[Effects of different tray types on the resulting impression]

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Prosthodontics
• Clinical dentistry

Context:

• Accurate transfer of tooth positions to a master cast is crucial in prosthodontic treatments.
• The selection of impression materials and trays can influence the dimensional stability of the final cast.
• Understanding these influences is key to achieving predictable clinical outcomes.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the dimensional accuracy of different impression tray types when used with specific impression materials.
• To compare the fidelity of master casts generated from various stock and custom trays.
• To identify the optimal impression tray system for precise replication of dental arch anatomy.

Summary:

• Eighty dental impressions were made using condensation silicone and hydrocolloid materials with solid stock trays, perforated stock trays, and custom acrylic trays for both upper and lower jaw models.
• Master casts were fabricated and their dimensional accuracy was measured against the original models.
• Hydrocolloid stock trays demonstrated the highest conformity to the original models, indicating superior dimensional stability.

Impact:

• The findings highlight the critical role of impression tray selection in achieving accurate dental impressions.
• Results suggest that hydrocolloid stock trays are preferable for maximizing dimensional accuracy in dental cast fabrication.
• Further investigation into tray distortion and material thickness is warranted to optimize impression techniques.