Comparative Study of Dimensional Stability and Detail Reproduction of Reformulated and Nonreformulated Elastomeric Impression Materials

To evaluate the dimensional stability and the detail reproduction of five current elastomeric impression materials in vitro.

The materials examined were: 3 different polyether impression materials, a vinyl polysiloxane impression material, and a vinyl polyether silicone impression material. All impression materials were of a medium viscosity. One stainless steel die was fabricated according to the ANSI/ADA specification no.19 criteria. Twenty impressions of this die were made for each material. Dimensional accuracy and surface detail were evaluated 24 hours after making the impressions using a measuring microscope. The data were analyzed using Welch's analysis of variance, Games-Howell Post-Hoc, and the Pearson's chi-square tests (α = 0.05).

Statistical differences were observed in the mean percent dimensional stability (F [4,47] = 39, p < 0.001) of the tested impression materials. The highest dimensional change was recorded for the vinyl polysiloxane impression material, with a mean percent value of -0.09 ± 0.02% (p < 0.001). The lowest dimensional change was recorded for the Monophase polyether material with a mean percent value of -0.03 ± 0.01% (p < 0.038). The best surface detail reproduction results were obtained using the Monophase polyether material (90% acceptable impressions), with no significant differences (χ² [4] = 3.86, p = 0.483) observed between the Monophase and the rest impression materials.

All materials exhibited acceptable dimensional stability, well below the ANSI/ADA specification no.19 standard of ≤0.5% dimensional change. All impression materials demonstrated acceptable surface detail reproduction with no significant differences between them.