A review of modern impression materials

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Polymer chemistry

Background:

• Advancements in dental impression materials are crucial for accurate prosthodontic and orthodontic procedures.
• Elastic impression materials are widely used due to their ease of use and ability to capture fine details.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of newly developed elastic impression materials.
• To compare the performance of addition type silicone materials against other elastic impression materials.

Main Methods:

• Materials tested included various types of elastic impression materials.
• Key properties assessed were working time, setting time, elasticity, permanent deformation, dimensional stability, and long-term stability.
• Standardized laboratory tests were conducted according to manufacturer instructions and relevant ISO standards.

Main Results:

• Addition type silicone impression materials demonstrated superior elasticity and dimensional stability compared to other tested materials.
• While exhibiting differences in specific properties, all evaluated impression materials achieved acceptable clinical results.
• Permanent deformation and long-term stability varied among the different material types.

Conclusions:

• Addition type silicones represent a significant advancement in elastic impression material technology.
• Clinicians can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes with a range of modern elastic impression materials, provided they are used appropriately.
• Material selection should consider specific clinical requirements and the balance of physical-chemical properties.