Evaluation of Dimensional Stability in Four Types of Impression Materials Using Digital Analysis

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Accurate dental casts are critical for successful fixed prosthesis therapy.
• Impression techniques significantly influence the dimensional precision of dental casts.
• This study evaluates the dimensional precision of various dental impression materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the dimensional accuracy of four common dental impression materials.
• To identify which impression material yields the most precise casts for fixed prosthesis fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Four types of impression materials were tested: condensation silicone (heavy/light body), condensation silicone (light body only), addition silicone (heavy/light body), and alginate.
• An acrylic mold simulating a partially edentulous arch was used to create 20 specimens for each material.
• Dimensional stability was assessed by measuring distances between reference points on stone casts using AutoCAD software.

Main Results:

• All tested impression materials showed statistically significant deviations from the standard (p < 0.05).
• Addition silicone (heavy and light body) exhibited the highest dimensional accuracy, with dimensions closest to the control standard.
• Condensation silicone (heavy and light body) demonstrated the least dimensional accuracy, showing the largest dimensional shifts.

Conclusions:

• Addition silicone (heavy and light body) is the preferred material for achieving superior dimensional accuracy in dental impressions.
• Condensation silicone (heavy and light body) showed the lowest dimensional accuracy among the tested materials.
• Material selection is paramount for ensuring accurate mold dimensions in clinical dental applications.