In dentistry, the comfort of the patient is an important factor that has to be taken into consideration. Dental professionals’ goal is to not only heal their patients but also to make the procedure enjoyable for them. An important factor in this is the type of impression material used in the entire process. Condensation silicone is one of the most popular materials used in dentistry due to its amazing characteristics and possibility to increase the level of comfort for the patient.
Over the last few years, efforts have been made towards enhancing patient satisfaction in dental health facilities. This has, therefore, increased the demand for impression materials that are not only accurate but also friendly to the tissues of the patient. Condensation silicone impression material scores high marks on both these counts. Due to its soft consistency and low volatile matter, it is used in precision impression-taking without causing irritation to the patient. Let’s delve deeper into condensation silicone impressions, learning the best way to offer 100% patient satisfaction and comfort.
Understanding Condensation Silicone Impression Materials
Condensation silicone impression materials are impression materials that produce a copy of the surface details of a model or mold by hardening and curing on the surface of the model or mold.
These impression materials are categorized under dental impression material, which is recognized to have been in use for many years. They are characterized by high precision, low deformation, and ease of handling. However, one of their greatest strengths is the fact that they offer increased patient comfort.
The Science of Condensation Silicone
Condensation silicones consist of a base silicone paste and a catalyst silicone paste. When these two pastes are combined, a reaction happens, and the material becomes solid and rigid. In this process, there is a formation of what is referred to as an alcohol byproduct. Although this alcohol is regarded as harmless, it can be a problem for some patients due to skin sensitivity or allergies.
In response to this problem, manufacturers have produced condensation silicones with low or no odor at all. These materials employ a different catalyst which yields little or nil alcohol making them appropriate for sensitive patients.
Ensuring the Comfort of Patients through Condensation Silicone Impressions
- Soft Texture: Condensation silicone impressions have an inherent softness that does not exert pressure on the patient’s oral tissues. This minimizes the chances of causing pain or discomfort when taking impressions of the patient’s mouth.
- Low Viscosity: These impression materials have a low viscosity which facilitates their flowability and since there is no extreme pressure applied on the material, it is able to take all the required features of the oral structures.
- Quick Setting Time: Most condensation silicone impressions take a short time to set, meaning the amount of time the patient has to keep their mouth open and still is minimal. This can be especially helpful for a patient who is anxious or has a gag reflex present.
- Dimensional Stability: These impressions are characterized by good dimensional stability, that is, they do not change their dimensions and maintain the required accuracy. This is important in light of enhancing the success of dental restorations and prosthetic devices.
Selecting the Proper Condensation Silicone Impression Material
For choosing a condensation silicone impression material, the patient’s needs should be taken into consideration. Factors to consider include:
- Patient Sensitivity: Patients suffering from sensitive skin or those with allergies are advised to use low-odor or no-odor products.
- Impression Technique: The chosen material should also complement the impression technique used which is either a single step or two steps.
- Setting Time: The setting time should be as close to the patient’s comfort as possible depending on the type and difficulty of the impression.
- Cost: In this case, cost is an important consideration but should not be the only criterion to be used. Sometimes, choosing a better material can be more beneficial in the long run returning better results and better patient satisfaction.
Condensation Silicone: A Comparison with Other Impression Materials
Condensation silicone has a number of advantages compared to other impression materials, so it is widely used in dental practice. Here’s a brief comparison:
- Alginate: Alginate is used in the first impressions because it is easy to manipulate and comparatively cheap. However, it has a drawback in terms of accuracy and dimensional stability as compared to traditional manufacturing processes. Condensation silicone is more accurate than addition silicone and it can be used for both preliminary and final impressions.
- Polyether: Polyether impression materials are highly accurate and possess good dimensional stability suitable for functional crown and bridge frameworks. However, they can be more susceptible to moisture, and they can be less comfortable for the patients. Condensation silicone is less accurate compared to polyether but it provides good accuracy and comfort.
- Addition Silicone: Addition silicones are other types of impression materials that give high accuracy and a low degree of distortion. But they are often slightly more complex to operate and might need accessories. Condensation silicone, in contrast, is much easier to apply and does not need the same level of specialized equipment as the other two types of silicone.
Condensation Silicone – Future Trends
With the improvement of dental technology, there will be more improvements in the condensation silicone impression materials. Some potential trends include:
- Improved Accuracy: Manufacturers are always in the process of improving material types to provide higher accuracy and detail.
- Enhanced Patient Comfort: The present investigation is directed towards reducing any possible inconvenience that may be incurred during impression-making for patients with the most sensitive oral mucosa.
- Sustainability: Currently, there is a trend toward increasing the sustainability of dental products, and further specifications of condensation silicone might be created that are more environmentally friendly.
Condensation Silicone for the Comfort of the Patient
In conclusion, patient comfort during dental procedures is a factor that should not be overlooked when it comes to the issue of trust and satisfaction. Condensation silicone impression materials because of their easy-to-handle, low modulus of elasticity, low viscosity, and short setting time are a great asset in this regard.
For dental professionals in India who are looking for condensation silicone of superior quality, Dental Avenue has brought AVUE Dentasil – Condensation Silicone Putty/Light Body. It provides the best impression for the patients, as well as the best results for any dental procedures that will be done.
