Physical Properties of Newly Developed Elastomeric Impression Material

Objective: In gingival area, good flowability into the detail on a wet surface and high tear strength for marginal area are necessary for obtaining the accurate impression. The purpose of this study was to determine the tear strength and the flowability into the detail on a wet surface for newly developed elastomeric impression material "AGM-1" and other silicone impression materials.

Methods: AGM-1 (AGE, AGL: Extra Light Body, Light Body: GC), Aquasil Ultra (AX, AL: XLV, LV: Dentsply), ImprintII (IMII: Light Body: 3M ESPE), Imprint3 (IM3: Light Body: 3M ESPE), Flexitime (FT: Correct Flow: Heraeus Kulzer), AFFINIS PRECIOUS (AP: Light Body: coltene) and Genie (GX, GL: X-Light, Light: Sultan) were evaluated for the tear strength. The specimens were prepared according to "unnicked angle tear strength (ISO34)". Each impression material was mixed into the mold and remained for manufacturers' setting time in water at 35°C. After that, the specimens were immediately removed and loaded in tension until failure using an Autograph at 500 mm/min. Results were analyzed one-way ANOVA and Turkey test (p<0.05). Flowability into the detail on a wet surface was evaluated by using the mold consisted of agar with slit.

Results: The values of the tear strength were (standard deviation in brackets): AGE: 6.8N/mm (1.3N/mm), AGL: 7.9N/mm (1.0/mm), AX: 5.3N/mm (1.6N/mm), AL: 5.6N/mm (1.5N/mm), IMII: 4.4N/mm (1.0N/mm), IM3: 4.9N/mm (1.5N/mm), FT: 4.9N/mm (0.2N/mm), AP: 4.9N/mm (0.9N/mm), GX: 4.8N/mm (1.1N/mm), GL: 5.8N/mm (0.6N/mm), Significant differences were found between materials (n=3, p<0.05). The tear strength of AGL was significantly higher than those of other materials. Further, "AGM-1" had higher flowability into the detail on a wet surface than other materials.

Conclusions: "AGM-1" has high tear strength and flowability into the detail on a wet surface those are the optimal features for an accurate impression.