Make a great first dental impression
Less mess, less stress and more control at every step - because a great fitting dental restoration should never be a surprise.
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Teeth Impression taking can be challenging! Want better teeth impressions?
Even the most experienced clinician can encounter clinical challenges with the dental impression procedure.
Inaccurate results can lead to remakes and adjustments, slowing you down.
Slow setting times leave patients uncomfortable for too long.
And short working-times put you under pressure.
Benefits of 3M dental impression materials
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Take all the time you needYou can use the indicated working time reliably to full capacity – inaccuracies associated with premature setting are avoided. And once the working time is over, setting starts immediately.
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Unmatched precisionThe excellent flow properties of our dental impression materials let you capture the finest details, producing teeth impressions with incredible accuracy.
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Super hydrophilicity for accurate detailOur hydrophilic materials displace blood and saliva right from the first contact with tissue, leading to excellent, void-free detail reproduction.
Choose the dental impression material that fits your need
Gold Standard |
Innovative |
Classic |
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3M™ Impregum™ Polyether Impression MaterialImpregum polyether impression materials feature high level accuracy of detail and dimensional stability resulting in precise-fitting restorations. |
3M™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression MaterialVinyl Poly Siloxane impression material Imprint 4 features an extremely short intra-oral setting time. Active self-warming is the key, triggered by a unique chemical reaction. |
3M™ Express™ 2 VPS Impression MaterialThe Express™ 2 VPS range offers impression materials designed for the 1-step and the 2-step impression technique with a variety of viscosities - ranging from putty to ultra-light body. |
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Accuracy and detail reproduction |
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Hydrophilicity |
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Key feature |
Constant flow | Short setting time through active self-warming | High tear resistance |
Material |
Polyether | VPS | VPS |
| FIND OUT MORE | FIND OUT MORE | FIND OUT MORE |
Designed to simplify your success - from start to finish.
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1. RetractA great dental impression starts with controlling tissue and moisture. The extra-fine tip of the 3M™ Retraction Capsule delivers haemostatic paste where it belongs—right into the sulcus—to gently retract tissue and control bleeding.
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2. Mix & SyringeAutomix for better outcomes.
Improve your procedure’s efficiency with an automatic mixing machine that reduces material inconsistencies and voids with quick dispensing.
3M™ Pentamix™ Lite Automatic Mixing UnitRestorations with accurate margins drop into place. With 3M™ Intra-oral Syringes, you can apply wash material exactly where it’s needed to capture every marginal detail.
3M™ Intra-oral Syringes -
3. ImpressVPS and polyether material choices are designed to enhance your success. Choose Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material for everyday procedures or Impregum™ Polyether Impression Materials for your more challenging cases.
"Impregum is preferred due its hydrophilicity and low chance of bubbling. My dental technician favours Impregum as it produces high rates of success. I only use polyether materials in my practice."
Everything you need to know to make a great dental impression
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Dental Impression Selection made easyChoose the best dental impression material for your procedure and make the selection process easy and fast.
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Case: Predictable Implant ImpressionsUsing 3M™ Impregum™ Soft Quick Step Polyether Impression Material
Clinical case by Dr. Izchak Barzilay -
Case: Implant-based all-ceramic restorationUsing Impregum Penta™ Polyether
Impression Material – open tray (pick-up) and closed tray (snap-on) technique
Clinical case by Dr. Gunnar Reich | Private Practitioner
Dive a little deeper with insights from industry experts
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Troubles? No way! Strategies leading to accurate impressions
Accurate dental impressions for precisely fitting restorations: Effective measures shared by an experienced trainer help minimise risks in the impression procedure.
Author: Günther Schlosser | Training Manager
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Get your dental impression procedure under control.
Even the most experienced clinician can encounter clinical challenges with the dental impression procedure.
Our impression troubleshooting guide gives you the information you need to address common issues, determine potential causes and provide solutions to make accurate impressions every time. (PDF 7MB)
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Click the link to download your copy of the Impression Troubleshooting Guide (PDF, 6.8MB).
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On-Demand Webinar:
10 Golden Rules for perfect dental impressionsIn this on-demand webinar we will help you to identify common dental impression problems, determine potential causes and provide solutions to get your impression procedure under control.
Our speakers: Dr. Akit Patel, BDS MFDS RCS, MClinDent (Pros), MRD RCS and Dr. John Rafelt 3M™ Clinical Specialist
Free on-demand webinar (59min)
Ready to give 3M dental impression materials a try?
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A representative will schedule an in-office or a virtual demo.
No purchase necessary.The information you provide on this form will be used to respond to your request through email or telephone by a 3M representative or by one of our authorised business partners with whom we might share your personal information consistent with the 3M privacy policy.
