Your dentist will talk with you about this possibility and address the problem if it happens. But if you have teeth that are already loose due to trauma or severe gum disease, it could happen. The majority of the time, dental impressions don’t pull teeth out. However, they can trigger a gag reflex in some people, which can be uncomfortable. In most instances, there isn’t any pain from putty impressions.

Overall, a dental impression procedure takes about 15 minutes or less. If you’re having impressions made with traditional dental putty, the material usually sets in about three to five minutes.

There, a technician will begin working on your case. Your healthcare provider will then electronically deliver your photo files to a dental lab. There’s no need for putty when taking digital dental impressions. Next, the computer software will stitch the images together, creating a digital, 3D representation of your dental arches. As your healthcare provider passes the wand over your teeth, images of your mouth will come up on a computer screen. During this procedure, your healthcare provider uses a digital handheld wand to capture thousands of pictures of your teeth and gums. Many dental offices now have the ability to take digital dental impressions. There, a technician will pour stone into your dental impressions to create a cast of your mouth. Your impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory. Finally, your healthcare provider removes the trays (and impression material) from your mouth. After a minute or two, the dental impression material sets and hardens. Next, they’ll place the trays over your teeth. Traditional dental puttyĭuring this procedure, your healthcare provider dispenses a putty-like dental impression material into plastic or metal trays. While the outcomes are similar, the procedures are different. When making dental impressions, your healthcare provider may use traditional dental putty or digital dental impressions. What happens during a dental impression procedure? Bite registration: This type of impression shows the way your upper and lower teeth fit together.These may include crowns, bridges, dentures, retainers and more. Final impressions: Final impressions are sent to a dental laboratory for the fabrication of dental restorations or appliances.They provide your dentist with a visual aid so they can plan your treatment. They’re often made at your initial office visit. Preliminary impressions: Preliminary impressions are used for diagnostic purposes, or as the initial step in the process of fabrication (making) of different prostheses, including crowns and dentures.There are three primary types of dental impressions: preliminary, final and bite registration: What are the three types of dental impressions? Dental impressions are used for a wide range of dental restorations and oral appliances, including: These models show your dentist how your dental arches fit together, as well as the size and relationship of your teeth and gums. Policy What is a dental impression used for?ĭental impressions are used to create models, or casts, of your mouth. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Dental impression definition