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impression troubleshooting - best dental lab usa

The foundation of any successful restorative case begins with an accurate, detailed impression. At Burbank Dental Lab, we see hundreds of impressions every day, most of which are of very good quality. However, we also see impressions that have issues. There are also impressions that look fantastic but have hidden problems that cause challenges for both parties. We have found that even the most experienced dental practitioner can encounter difficulties when making an impression. Even the slightest inaccuracy is amplified as the restoration progresses from model to wax/digital mockup, to milling, to final seating.

What You Will Learn In This Article

Highlight several of the most common problems that we see in the lab.
Present how to identify the problem before sending it into the lab.
Show how to avoid the root causes of common problems.

Problem 1: Inadequate Margins

Causes & Solutions

Insufficient tissue management

Insufficient wash material

Void caused by syringe technique

Tearing of the margin

Problem 2: Air Bubble On Margin

Voids on the margin or occlusal of an impression can compromise the restoration’s fit and function. When voids occur on occlusal surfaces, it is not possible to properly articulate models.

Causes & Solutions

Improper syringe technique

Blood/saliva contamination around preparation (Figure 3)

Exceeding the working time of material reduces the hydraulic action of the wash to be expressed into the sulcus

Problem 3: Tight Crowns

Causes & Solutions

This problem can be caused by several of the following factors.

Problem 4: Short Crowns

Causes & Solutions

Trays with weak or low walls can provide insufficient support during impressioning, causing short crowns.

Problem 5: Drags / Pulls In Impression

Causes & Solutions

The tray seating step presents the possibility for a number of errors. If drags and pulls are an issue, try not to seat the tray too rapidly. (Figure 6)

Figure 6

Solutions:

Position the tray before seating, and use a slow, steady, vertical seating motion. Drags or pulls can result when the tray is placed and seated in one motion. To avoid drags, carefully position it in the mouth before seating it slowly and carefully. Avoid contact of teeth with the tray.
Be sure to adhere to the manufacturer's directions, as seating after the material has begun to set can cause this problem as well.

Problem 6: Surface Inhibition - (Figure 7)

Causes & Solutions

Surface inhibition can occur when impression material is exposed to residues from custom temporary materials or powder from latex gloves. This results in the surface of the impression material not setting properly, feeling tacky to the touch, and visually resembling the surface of an orange peel.

Solutions:

Avoid this problem by waiting to fabricate the temporary crown until after the final impression has been made.
Use an alcohol wipe to remove the air-inhibited layer on any composites, adhesives, or core buildups in the impressioning area.
Use non-latex or powder-free gloves.
Rinse retraction cord thoroughly before removal to eliminate sulfur-based contaminates from hemostatic agent or glove.

GUIDELINES FOR A GOOD IMPRESSION

1
Uniform, homogeneous mix of material
2
The tray is sufficiently filled with impression material
3
Thoroughly-applied tray adhesive
4
Rigid, sturdy impression tray
5
No voids or pulls on margin detail
6
Detailed margins with no tears or rough surfaces

7
No tray show-through of the impression material
8
Good blend between heavy body and light body materials
9
A strong bond between impression material and tray
10
No tooth contact with the tray
11
Complete information about the impression material used provided to the dental laboratory

Burbank Dental Lab is dedicated to facilitating your practice success, and we make every effort to communicate with our clients regarding what we observe regarding impressions and other patient records. Our goal is to be an integral part of your dental team, to create Smiles By Design® together with you.

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What You Will Learn In This Article

Highlight several of the most common problems that we see in the lab.

Present how to identify the problem before sending it into the lab.

Show how to avoid the root causes of common problems.

Problem 1: Inadequate Margins

Causes & Solutions

Insufficient tissue management

Insufficient wash material

Void caused by syringe technique

Tearing of the margin

Problem 2: Air Bubble On Margin

Causes & Solutions

Improper syringe technique

Blood/saliva contamination around preparation (Figure 3)

Exceeding the working time of material reduces the hydraulic action of the wash to be expressed into the sulcus

Problem 3: Tight Crowns

Causes & Solutions

This problem can be caused by several of the following factors.

Problem 4: Short Crowns

Causes & Solutions

Trays with weak or low walls can provide insufficient support during impressioning, causing short crowns.

Problem 5: Drags / Pulls In Impression

Causes & Solutions

The tray seating step presents the possibility for a number of errors. If drags and pulls are an issue, try not to seat the tray too rapidly. (Figure 6)

Problem 6: Surface Inhibition - (Figure 7)

Causes & Solutions

Surface inhibition can occur when impression material is exposed to residues from custom temporary materials or powder from latex gloves. This results in the surface of the impression material not setting properly, feeling tacky to the touch, and visually resembling the surface of an orange peel.

GUIDELINES FOR A GOOD IMPRESSION

REQUEST YOUR FREE IMPLANT SUCCESS GUIDE BELOW

Success Guides

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