Dimensional accuracy of stone casts made from silicone-based impression materials and three impression techniques.
The aim of this study was to measure and compare the dimensional accuracy of stone casts of a partially edentulous mandibular arch made by two condensation silicones, two addition silicones and three impression techniques (1-step putty/light-body, 2-step putty/light-body and monophase technique). A partially edentulous standard stainless steel mandibular arch cast was obtained with reference points on the permanent mandibular right and left canines, and permanent mandibular right and left second molars. The anteroposterior distances (between the mandibular left canine and second molar and between the mandibular right canine and second molar) and transverse distances (between the mandibular left and right canines and between the mandibular left and right second molars) of stainless steel cast were measured by a microscope at 30× magnification and 0.5 µm accuracy. All impressions were made with condensation or addition silicones. The 1- and 2-step putty/light-body impressions were accomplished with putty and light-body materials and the monophase impressions with light-body material only. After the impression procedures, accuracy of each material and technique was assessed measuring the stone casts poured (n=5) from the impressions, by the same microscope. The differences between the values of stone cast and stainless steel cast were calculated, presented as percentages and analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and the means compared by Tukey's test (α=0.05). All distances measured on stone casts showed altered dimensions with significantly negative linear changes (shrinkage) as compared to those of the stainless steel cast. The stone casts made from the addition silicones were dimensionally more accurate. No differences were found among the impression techniques.
Adhesion of elastomeric impression materials to trays.
The tensile and shear adhesive bond strengths of two addition cured silicones (Provil and Express) and a polyether (Impregum) impression material to brass, poly(methylmethacrylate) and visible light-cured (VLC) tray resin were determined. Adhesive application significantly increased the bond strength; Provil and Express adhered most strongly to brass; whilst the Impregum-VLC combination produced the strongest bond. Indeed, VLC resin generated greater adhesion than acrylic resin. Exchanging the adhesives specified for each silicone material generally resulted in higher bond strengths. No correlation was established between speed of separation of the test surfaces and bond strength. For optimum clinical performance, the impression material (adhesive) tray material giving the highest bond strength should be utilized.
Accuracy of irreversible hydrocolloids (alginates) for fixed prosthodontics. A comparison between irreversible hydrocolloid, reversible hydrocolloid, and addition silicone for use in the syringe-tray technique.
One reversible, seven irreversible hydrocolloids and two addition silicones were examined. The aim was to study their ability to reproduce six differently shaped abutments of a full arch stainless steel master model correctly, by measuring: 1) the accuracy of irreversible hydrocolloid impressions with different storage periods of 15 min, 2 h, 24 h and 95 h, reversible hydrocolloid stored 15 min and 2 h, and Type III addition silicones stored 24 h when the syringe-tray technique was used; and 2) whether mixing technique or tray design had any influence of the accuracy of irreversible hydrocolloid impressions. All the tested impression materials had difficulties in producing full arch casts, where the six abutments were correctly reproduced, because 58% of the heights and 45% of the diameters of the occlusal surfaces were shorter than the corresponding distances of the master model. Storage time, mixing technique and tray design were of significant importance for the irreversible hydrocolloids. Concerning the accuracy at the gingival margin, a shorter storage time resulted in improved accuracy, and mechanical mixing without a vacuum and a tray designed similar to a perforated stock tray gave most accurate impressions.