Elastomeric Impression Materials

Seminar by Dr. Anuradha .G.Mohite

Guided by Dr. Smita Athavale

1
 Contents
• Introduction.
• Definition & objectives Of Impression Making.
• Classification of Dental Impression Materials.
• Ideal requirements of Impression materials.
• Types of Elastomeric Impression Materials.
• Various Consistencies Of Elastomeric
Impression Materials.
• Making Impressions with Elastomeric materials.

2
 Contents
• Compositions and Reactions of Elastomeric
materials.
• Properties of Elastomeric materials.
• Disinfection Of impressions.
• Failures In impressions Making.
• Conclusion
• References

3
 Introduction

Elastomers refer to a group of rubbery

polymers, which are chemically or physically
cross-linked.
They can be easily stretched and rapidly
recover their original dimensions when applied
stress is released.

4
 Impression

• Definition : Impressions are negative

reproduction of oral structures.

5
 Objectives of impression making
• To provide a. support,
b. retention,
c. stability,
d. foundation of improved appearance of
lips,
e. maintain the health of tissues.
• The impression should record all the potential denture-
bearing surfaces available

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Classification of dental impression materials.
By elasticity
and use
Inelastic or rigid Elastic
Material use Material Use
By setting
Mechanism

Chemical Plaster of paris Edentulous Alginate, Teeth and soft

reaction Zinc oxide ridge Nonaqueous tissues.
(irreversible) eugenol Interoccusal elastomers.
records.

Thermally Compound wax Preliminary Agar Teeth and soft

induced impression tissues.
physical
reaction
(reversible)
7
Ideal Requirements of impression materials

1. Adequate flow properties,

2. Ease of manipulation,
3. Appropriate working and setting times,
4. Sufficient mechanical strength,
5. Good dimensional accuracy,
6. Acceptability by the patient,
7. Biocompatible,
8. Cost-effective.
8
 Types of Elastomeric Materials

• Polysulfides (1950) : 1st material introduced

• Condensation Silicones (1955)
• Polyether (1965)
• Addition Silicones (1975)

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 Consistencies
• Light body : used with a syringe and placed
directly on hard and soft tissues,
• Medium body : preparation of custom tray
required to support this material,
• Heavy body : placed in the tray to support the
light-body material,
• Putty : useful for materials that exhibit
significant polymerization shrinkage.

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 Consistencies

Elastomeric material are supplied in several

consistencies.
• Polysulfides : a. low/light ( syringe or wash )
b. medium ( regular )
c. high/heavy ( tray )

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 Consistencies

• Condensation Silicones : a. low/light

b. putty/heavy

• Addition Silicones : a. plus extra low

b. monophase
c. putty (extra high)
12
 Consistencies

• Polyether : Previously available as medium but

now available as,
a. low/light
b. medium
c. high/heavy

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 Making an impression with elastomeric
material
• 5 steps are included in fabricating models,
casts and dies from elastomeric materials.
1. Preparing a tray,
2. Preparing the material,
3. Making an impression,
4. Removing the impression,
5. Preparing stone, casts and dies.

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 Preparing a tray
 The use of a custom tray
reduce the quantity of the materials used
to make impressions,
any dimensional changes of the materials
can be minimized.
• Particularly true for Polysulfides.
• Adhesion of impression material to the tray is
essential.
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 Preparing a tray
• The use of custom trays not so critical for
addition silicone & polyether as these
materials are stiffer and have less
polymerization shrinkage.

• Disposable stock trays works satisfactory.

• Tray adhesives is also needed for stock trays.

16
 Preparing the material
Mixing systems:
• 3 systems available for mixing Catalyst and
Base paste:
1. Hand mixing,
2. Static automixing,
3. Dynamic mechanical mixing.

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 Preparing the material
• Hand mixing:
– Equal lengths of catalyst and base,
– Initial mixing– circular motion,
– Final mix – broad strokes,
– Mixing completed in 45 seconds.
– Hand mixing is available for all 4 types of
elastomeric materials.

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 Hand mixing

• Manipulation

Mixing of the base &

Base & Accelerator on
Accelerator with a tapered
mixing pad
stiff bladed spatula
 Preparing the material

• Two putty system

– variation in hand mixing.
– Available with condensation and addition silicone.
– Scoops available for dispensing,
– Putties kneaded with fingers until free from
streaks.

