Flow of Impression Materials During Working Time

Objectives: Clinical success of precision impression materials is strongly dependent on the flow of the unset impression material. Flow is an especially important property when syringing in moist areas, like the gingival sulcus, and is needed for a detailed impression.

Methods: Gun-delivered tray materials were investigated: experimental Impregum Tray Material regular-set (IPr, 3M ESPE, #B304552, #C304560), experimental Impregum Tray Material fast-set (IPf, 3M ESPE, #B304551, #C304560), Honigum Mono (Ho, DMG, #589776), Flexitime Monophase (Flx, Heraeus-Kulzer, #285195), Aquasil Ultra Monophase (AqU, Dentsply, #070815), Affinis Monobody (Aff, Coltene, #0138005).

Measurements were done according to a published method (#3083 and #3048  IADR 2005) 25 seconds after start of mix and at the end of working time as recommended by the impression material manufacturer.

Results: Mean values and standard deviations are given (n=5). Results were analyzed by one-way-ANOVA and Tukey-test (p<0.05).

Impression Material	Height shark fin [mm] (SD)
	25 sec	End working time
IPr	16.5(0.5)	10.9(0.5)
IPf	17.5(0.5)	13.7(0.3)
Ho	2.8(0.3)*	0.8(0.3)*
Flx	2.2(0.3)*	1.1(0.2)*
AqU	10.5(0.5)	2.2(0.3)
Aff	3.8(0.3)	1.1(0.2)*

* Means are not significantly different.

Conclusions: IPr and IPf showed best results in flow after 25 seconds and were also superior at the end of working time.  Based on these measurements, IPr and IPf would be expected to show a high degree of clinical reliability.