Surface detail reproduction of Type IV dental stones with selected polyvinyl siloxane impression materials

Four polyvinyl siloxane impression materials and 14 modified Type IV dental stones were evaluated for their abilities to reproduce surface detail. Each combination of impression material and dental stone was used to duplicate a 20-microns-wide line. Surface detail reproduction was observed by two paired-rater groups. The line was reproduced in all impression material specimens, but in only 32% of the stone cast specimens. Some combinations of impression material/dental stone reproduced the line all or most of the time, but 12 combinations did not reproduce the line at all.