Title: Simplify impression techniques for edentulous patients
Abstract:
Background: Success of complete dentures depends on accuracy of final impression; normally, impression requires multiple steps to be performed and this poses extra cost and time in addition to patient hassle. Single step final impression with elastomeric impression has been reported to overcome these problems without jeopardizing final outcome. The aim of this study is to compare the retention of three different final impression techniques.
Material and method: Fifteen completely edentulous patients participate to evaluate the retention provided by three different final impression techniques (conventional border molding on a special tray with Green stick compound and final wash with Zinc oxide and eugenol, conventional border tracing on a special tray with putty elastomeric impression material followed by a final wash with light body impression material and thermoplastic stock tray with elastomeric impression material). A digital force meter was used to measure retention strength provided by each technique. The purpose was to determine whether the single step impression technique is effective, and to assess which impression technique offers the highest retention strength.
Results: The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the three impression techniques, although zinc oxide and eugenol on special tray technique showed highest mean values of impression retention followed by the single step impression technique.
Conclusion: Single complete denture impression technique is effective and comparable to the conventional technique and can be used for patient convenience.