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Dental impression taking clinical recommendations
Achieve better outcomes – every time, by simplifying and standardising your dental impression taking procedures with our research-based recommendations from five leading clinical experts.
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Success Simplified in the dental impression taking workflow
Indirect restorative procedures are highly complex. They consist of many different clinical and laboratory steps, and each separate step involves a number of clinical challenges.
That's why 3M has worked with five expert clinicians to develop a consensus for best-practice recommendations in prosthodontic procedures. These are based on the latest scientific research findings and personal long-term experience in clinical environments.
- Learn more about Success Simplified
- Get to know our five expert clinicians
- Download our free PDF booklet with all 7 steps of the indirect workflow
The impression taking clinical recommendations are based on 3 basic rules:
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1. Select the simplest possible way that ensures reliable impression taking results -
2. Be as minimally invasive as possible -
3. Ensure cost-efficiency for the dentist and the patient
Consistent quality in dental impression taking enabled by simplification and standardization
In the dental impression taking procedure, several different materials and techniques are available. Elastomers are the best materials to comply with the requirements needed for indirect restorations. Polyether, for example, produces highly accurate results in a single step using one or two different viscosity materials (monophase or one-step). Vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) is the most widely used material for one- or two-step techniques, again using two different viscosities. In many clinical situations, digital impression taking is now a predictable method that facilitates a direct transfer of the intraoral situation into the virtual world of CAD/CAM procedures.
Hence, while there are some restrictions, there is usually more than one possible technique to success and the decision is often based on individual preferences; however, some are more suitable than others. In this context, standardization appears to be the most decisive factor for success. Using the same materials and workflow every time will lead to mastering techniques and delivery of an accurate/precise impression and facilitate collaboration and communication with the dental laboratory. The most important piece of information is the impression, a prerequisite for predictable results in achieving the best fitting restoration, marginal integrity and fewest chairside adjustments.
In the following, clinical recommendations are given separately for gingiva management and tray selection, as well as for impression taking itself. Each choice should be based on the following criteria: Substrate (tooth or implant), indication, margin position, and number of prepared teeth (Table 1).
Healthy tissues are an important basis in allowing the clinician to achieve an accurate impression. Hence, the process should be postponed whenever the soft tissue shows signs of marked inflammation. In this case, it is recommended to condition the gingiva with a provisional restoration and optimization of home cleaning regime. Dental impression taking should be delayed for a minimum of two weeks or until the soft tissue environment has improved. This way, a high-quality impression is ensured.
As the dental impression material is only able to reproduce what is not covered by tissue, the dentist needs to ensure that the preparation margins are accessible and that the impression material can flow throughout the preparation. Depending on the margin position, different procedures are recommended for management of the gingiva, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Summary of clinical recommendations for appropriate gingiva management.
Recommendations from the expert group
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Supra-gingival margin position
If the margin is in a supragingival position, it is not usually necessary to retract the gingiva, however, this is dependent on the proximity of the margin in relation to the gingiva. For some retraction and for hemostasis, single cord (braided or knitted) and / or 3M™ Astringent Retraction Paste may be used.
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Equigingival margin position
If the preparation margin is at the level of the gingiva, at least one retraction cord (braided or knitted, soaked with aluminum chloride) should be used. The double-cord technique is not recommended in patients with thin gingival biotype if working in the esthetic zone. Astringent Retraction Paste may be used as an adjunct for retraction and hemostasis on top of the first cord.
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Subgingival margin position
In this case, the best possible results are obtained using the double-cord technique. Again, braided or knitted retraction cords soaked with aluminum chloride should be used. Astringent Retraction Paste may be used as an adjunct for retraction and hemostasis on top of the second cord (space permitting) and / or after removal of the second, where bleeding may persist.
Substrate: Tooth Indication: Crown Margin position: Subgingival Number of restorations: 1 to 3
Recommendation: Double cord + Retraction paste
Selection criteria for choosing the right tissue management technique should take into account the margin position, gingiva biotype and the amount of bleeding.
Regardless of the technique, the tissues need to be respected and therefore any displacement should be carried out with minimum trauma.
One of the recommended procedures – the use of the double-cord technique on a molar with a subgingival crown margin – is illustrated in the following clinical photographs.
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- Excess aluminum chloride removed from a pre-soaked retraction cord using a cotton roll.
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- Placement of the first retraction cord (size 00, GingiKNIT+, Kerr). This cord should NOT be removed during impression taking (this also applies to the single-cord technique).
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- Occlusal view with the first cord barely visible in the sulcus.
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- Occlusal view with the second, thicker cord placed on top of the first one.
Tip: Always choose the largest possible size that will fit into the sulcus.
A periodontal probe to gauge the sulcus width and depth may be used to determine the cord size.-
- Application of 3M™ Astringent Retraction Paste into the sulcus (to stop bleeding whilst maintaining tissue retraction after removal of the second cord).
