Impression Materials: A Comparative Review of Impression Materials Most Commonly Used in Prosthodontics

Impression materials are used to record intraoral structures for the fabrication of definitive restorations. Accurate impressions are necessary for construction of any dental prosthesis. The relationship between static and mobile oral structures must be reproduced accurately for an optimum cast. Making a cast in gypsum materials from an impression of dental anatomy aids dentists in designing and constructing removable and fixed prostheses. The accuracy of these final restorations depends greatly on the impression materials and techniques. Accurate impressions depend on identifying the applications that do or do not fit each material's characteristics. Materials used without adequate knowledge of their characteristics can impair a successful outcome. Often, the choice of impression materials depends on the subjective choice of the operator based on personal preferences and past experience with particular materials.