Handling of Polyvinylsiloxane Versus Polyether for Implant Impressions

Purpose: This study compared polyvinylsiloxane with polyether in handling dental impressions. Materials and Methods: Each participant (N = 39) made four impressions, each a combination of pickup and reseating techniques with polyether or polyvinylsiloxane, of one implant cast representing a specific clinical situation (tooth gaps, limited residual dentition, or edentulous jaw). Handling of impressions was subsequently rated by using a 12-item questionnaire with 100-mm visual analog scales. Results: While mean satisfaction scores were higher for polyvinylsiloxane than for polyether (69.5/63.0, P .001), differences among subgroups were statistically significant only for pickup technique, limited residual dentition, and edentulous jaw. Conclusion: Implant impressions made with polyvinylsiloxane using a pickup technique seem to be the best option for most clinical situations.