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- 3M™ Astringent Retraction Paste applied on top of the first cord.
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- Retraction paste was completely removed after 2 minutes with air-water spray and suction. Situation is now ready for the precision impression. (Images courtesy of Dr. Akit Patel)
2. Dental impression tray selection
For precision impressions, a rigid, sturdy impression tray made of metal, acrylic or plastic should be selected. Rigidity is an important property, as deformation of the tray and / or material will lead to inaccuracies in the final impression. The use of a non-perforated rigid tray is highly recommended with uniform space (2 to 3 mm) around the teeth.
To improve the fit of the impression tray, stops and supports may be added. VPS putty, composite tray or impression compound material may be used to place dorsal stops, occlusal stops and palatal support. An alternative option is the production of custom trays for example in complex cases, an abnormal arch form or patients with pronounced gag reflexes.
For metal and rigid plastic trays, the use of a tray adhesive is mandatory. Clinicians should be careful to use an adhesive that is compatible with the selected impression material, i.e. polyether tray adhesive for polyether impression materials and VPS tray adhesive for VPS materials. Only rigid plastic trays with an internal fleece such as the 3M™ Impression Tray do not need any tray adhesive.
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Rigid, non-perforated metal and plastic trays are recommended in most cases. (Source: 3M Oral Care)
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Placement of dorsal stops on a metal tray …
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… using Green Stick Impression Compound (DPI). (Images courtesy of Dr. Akit Patel)
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Single-use 3M™ Impression Tray designed with a fleece strip, which eliminates the need for a tray adhesive. (Source: 3M Oral Care)
3. Dental impression material and technique
There are primarily two material classes that are widely accepted for precision impressions: Polyethers and A-type (addition-cured) silicones (VPS). Due to their low cost, C-type silicones (condensation-cured) are also still being used in some dental practices. However, their material-inherent high polymerization shrinkage leads to an inferior dimensional accuracy of the impression and therefore their use is not recommended for precision work.
Polyether impression materials are hydrophilic by their inherent chemical nature, which supports precise capturing of detailed surfaces in the moist oral environment. In addition, they offer a constant flowability throughout the working time, with a rapid set in the end resulting in high predictability and reliable accuracy. Other properties of polyether include its very low shrinkage, a good elastic recovery, high rigidity, tear strength and dimensional stability. Polyether impression materials are suitable for monophase and 1-step techniques. When the medium-body material is used in the monophase technique, the material exhibits shear thinning, so the material acts in a similar way as a light bodied viscosity material to capture all fine details for reproduction.
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Hydrophobic (this image) versus hydrophilic behaviour of a water droplet on impression material (schematic pictures).
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Hydrophobic versus hydrophilic (this image) behaviour of a water droplet on impression material (schematic pictures). Source: 3M Oral Care internal data. Data available on request at 3M Oral Care
A-type silicones – also known as VPS impression materials – are hydrophobic (i.e. water-resistant). By the addition of surfactants (wetting agents), it is possible to increase the material’s hydrophilicity even in the unset state. In addition, there are great variations of the flow behavior during the working time offered by different materials with a flow reduction seen especially towards the end of the working time. General advantages of VPS are their superior elastic recovery, high dimensional stability over time, and neutral taste.
Generally, polyether and VPS impression materials are suitable for making impressions of natural teeth and implants. Due to the higher initial hydrophilicity and constant flow behavior of polyethers, they may show a superior reproduction of the relevant details, especially in more complex cases where extra working time is needed. Based on this assumption, they are often preferred in clinically challenging situations and recommended for implant cases with multiple units. Our recommendation is that if a VPS impression material is used, the clinician should select a product, which is hydrophilic already in the unset state and offers good flow properties; e.g. 3M™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material.
Comparison of polyether vs. VPS impression materials based on the expert consensus.
The material viscosity should be chosen depending on the technique used.
The following are recommendations for an optimized outcome:
- Monophase technique: medium body in syringe and tray (polyether only)
- One-step technique: medium / heavy body in tray and light body wash in syringe and optionally, in addition on top of tray material (polyether or VPS)
- Two-step technique: putty in tray and light body in syringe and in tray (VPS only)
Overview of recommended impression techniques per material.
Finally, the working and setting times may be selected depending on the number of prepared teeth or implants.
Working speed is an operator-dependent factor that needs to be selected individually.
The recommendations below are based on the experts’ experience.
* for monophase (medium body) materials, it is recommended to use the super quick material for single-unit cases only.
Recommended implant impression techniques
Accurate dental impressions are critical to achieving an optimal fit. The implant position must be accurately transferred to the master cast. Implants are osseo-integrated with no mobility in order to be able to compensate for any minimal fit inaccuracies of the restoration with the need of an exact three-dimensional fixation of the implant position and its error-free transmission to the gypsum model.
