Linear dimensional changes in elastic impression materials

Four classes of elastomeric impression materials (polysulfide, polyether, silicone, and agar-agar) were evaluated on the basis of linear dimensional stability as a function of time between taking and pouring an impression of mounted teeth. Four polysulfide materials produced dies which were larger than the teeth and generally increased in size with impression storage time. One silicone material produced dies slightly smaller than the teeth, and the dies from another silicone were dramatically smaller with increasing storage times. A polyether material produced slightly smaller dies for up to four hours' storage time, then increasingly larger dies up to 24 h. The dies from a reversible hydrocolloid were larger than the teeth for storage times up to 30 min, and then decreased rapidly at longer times.