Say Goodbye to Dental Anxiety: How to Use an Impression Kit

Are you worried about what superior talent it takes to get dental impressions right? Never seen a set of impression trays before or you're unsure about what is the right amount of mixing for the putty?

If you find your impression kit intimidating, don’t panic. From the tray that goes first to how long they’re held, we’ll answer as many questions as possible. By the end of this blog, you will be a pro taking dental impressions.

Whether at a dentist or an at-home individual taking impressions on your own, this blog will make your journey easy. Make sure you do not miss out on the pro tips section, which will save you time and money.

Why Use An Impression Kit

Dental impressions are molds created of your teeth and gums. They serve as a foundation for crafting various treatments or procedures, such as dental straightening, restorations, overcorrection, and making custom retainers among others.

An oral scan may be performed alongside a dental scan. A good dental impression excludes the need for any additional scans or recordings.

Why Is It Important To Take The Right Impression?

If you’re planning to take it casually, don’t. This might be the crucial point on which your entire dental treatment will be built. Inaccurate impressions will not be approved by your treatment provider, making all the effort and money go to waste, and requiring you to take another shot at it. To save cost, effort, and time, it is better to take your impressions carefully, as per the provided instructions.

How Does It Work?

It primarily makes use of a clay-like material (putty) that is soft and pliable when bit into and hardens to take accurate imprints of your teeth.

The components of an impression kit will usually include a pair of gloves, different sizes of upper trays and lower trays, sets of unmixed impression putty, an instructions manual, and sometimes a cheek retractor.

What Requires A Dental Impression?

Many dental treatments require creating a treatment based on your custom imprints. These often include the making of nightguards, sports mouth guards, retainers dental crowns, bridges, implants dentures, porcelain veneers, clear aligners, teeth whitening trays, etc.

Preparations

The setup is easy but crucial. First, you take out your kit's contents, read all the instructions, and get familiar with what is what. Know your brand and see if they provide any helpful material or guidance online. Some brands will offer videos for general guidance, like that provided by ALIGNERCO.

Educate and familiarise yourself and be confident when you begin. Here are the steps we recommend you should take before you take your impressions:

1. Pick a place and time with the least distractions. Once you’ve bit into the putty, it's better to stay put till it hardens.
2. Wash your hands and brush your teeth. Preferably floss too.
3. Keep a timer or use the one on your cell phone for accuracy. Keep a napkin or tissues at hand.
4. Have a mirror at hand, it helps see and center align the trays with your nose.
5. Identify upper and lower arch trays. The tray with the palate guard is for the upper arch. The tray without the palate guard is for the lower arch.
6. Pick your tray size by fitting them in your mouth. Pick the one that feels most comfortable with your mouth size. Make sure the tray comfortably covers the full arch of your teeth, from the right to the left molars.
7. The putty comes with a base and a catalyst in different colors. They will need a quick mixing with hands which activates them. Once activated, they begin to harden after a minute. Keep the putty cans within reach, but don’t mix them yet.
8. You may wear the gloves included to prevent contamination. We’ve found kneading the putty with washed, cleaned hands much easier.

If you have followed all the instructions above. You're now all set to proceed with the impressions.

Taking Impressions

Here are the steps to take impressions:

1. Take out the putty from both containers and knead it to mix. Once the base putty comes into contact with the catalyst, you will only have a minute to shape it, place it in the tray, and bite into it. Whenever you’re ready, mix one set of putty thoroughly. Ideally, this should take 30 seconds.
2. When mixed evenly, roll it into a ball and press it, using your palms into a uniform cylinder shape, approximately 4 inches. Look at the tray size for reference to know if the length is right.
3. When the right shape has been achieved, ideally within a few seconds, place it on the tray and press it gently to spread it evenly in the tray. This enables a smooth surface to bite on and capture the entire arch’s imprints.
4. Once the U-shaped area has been filled with putty and leveled, sit in front of the mirror. Align the center of your tray with your nose, and bite into the putty till it reaches your gums. Try and aim for the middle section so that equal putty covers the front and back of the teeth.
5. If it's the upper arch use your thumbs to put gentle pressure on the tray and if it the the lower arch, press it with your fingers to ensure all teeth are covered gumline-deep.
6. Once you’ve bit into the putty, keep still. Minimal movement will ensure clear lines and accurate imprints.
7. Hold the tray steady for 3 and a half minutes. You will feel it setting and hardening after 2 minutes.
8. Once the time’s up, gently remove the putty and wipe off any residue with your napkin.
9. Observe your imprints when out and see if they match the description of a perfect impression given below.
10. If your impressions are good to go, repeat the process with the other arch (the order of which arch goes first is a personal preference)
11. Pack your dried impressions with the tray (don’t take them out) and send them to your dental appliance provider.

Pro Tips

Keep in mind the following tips to make sure your impressions are on point.

1. Avoid a second bite, this is the quickest way to ruin your impressions.
2. This might not come in your instructions manual, but use a mirror and sit straight, comfortably in an adequately lit area.
3. Keep your lips over the tray to ensure the putty reaches your gums without any obstacles.
4. To remove the tray gently snap it out in one swift motion, don’t wiggle it.
5. Take your first set of impressions and make sure to check with an expert to make sure you’re doing them right.
6. Don’t bite against your impression tray. This will exert uneven pressure resulting in bad impressions. Press down on the tray with your fingers so that the pressure is more evenly distributed.
7. You only have a minute from the time you start to mix the putty, place it in the tray, and press your teeth into it. After a minute the putty will begin to harden.
8. If you're too concerned about messing it up, it might be a good idea to include extra putties in your original order. This will spare time and hassle from waiting on a new kit with an extra pair or two on hand. Plus, it will give you the peace of mind that a couple of unsuccessful attempts won't keep you from sending in your impressions.

What Do Excellent Impressions Look Like?

Excellent impressions should have:

1. The impressions capture intricate details of the teeth
2. A defined gum line
3. The entire arch is captured, molar to molar
4. Complete depth of teeth captured
5. One-bite impressions, with clear lines
6. Impressions are evenly distributed ( thanks to even bite pressure)
7. The dried putty is free from cracks or bubbles.

We hope, now you’re all set to get started with your dental impressions. If you are an ALIGNERCO customer you can request a free video session to assist you in taking dental impressions—feel free to call at (365) 398 5838 for any help.

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