The working time for each impression was 120 seconds and the setting time was 150 seconds, which was observed by research personnel who did not provide instructions, answer questions, or intervene (except for safety reasons) with the subject while taking two sets of impressions.Īt the end of the visit, all subjects’ questions were answered, and a limited oral examination was performed to determine if any residual impression material was left after the impression tray removal. They then followed the criteria outlined in the ITG, and the sequence of taking an upper or lower impression was randomized. Subjects started by taking two sets of impressions (two maxillary and two mandibular impressions), using putty impression material. They also were instructed to brush their teeth before taking photographs of a frontal view, maxillary occlusal view, and mandibular occlusal view. Subjects received a limited oral exam to participate in the study. It also got an approval for the Informed Consent Form that was used to obtain consent from study participants. The study was approved by the Institution Review Board (IRB) at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Any other condition that, in the point of view of the investigator, may affect the ability of a subject to complete the studyĪll participants signed informed consent forms, provided demographic information, and filled out a medical history questionnaire (Table 1).Clinical signs and symptoms of periapical pathology.Evidence of acute periodontal infection such as an abscess, suppuration, severe swelling, or spontaneous bleeding.

Teeth requiring extraction for deep subgingival caries, fractures, or other conditions.Condition affecting salivary flow, such as salivary gland disorder or Sjögren’s Syndrome.Limited mental capacity and inability to give informed consent.Known difficulties breathing during a dental procedure.Teeth with a history of self-reported preoperative pulpal problems.Having less than 24 permanent teeth present.Intraoral piercings that cannot be removed during an impression.Any known disease that interferes with taking dental impressions.Participants could not be dental professionals, nor could they or anyone in their immediate family be employed by the study’s sponsor. Some patients applied inadequate pressure while seating the tray. Some patients confused the upper and lower tray, leading to unacceptable impressions.įigure 5. Inadequate mixture of material was one reason for unacceptable impressions.įigure 4. The most common reason for an unacceptable impression among the participants was the absence of gingival outlineįigure 3. A typical impression kit includes trays, impression material, and gloves.įigure 2.

And, they had to have at least 24 teeth present.įigure 1. They had to be in good medical and dental health and able to tolerate the dental procedure. They also needed to be willing to provide voluntarily written informed consent. To be included, patients had to be at least 18 years of age. These impressions were compared to those taken by a dentist to assess clinical acceptability.Ī total of 55 patients were screened, and 53 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included. The objective of this study is to determine if a layperson can safely take adequate dental impressions of the maxilla and mandible using only the instructions from an Impression-Taking Guide(ITG) and an impression kit including trays, impression material, and gloves (Figure 1). A secondary concern is related to the accuracy of an impression taken by a layperson. Could patients safely and accurately take their own impressions in their home without the supervision of a dentist? There would be some benefits for the patient, who would save the time and cost associated with a dental visit, while dentists could re-center their attention and precious chair time on more demanding procedures.īut it also raises some concerns, mainly the safety of the patient who might choke or aspirate some foreign material. However, faster and more efficient treatments involving automated voice messages, texting, and online submissions with less human interaction seem to be favored by younger generations.

Traditionally, to take an impression, patients must visit dentists in their office. A dental impression is a negative imprint of the teeth and adjacent structures, as well as the first step in fabricating dental prostheses such as removable dentures and fixed restorations in addition to dental appliances such as mouth guards, whitening trays, retainers, and invisible aligners.

Taking dental impression