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 Preparing the material
• Static automixing:
– Base and Catalyst supplied in separate cylinders of
the plastic cartridge.
– Cartridge placed in mixing gun containing 2
plungers– advanced by ratchet mechanism to
extrude equal quantities of base and catalyst.
– Uniform mix is obtained

21
 Preparing the material
• Static automixing:
• Advantage : 1. Fewer voids than hand mixing,
2. 3 to 4 times less material
wasted than hand mixing,
3. Less air incorporated in mix,
4. Mixing time is reduced,
5. less contamination of the
material
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 Preparing the material

• Automixing guns and mixing tips available for

all consistencies except putty.

• Addition silicone, condensation silicone and

polyethers available with this type of mixing.

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Automatic mixing gun
 Preparing the material
• Dynamic mechanical mixing:
– Catalyst and base supplied in large plastic bags
housed in a cartridge which is inserted into the top
of the mixing machine.
– When button is depressed, parallel plungers push
against collapsible bags thereby opening the bags
and forcing material into the dynamic mixing tip.
mixing is accomplanished by rotation plus forward
motion of the material since internal spiral is motor
driven.
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 Preparing the material
• Dynamic mechanical mixing:
• Advantages: ease of use, speed, thoroughness of
mixing and higher viscosity materials can be
mixed with ease.
• Disadvantage : costly and more material wasted
than automixing but less than hand mixing.
• Polyether and Addition silicone available with
this system.

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 Impression making
Impression techniques:

• 3 common methods for impression making:

1. Simultaneous, dual-viscosity technique,
2. Single-viscosity or monophase technique,
3. Putty-wash technique.

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 Impression making
• Simultaneous, dual viscosity technique:
– Low consistency material is injected with a syringe
into critical areas.
– High consistency material is mixed, placed in an
impression tray and inserted in the mouth
– The more viscous tray material forces the lower
viscosity material to flow into fine aspects
– The materials join, bond and set together

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 Impression making
• Single viscosity or monophase technique:
– Impression taken with medium viscosity material.
– Addition silicone and polyether can be used with
this technique because they have a capacity for
shear-thinning.
– When medium viscosity material is forced through
impression syringe, the viscosity is reduced,
whereas viscosity of material in tray is unaffected.

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 Impression making
• Putty wash technique:
– Two approaches used-- two stage and one stage
procedures.
Two stage procedure:
– Preliminary impression taken in putty consistency
material before the preparing the teeth.
– Space is provided for low consistency material in the
impression.
– Low consistency material is syringed into the impression
and the preliminary impression is re-inserted.

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 Impression making
• Putty wash technique:
Single stage procedure:
– Wash material is syringed into place
– Unset putty is seated over the light body material
– Occlusal stops are provided in the tray to avoid
pushing through the wash material when seating
putty mass.

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 Impression making
• Low and high consistency material bond and
after the low consistency material sets,
impression is removed.
• Putty consistency and this technique was
developed for condensation silicone to
minimize effects of dimensional change during
polymerization.
• It can also be used for addition silicone.

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 Removing the impression
• Impression should not be removed until curing has
progressed to the extent to provide adequate
elasticity so that distortion will not occur.
• Typically, impression should be ready for within
atleast 10 mins from time of mixing, allowing 6 to
8 mins for the impression to remain in the mouth.
• All elastomeric materials are viscoelastic and it is
necessary to use a quick snap to minimize plastic
deformation of the impression during removal.

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 Preparing stone casts and dies
• All elastomeric materials are compatible with
all types of gypsum products.
• The excellent dimensional stability of addition
silicone and polyether materials makes it
possible to construct 2 or 3 casts or dies from
these materials but time interval should not be
greater than 30 mins.

