IMPRESSION

TECHNIQUES IN
RPD
DEFINITION
IMPRESSION : A negative likeness or copy in reverse
of the surface of an object ; an imprint of teeth and
adjacent structures for use in dentistry

GPT – 8

PARTIAL DENTURE IMPRESSION : A negative likeness

of a part or all of a partially edentulous arch

GPT – 8
RPD IMPRESSION VS COMPLETE
DENTURE

COMPLETE DENTURE IMPRESSION

The edentulous mucosa with underlying
bone only

PARTIAL DENTURE IMPRESSION

Relative soft yielding tissues (the oral
mucosa) + hard unyielding substance
(the remaining teeth)

Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.

 IMPRESSION TRAYS

• A receptacle in to which suitable impression material is

placed to make negative likeness or a device that is used to
carry, confine and control impression material while making
an impression

Glossary of prosthodontic terms -8 th edn,

CLASSIFICATION

Impression trays

Stock trays Custom trays

Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.

 CLASSIFICATION
OF IMPRESSION MATERIALS
 Plaster

Compound
Non elastic
Waxes
Agar
Zno eugenol
Impression
materials Alginate
Aqueous
hydrocolloids Polysulphide
Elastic
Addition
silicone
Non aqueous
elastomers Silicones
Condensation
Polyether silicon

O’Brien Dental Materials & their Selection 1997

THE METHOD OF IMPRESSION MAKING

Residual
ridge

Anatomic Functional
form form

FUNCTIONAL
ANATOMIC FORM
FORM
 Anatomic Functional
impressions impressions

Irreversible Fluid
hydrocolloids waxes

Elastomeric Metallic pastes

impression
materials
Elastomeric
impression
Reversible materials
hydrocolloids
Soft
reliners
SUPPORT OF DISTAL EXTENSION BASED
PARTIAL DENTURE

Minor support
Abutment
teeth

Major support

Elastic fibrous
connective tissue pad
 FUNCTIONAL IMPRESSION
• The term functional impression means recording the functional
form of the residual ridge tissue & to obtain uniformity of
support when the functional load is applied

Record and
Distribute Accurately
relate the
the load delineate the
tissues
over as large peripheral
under
an area as extent of the
uniform
possible denture base
loading
NEED OF FUNCTIONAL IMPRESSION

The displaceability of the mucosa of

residual ridge is not uniform

In cases of distal extension based

partial denture

Short span distal extension

bases(KENNEDYS CLASS I and II)
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SUPPORT OF
DISTAL EXTENSION BASE

Contour & quality of residual ridge

Extent of residual ridge coverage by the

denture base

Type & accuracy of impression

registration
 Accuracy of fit of denture base

Design of partial denture framework

Total occlusal load applied

Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.

 METHODS OF FUNCTIONAL
IMPRESSION
SELECTED
PHYSIOLOGIC PRESSURE
IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE
McLean's method

Hindel’s modification
for McLean's method

Functional relining
method
The Fluid wax
technique
Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.
PHYSIOLOGIC IMPRESSION
TECHNIQUE

• This technique records the ridge

position by placing an occlusal load
on the impression tray as the
impression is being made.
• Produce a generalized displacement
of the mucosa to a greater or lesser
degree.
• This displacement record the tissue in
the configuration it would assume
when occlusal loading is applied to a
partial denture in function.

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

MCLEAN’S PHYSIOLOGIC METHOD
McLean “The basic problem of partial denture stabilization is to
equalize the resilient and non resilient support”

• Recording the tissues of the residual ridge would

eventually support a distal extension denture base in the
functional, or supporting form and then this functional
impression is related to the remainder of the arch by means
of a second impression

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

• Custom tray over a preliminary cast

• Functional impression of extension area under occlusal

load

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

• Hydrocolloid impression over the first impression made
under finger pressure

DISADVANTAGES

Finger pressure not equal to biting

pressure
Closely affect the direct retention

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

 HINDEL’S MODIFICATION

• Impression is made with a modified tray applying finger

pressure
• HINDLE’S FINGER LOADING

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

DISADVANTAGES:
• Tissues are in constant stage of compression
• Ischemia and bone resorption
• Premature contacts at rest

