Type IV die stones. A metal die was prepared for a molar complete cast crown, and 10 stone replicas were made using 12 different combinations of impression materials and die stones. The distances between reference points on the metal and stone dies were measured in three directions with a traveling microscope. Analysis of variance and Duncan's MR comparisons (P less than or equal to .05) showed that all of the stone dies were larger than the metal die. Although there were significant differences between some of the impression material/die stone combinations, all of the stone dies were measured to be within 9 microns of each other. No one impression material/die stone combination consistently produced the smallest or largest die in the three measured directions.