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 Polysulfide
• Polysulfides: First rubber impression
materials.
• Available in 3 consistencies:1.low(syringe or
wash),
2. medium
(regular),
3.high(tray)

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 Composition
Base paste: 1.Polysulfide • Catalyst paste:
polymer, 1. Lead oxide,
2. Filler
2. Same filler and
(e.g,lithopone or
titanium dioxide)- for plasticizer as
strength, base paste,
3. Plasticizer- 3. Alongwith oleic
appropriate viscosity acid or stearic acid
to paste, -- retarder.
4. Sulfur (0.5)-
Accelerator
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Types of polysulphide materials
light,regular& heavy- bodied
 Polysulfide
• Setting reaction:
– Main component: Multifunctional Mercaptan(--SH)
or polysulfide polymer.
+
Lead dioxide ( oxidizing agent)

Polysulfide + Water( byproduct )

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 Polysulfide
• The reaction results in a rapid increase in the
molecular weight , converting the mixed paste
to a polysulfide rubber.
• The reaction is slightly exothermic- increase in
temperature of 3 to 4 degree.
• Lead dioxide- gives characteristic Brown
color.

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 Mechanical properties
• Elastic recovery– 96% ,
• Flow– 0.4 to 1.9% , indicating tendency to
distort
• Least stiff
• High flexibility, advantage over silicones and
polyether is that removal from undercuts is
easier

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 Polysulfide
• Advantages:
1. Long working time,
2. High tear strength,
3. High flexibility for easier
removal from undercuts,
4. Good flow before
setting,
5. Good reproduction of
surface detail
• Disadvantages:
1. Requires custom tray
due to greater chance
of distortion,
2. Stretching leads to
distortion,
3. Obnoxious odor,
4. Pour within 1 hour,
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 Condensation Silicone

• Condensation Silicones are supplied as

1. Low
2. Putty
The catalyst of the Condensation Silicone can
be supplied as putty or a liquid

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 Condensation Silicone
• Base paste: 1.Polydimethyl • Catalyst paste:
siloxane(which
has reactive
(low viscosity liquid or
terminal -OH groups), paste catalyst)
2.Orthoalkylsilicate(for
cross-linking) 1. liquid consisting of
3.Fillers- calcium stannous octoate
carbonate or silica
(from 35% for low
suspension and
consistencies to 75% for alkyl silicate.
puttylike
consistencies).

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Condensation Silicone having low
consistencies & puttylike consistency
 Setting reaction
• Reaction produces a 3 dimensional network with
the liberation of Ethyl alcohol as a byproduct and
exothermic rise in temperature of about 1 degree.
• Polydimethyl siloxane + Tetraethyl orthosilicate
+ Stannous octoate

Silicone rubber+ Ethyl alcohol ( byproduct)

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 Condensation Silicone
• Evaporation of Ethyl Alcohol (byproduct)
causes polymerization shrinkage of the silicone
rubber impression.
• This shrinkage was more in low consistency
silicone , therefore, to overcome the large
shrinkage a high viscosity material referred as
“Putty” was developed.
• These putties have more fillers and less polymer
so they have less shrinkage.
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 Mechanical properties
• Excellent elastic recovery of 99%
• Low flow, less than 0.1%, thus, less distortion is
likely to be caused by light pressure on standing.
• Stiffer than polysulfides because of lower
flexibility values
• Greater shrinkage than polysulfide and polyether
– 0.2 to 1% because of release of alcohol
byproduct.

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 Condensation Silicone
Advantages : Disadvantages:
1. Clean and pleasant, 1. High polymerization
2. Putty for tray, shrinkage,
3. Good working time, 2. Volatile by-product,
4. Highly elastic and the 3. Low tear strength,
setting time can be 4. Hydrophobic,
controlled with the 5. Pour immediately.
amount of accelerator.

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 Polyether

• Polyether was introduced in Germany in the

late 1960’s
• Available in: 1. low
2. medium
3. heavy

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 Polyether
• Base paste: • Catalyst paste:

1. Polyether polymer with 1. Alkyl-aromatic

ethylene-imine terminal sulfonate,
groups, 2. Filler,
2. Filler- colloidal silica, 3. Plasticizer.
3. Plasticizer - glycolether
or phthalate.

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Polyether Materials
 Setting reaction

• Polyether + Aromatic sulfonate ester(initiator)

Cross-linked polyether rubber.

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 Polyether

• The main chain is a copolymer Ethylene oxide

and Tetrahydrofuran.

• The cross linking is produced by

polymerization via the imine end groups.