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THESE TECHNIQUES

WAS TO RELATE AN IMPRESSION OF THE
EDENTULOUS RIDGE TO THE TEETH UNDER A
FORM OF FUNCTIONAL LOADING
Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.
 FUNCTIONAL RELINE METHOD
LAYER OF RELIEF GIVEN DENTURE IS PROCESSED &
FITTED

• It should be worn for a trial period of a week & all needed

adjustments are done
• Relief metal is stripped off from the acrylic
• low fusing modeling compound is added in increments

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

 Border molding 1 mm modeling plastic is
done removed from the intaglio
surface

Occlusion altered
Fine line of
demarcation
between the old
Impression made using fluid wax, zinc- and new resin
oxide eugenol pastes or elastomeric
impression material
Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.
 FLUID WAX TECHNIQUE
• The term fluid wax refers to waxes that are firm in room
temperature and have the ability to flow at mouth
temperature
• THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED WAXES ARE

Korrecta
wax no 4 IOWA wax

Korrecta wax no. 4 is slightly more fluid than IOWA wax

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

Armantarium for fluid wax Undercuts eliminated
technique (51- 54̊ celsius) using baseplate wax

Separating medium Framework seated on

applied to the cast the cast

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.

 Tray material adapted 1-2 mm relief
Excess material
between residual ridge and intaglio
removed
surface of tray
• Tray border smoothed using laboratory bur. Should be 2 mm
short of border extension required.

Fluid wax painted onto the Completed

intaglio surface of tray (1 -2 mm) impression

• Assembly seated in patients mouth(5 -7 mins)

Stewart, rudd, kuebker : clinical removable partial prosthodontics.
 SELECTIVE PRESSURE
IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE
• Objectives of the technique are:-

To direct more
The force to those
Protect the areas
equalization of portions of the
of the ridge
support between ridge which is
which is least
the abutment able to absorb
able to absorb
teeth and the the stress
force
soft tissue without adverse
response

Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.

Framework tried on the Tray outline marked for
cast extension

Framework with tray Areas in which relief is to

fabricated on it with be provided is marked
holes on its ridge
Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.
Tray is being relieved before Acrylic resin impression
the final impression is made trays with holes

Framework with tray Functional

tried in patient’s mouth impression is made

Mccracken’s removable partial dentures-11 th edn.

 TECHNIQUES FOR POURING THE
CORRECTED CAST IMPRESSIONS
Boxing with a
plaster/pumice
mix & wax.

Beading Beading
& boxing TECHNIQUE with wax &
with wax S the two-
stage pour

North
Carolina
technique

Kenneth d rudd, morrow: dental lab, procedure for removable partial dentures
 ALTERED CAST TECHNIQUE
• Also known as corrected cast or split cast technique

ALTERED CAST : A final cast that is revised in

part before processing a denture base—called also
corrected cast, modified cast
ALTERED CAST PARTIAL DENTURE
IMPRESSION : A negative likeness of a portion or
portions of the denture bearing area(s) made
independent of and after the initial impression of the
natural teeth.
• It is a modification of functional impression through laboratory
procedure
• Functional impression for this technique can be made using any
mentioned materials and techniques.

Kenneth d rudd, morrow: dental lab, procedure for removable partial dentures
 Functional
Final impression
impression is made
All rests
occupy their
position on
cast

Edentulous area Framework with

cut on master cast attached impression
seated on master cast
Kenneth d rudd, morrow: dental lab, procedure for removable partial dentures
 Assembly from Borders are protected
underside of cast with utility wax

Newly obtained
casts

Kenneth d rudd, morrow: dental lab, procedure for removable partial dentures
 RECENT ADVANCES

• (CAD/CAM) technology has

increased the treatment options
available for clinicians
• CAD/CAM technology can
simplify treatment procedures and
reduce time and appointments, but
careful acquisition of data with
precise execution of clinical
procedures is essential to success
• Models can be prepared using
intraoral digital impression.

Mathew T. Kattadiyil, et al intraoral scanning of hard tissues (J Prosthet Dent 2014;112:444-448)