There are numerous impression techniques for making implant impressions. To assist in selecting the appropriate impression material for each technique, refer to the following overview.
Dental Impression Techniques and Material Recommendations
Technique: Open Tray Direct Pick-Up Impression Technique
Material: 3M™ Impregum™ (Penta™) Soft Polyether Impression Materials
or 3M™ Impregum™ Super Quick Polyether Impression Materials
Technique: Closed Tray Direct Snap-On Impression Technique
Material: 3M™ Impregum™ (Penta™) Soft Polyether Impression Materials
or 3M™ Impregum™ Super Quick Polyether Impression Materials
or 3M™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Materials
Technique: Closed Tray Indirect Transfer Impression Technique
Material: 3M™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Materials
Comparison of Open Tray vs. Closed Tray impression technique based on the expert recommendations
Case 1: Impression taking for tooth with Polyether Fast Set
Substrate: Tooth Indication: Crown Margin position: Subgingival Number of restorations: 1 to 3
Recommendation: Polyether Fast Set
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1-step impression taken with 3M™ Impregum™ Super Quick Polyether Impression Material (Heavy Body and Light Body).
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Images courtesy of Prof. Jan-Frederik Güth
Case 2: Impression taking for tooth with VPS Fast Set
Substrate: Tooth Indication: Crown Margin position: Subgingival Number of restorations: 1 to 3
Recommendation: VPS Fast Set
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Impression taken with 3M™ Imprint™ 4 Penta™ Heavy Body and 3M™ Imprint™ 4 Light Body VPS Impression Material in the 1-step technique. -
This impression material is also able to capture the relevant details very precisely.
Images courtesy of Prof. Carlos E. Sabrosa
Case 3: Impression taking for implant with Polyether Regular Set
Substrate: Implant Indication: Impression post Margin position: Supragingival Number of restorations: 1 to 3
Recommendation: Polyether Regular Set
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- Open custom tray (direct) pick-up with two impression posts in place.
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- 3M™ Impregum™ Penta™ Medium Body Polyether Impression Material using monophase technique.
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- Detailed impression with impression posts.
Images courtesy of Dr. Akit Patel
- Detailed impression with impression posts.
Tip: Polyether impression materials show ideal shore hardness and rigidity to keep impression copings securely in place and prevent inaccurate recording of the implant position. In addition, they offer sufficient working time and flowability even for complex cases.
Case 4: Impression taking for implant with Polyether Fast Set
Substrate: Implant Indication: Impression post Margin position: Supragingival Number of restorations: 1 to 3
Recommendation: Polyether Fast Set
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- Closed tray (indirect) transfer using an impression post
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- Syringing of 3M™ Impregum™ Penta™ Super Quick Medium Body Polyether Impression Material around the post.
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- Impression taken in the monophase technique with coping in-situ.
Images courtesy of Dr. Akit Patel
Recommendations for handling and transportation for dental impressions
Without doubt, the impression is the most important piece of information arriving in the dental laboratory prior to the production of an indirect restoration. High quality and accurate impressions are the prerequisite for a precise fit and a perfect marginal integrity of the restoration, which, in turn, eliminates the need for laborious adjustments.
As described above, the selection of the right materials and techniques for tissue management and impression taking as well as the establishment of standardized workflows can support dental practitioners in obtaining predictable outcomes every time. In order to avoid any loss of quality during storage and transport to the dental laboratory, material-specific recommendations need to be respected. Polyether and VPS impressions should be placed in a standard disinfectant solution commonly used for impressions before storing them dry and below 30° C/86° F in the dark. During transport to the laboratory, they are ideally wrapped in dry paper absorbing any residual surface moisture. The moisture should be able to escape and a constant temperature needs to be ensured.
When the impression is shipped in this way and arrives with a precise description and order form, the partner dental technician will find ideal conditions for the production of high-quality restoration
Conclusion of precision impression taking
When planning to take precision impressions, the clinician needs to make several decisions: to manage the soft tissues atraumatically, to choose the correct tray for optimum support and flowability of the material and to match the material and technique correctly to the indication in order to obtain the desired result.
With so many variables in the procedure, it is essential to standardize procedures. This should include checking several factors before and after the impression.
Before, clinicians should ensure that:
- there is uniform space (2 to 3 mm) between tray and the teeth
- all distal teeth are included in the impression
- path of insertion and removal of impression tray is rehearsed
- any necessary undercuts are blocked out
Afterwards, they should check if:
- all required details (teeth, prep and margins) are recorded
- impression material is sealed to the tray
With these factors in mind, it will be possible to provide highly accurate impressions to the dental laboratory.
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Choose the dental cement material that fits your need with the help of our overview.
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Achieve better outcomes by simplifying your indirect restoration workflow.
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