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 Mechanical properties
• 0.3% shrinkage in 24 hrs, thus good accuracy but
inferior to addition silicones,
• Since polyether absorbs water and changes its
dimensions, storage in water is not recommended.
• Elastic recovery is between polysulfides and addition
silicones– 98.5%
• Flow is very low and thus, contributes to accuracy
• Low flexibility i.e high stiffness; it may cause problems
in removal of impression from mouth or the die from
impression.
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 Polyether
• Advantages: • Disadvantages:
1. Short working and
1. Clean, setting times,
2. High stiffness after
2. Ease of mixing,
setting,
3. Good surface detail
3. Bitter taste,
reproduction,
4. Needs to block
4. Least hydrophobic, undercuts,
5. Good stability, 5. Leaches components,
6. Delay pour. 6. High cost.
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 Addition silicone

• Frequently called as Polyvinyl siloxane or

vinyl polysiloxane impression materials
• Available in : a. extra low
b. low/light
c. medium
d. heavy
e. extra heavy.
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 Composition
• Base paste: • Catalyst paste:

1.Polymethyl hydrogen 1.Divinyl polydimethyl

siloxane (low molecular siloxane ,
weight polymer) , 2.Platinium salt activator
2.Hybrid silicone and (chloroplatinic acid)and
3.Fillers.
3.Fillers (Retarders may
also be present.)

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 Setting reaction

• Polymethyl hydrogen siloxane + divinyl

polydimethyl siloxane + platinium salt
activator Silicone rubber.

• No reaction by-products.

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 Addition silicone
• However, a secondary reaction between moisture
and residual hydrides of the base polymer can
lead to the development of hydrogen gas that can
result in pinpoint voids in the gypsum casts that
are poured immediately
• Therefore, Platinium or Palladium is added to act
as a scavenger for the released hydrogen gas or to
wait 30 mins or more for pouring the impression.

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 Addition silicone

• Sulfur contamination from latex gloves have

been shown to inhibit the setting of addition
silicone. These compounds can contaminate
platinium containing catalyst which results in
retarded or no polymerization.
• Instead Vinyl or Nitrile gloves can be used.

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 Addition Silicone
• Disadvantage of this material is their inherent
hydrophobic nature.
• Distortion at the impression margins is caused by
undetected moisture in the area to be replicated.
• A Nonionic surfactant is added to make surface
of impression hydrophilic.
• This will allow impression material to readily
wet soft tissues and capture maximum details.

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 Mechanical properties
• Working and setting time faster than polysulfides.
Retarder is often supplied to extend working
time.
• Excellent elasticity and very low dimensional
shrinkage upon storage, thus can be poured up
later.
• Greater rigidity, hence, difficult to remove from
undercuts as they have lower flexibility values
• Tear strength less than polysulfides
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 Addition silicone
• Advantages: • Disadvantages:

1. Clean and pleasant, 1. Hydrophobic,

2. Highly accurate high 2. No flow if sulcus is
dimensional stability moist,
after setting, 3. Low tear strength,
3. Ideally elastic, 4. Putty too stiff,
4. Pour repeatedly. 5. High cost.

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 Properties of Elastomers
1. Working and setting times,
2. Dimensional stability,
3. Rheological properties,
4. Elasticity,
5. Strain in compression,
6. Tear strength,
7. Hardness,
8. Anatomical detail reproduction,
9. Wettability,
10.Biocompatibility and shelf Life.
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 1.Working and Setting times.

Mean Mean setting

working time time(mins)
(mins)
Impression 23 deg.Cel. 37 deg.Cel. 23 deg.Cel. 37 deg.Cel.
material

Polysulfide 6 4.3 16 12.5

Condensation 3.3 2.5 11 8.9
silicone
Addition 3.1 1.8 8.9 5.9
silicone
Polyether 3.3 2.3 9 8.3

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 Working and Setting times
• Polysulfides have the longest working & setting times
followed by Silicones and Polyethers.
• An increase in temperature accelerates curing rates of
all elastomeric materials and thus decreases both
setting and working times.
• Working times can be increased either by storing
materials at room temperature or using chilled, dry
glass slab.
• Working and setting times decreases as the viscosity
increases from low to high.
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 2.Dimensional stability

5 major sources of dimensional changes are:

1. Polymerization shrinkage,
2. Loss of by-product(water or alcohol)
during the condensation reaction,
3.Thermal contraction from oral
temperature to room temperature,

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 Dimensional stability
(cont..)
4. Imbibition when exposed to water,
disinfectant or high humidity environment
over a period of time,

5. Incomplete recovery of deformation

because of viscoelastic behavior.

