Chairside - Glidewell Dental Labs

Building the
Edentulous
Impression
A Layering Technique
Using Multiple Viscosities
of Impression Material
– ARTICLE by Joseph Massad, DDS
– COVER PHOTO by Sharon Dowd
– CLINICAL PHOTOS by
Joseph Massad, DDS
In a recent Internet survey (n=701), dentists reported
that many edentulous patients complained of poorfitting
dentures (Dental Economics Survey Primary
Research, October 2005). The patients perceived looseness
or movement of the denture and generalized soreness.
To provide a more detailed and customized impression
of the edentulous patient, a procedure using both
the static and functional concepts of impression making
in one application will be described.
The Static Impression Technique is used to create an accurate
impression of undisturbed and uncompressed tissue.
1,2 The Functional Impression Technique explains the
need to make an impression based on the differing degrees
of tissue function. 3-5
“The soft tissue
overlying the
residual ridges
should be
assessed using
a blunt instrument
to determine the
relative amount
of displacement
or mobility.”
Building the Edentulous Impression47