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Inside Dentistry
October 2013
Volume 9, Issue 10

3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material

Impression taking that enhances patient and operator experience

Ben Miraglia, DDS

To a patient having a full-arch impression captured, a 4-minute setting time can feel more like a week. Waiting for impression material to set is also not a favorite activity for members of the dental team, who would happily attend to other things if given the opportunity.

A new, incredibly fast-setting vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression material is improving patient comfort and giving valuable minutes back to the dental team. 3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material has a set time of just 75 seconds—the shortest on the market.

Active Self-Warming Speeds Setting Time

With speed approaching an alginate and the same comfortable working time that dentists know from Imprint™ 3 VPS impression material, Imprint 4 impression material provides precision and accuracy. Its fast setting time is made possible by an “active self-warming” feature, which was developed exclusively for this new material. During the working time, the material stays at room temperature and gives the team ample time for dispensing and applying wash material. However, once the tray is inserted, the heat of the patient’s mouth causes a chemical reaction that leads the material to actively and quickly warm up to body temperature, substantially accelerating the intraoral setting. The prior working time is not affected, so dentists can easily observe good impression-taking technique and avoid problems in capturing the impression, ensuring reliable results.

Hydrophilicity for Excellent Detail Capture

Imprint 4 VPS impression material is also formulated with “super hydrophilicity,” which helps it capture enhanced detail. Even in its unset state, the material shows behavior that is more hydrophilic than any other VPS impression material.

The results of these combined qualities are incredibly detailed impressions that can be captured efficiently and with minimal discomfort for patients. The material is ideal for challenging cases such as clear aligners, which require extremely accurate full-arch impressions, and from which an entire series of aligners is fabricated. In many cases, it can be difficult to ensure a dry field for a full-arch impression, as interference from the cheek or tongue is common. But with a material that is extremely hydrophilic, a little moisture is no threat to accuracy. In addition, although traditional full-arch impressions can be even more uncomfortable for patients than impressions for a single crown or quadrant, the fast setting time of Imprint 4 VPS impression material can significantly improve the patient’s experience as compared to a traditional VPS material.

Improved Taste and Smell for Patient Comfort

Imprint 4 VPS impression material was designed with patient comfort in mind. In addition to the fast setting time, the material offers a pleasant mint taste and smell that makes the impression-taking process more palatable for patients.

With a long working time, short setting time, excellent hydrophilicity, and a pleasant taste and smell, Imprint 4 VPS impression material is an efficient and patient-friendly tool for capturing reliable and accurate impressions.

About the Author

Ben Miraglia, DDS, is in private practice in Mount Kisco, New York.

For more information, contact:

3M ESPE
Phone: 800-634-2249
Web: www.3MESPE.com/Imprint4

Disclaimer

The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. The statements and opinions contained therein are solely those of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dentistry.

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