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 Dimensional stability
• Polysulfides >condensation silicone >addition
silicone >polyether
• Polysulfides and condensation silicone have
larger dimensional change due to loss of
reaction by-products.
• Therefore, to obtain maximal accuracy with
polysulfides and condensation silicone they
have to be poured immediately (within 1st 30
mins).
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 Dimensional stability
• The shrinkage of addition silicone and polyether
is less since there is no loss of
by-products.
• Therefore, they do not have to be poured
immediately.
• Polyether absorbs water or fluids and
simultaneous leaching of water soluble
plasticizer. Thus, must be kept in dry, cool
environment.
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 3.Rheological properties
• The rheological properties of these materials play
major role in their application as high accuracy
impression materials.
• Introduced in mouth as viscous pastes.
• Setting reaction – Viscoelastic solids.
• For accurate impressions– appropriate flow
behavior of solid form,
• Viscosity and flow behavior of unmixed
components is also important.
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 Rheological properties
- Polysulfides has the lowest viscosity and is
least stiff. Therefore, can be easily removed
from undercut areas and with minimum stress.
- Addition silicone and polyether are
pseudoplastic materials. Because of this
property ,these materials are more stable and
resistant to distortion.
-- Viscosity increases from low to high
consistencies.
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 4. Elasticity

– Elastic properties improve with increase in curing

time in the mouth.
– The relative amount of permanent deformation
increases in the following order,
addition silicone > condensation silicone >
polyether > polysulfides.
-- Elastic recovery following strain is less rapid for
polysulfides than other 3 materials.

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 Elasticity
• Addition silicone is ideally most elastic of all
materials.
• Excluding the very high viscosity putty class
of elastomers , the stiffness ( elastic modulus)
increases in following order. Polysulfide >
Condensation silicone > Addition silicone >
polyether.

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 5. Strain in compression
Strain in compression under a stress of 0.1MPa
is a measure of flexibility of the material. The
low consistency materials are more flexible
than high consistency materials.
Polyethers (stiffer) > addition silicone >
condensation silicone > polysulfides.

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 6. Tear strength

--Tear strength indicates the ability of a

material to withstand tearing in thin
interproximal areas and subgingival areas.
--Tear strength:
Addition silicone < condensation silicone
< polyether < polysulfide.

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 Tear strength

• Tear strength is influenced by chemical

composition of the material, consistency and
manner of removal from mouth.
• Increased consistency = increased strength
• Rapid rate of force during removal =>
increases strength.

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 7. Hardness

Low, medium and high viscosity addition

silicones and polysulfides --- hardness does
not change with time.
Condensation silicone, addition silicone
putties and polyethers --- hardness increases
with time.

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9. Anatomical details reproduction

The rubber impression materials are

capable of reproducing details accurately

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 10. Wettability

– Wettability may be assessed by measuring

the advancing contact angle of water on the
surface of the set impression material.
– All the elastomeric materials possess
advancing and receding contact angles
greater than 45 degrees.

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 Wettability

• The hydrophilic addition silicones and the

polyethers were wetted the best, and the
condensation silicones and hydrophobic
addition silicones the least.
• The wettability was directly correlated to the
ease of pouring high strength stone models.

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 11.biocompatibility

– Comparing the cell cytoxicity, polysulfides results

in lowest cell death count whereas, polyether
produces highest cell cytoxicity.
– Biocompatibility problem also occur when a
segment of impression material is lodged in
gingival sulcus that can cause severe gingival
inflammation.

82
 Shelf Life

-- Material will not deteriorate when stored in dry,

cool environment.

– Tubes should be tightly closed when not in use.

83
 Disinfection
• Condensation silicones, addition silicones and polysulfides
can be disinfected with all EPA- registered disinfectants
without adverse dimensional changes, provided ,
disinfection time is short.
• Long immersion may cause surfactant in addition silicone
to leach out and render impression less hydrophilic.
• Polyethers are also susceptible to dimensional change if
immersed for long time (> 10 mins ) because of their
hydrophillic nature.
• 2% Glutaraldehyde is satisfactory for most elastomers.

84
Property Poly sulfide Condensation Addition Polyether
silicone silicone
Working time 4-7 2.5-4 2-4 3

Setting time 7-10 6-8 4-6.5 6

Tear strength- 2500-7000 2300-2600 1500-4300 1800-4800
N/m
Percent 0.40-0.45 0.38-0.60 0.14-0.17 0.19-0.24
contraction (24
hrs)
Custom tray yes No No No
Unpleasant yes no no No
odor
Multiple casts no no yes yes
stiffness 3 2 2 1
Distortion on 1 2 4 3
removal
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 Failures
Type of failure Causes
A. Rough or uneven 1.Incomplete polymerization
surface on impression caused by premature removal
from mouth, improper ratio or
mixing of components,
presence of oil or other organic
material on teeth.
2.Too rapid polymerization
from high humidity or
temperature.
3.Excessively high
accelerator/base ratio with
condensation silicone.
86
 Failures
Type of failure Causes
B. Bubbles. 1.Too rapid
polymerization, preventing
flow,
2.Air incorporated during
mixing.
C. Irregularly shaped 1.Moisture or debris on
voids. surface of teeth.

87
 Failures
Type of failure Causes
D. Rough or chalky 1.Inadequate cleaning of
impression.
stone cast. 2.Excess water left on surface
of the impression.
3.Excess wetting agent left on
impression.
4.Premature removal of cast.
Improper manipulation of
stone.
5.Failure to delay pour of
addition silicone at least 20
mins.
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 Failures
Type of failure Causes
E. Distortion 1.Resin tray not cured
sufficiently, still undergoing
polymerization.
2.Lack of adhesion of rubber to
the tray due to insufficient
adhesive.
3.Development of elastic
properties in the material before
tray is seated.
4.Excessive bulk of material.
5.Movement of tray during
polymerization.
89
 Accuracy of elastomeric impression
materials on repeated pours– JPD 2006
• The accuracy of elastomeric impression materials on
repeated pours is reviewed in this article.
• It is evident that all materials change dimensionally over
time. The present review on the accuracy of elastomeric
impression materials on repeated pours would suggest
that addition silicones and polyethers to a certain extent
were least affected with delay in pouring the impression.

90
Accuracy of elastomeric impression materials
on repeated pours– JPD 2006
• However, since condensation silicones and polysulphide
materials are not dimensionally stable, the time interval
between pours should not be greater than 30 min and re-
pouring would result in significant loss of accuracy.
• Addition silicones are the most versatile, widely used,
dimensionally accurate and stable of all materials
followed by polyether.
• This stability exhibited by both these materials suggest
that, these impressions do not have to be poured with
gypsum products immediately

91
 Procedure to prevent cast breakage during separation from elastomeric
impression- JPD 1999

• This article describes a quick and simple procedure for

removing dental stone casts from elastomeric impression.
The materials used in this technique i.e Slurry water and
dishwashing soap are inexpensive and easy to use.
• The soapy water flows into the space between the cast and
the impression, lubricating the 2 surfaces. After soaking for
at least 10 minutes, the cast is removed from the impression
with the use of minimal force.
• Proper use of this procedure will help improve the quality of
poured casts, preventing the occurrence of tooth fractures
and saving time and materials.

92
 Conclusion
• It should be remembered that a good
impression results from good handling of a
good material.
• The “ perfect impression” can only be
approached by a knowledgeable and competent
operator, using an impression material that
meets the required specifications, with skill and
concern for the biologic, psychologic and
preventive considerations.
93
 References
• Restorative dental materials– Craig
• Science of dental materials– Anusavice
• Dental materials and their selection– William
O’ Brien

94
 Article References

• J. P.D. 2000 volume 34

• JIPS 2006 volume 6 issue 2
• J. P.D. 1999 volume 81
• DCNA July 1981- occlusion and functions

95
THANK YOU

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