Impregum™ Soft Polyether impression material: "Far fewer takes and brag-worthy impressions..."

Surely it’s no news when I suggest that the better the impression, the better the results from the lab will be. Impressions for crown and bridge are a source of frustration and anxiety for many dentists.

Anything that will improve results on a consistent basis is a good thing. I also will say that since I started using a diode laser to “retract” the gingival tissues

around a prep, the results have been even better.

Combine a diode laser with Impregum™ Soft Polyether impression material, and you get precise impressions. It also seems that crowns require even less adjustment now than before. I can’t quantify that very well, but it just seems that way to my assistant and me when we’re capturing impressions and seating final restorations.

I started using Impregum material about 1990. At the time it required hand-mixing. Then VPS materials came out with

guns and automix cartridges, and I quickly abandoned Impregum material for that reason alone. I did not like hand mixing anything. Of course, the Pentamix™ 3 Automatic Mixing Unit solves that old issue.

While I wasn’t having any real problems with my impressions (other than occasional “pulls” in VPS impressions), I’m always looking for any extra edge I can get.

Last year the folks at 3M ESPE convinced me to try Impregum material again with the Pentamix machine. Now my impressions are prettier, for lack of a better term, and simply superb in capturing detail.

Why choose Impregum material?

There are a lot of reasons, as I discovered. The first is it’s the only truly hydrophilic impression material (except reversible hydrocolloid), which produces stunning marginal reproduction. Another reason is the “snap set.” Whereas VPS materials begin setting (linearly) as soon as they are mixed, this material has a very flat curve during the working time, and then sets rapidly at the end. This eliminates those pesky drags and voids common with VPS materials.

As much as I hate to admit it (after using VPS materials for many years), there is a significant difference in the satisfaction I feel after getting an impression, especially multiple units. The marginal detail is outstanding, especially when I use a diode laser for retraction.

Why recommend it to colleagues?

Sometimes it’s good to go “old school” on certain things. While Impregum material has been around long enough to be “old school,” it merits the attention of dentists who are particular about results.

Getting a fantastic impression of a full arch prep, or a single unit, consistently on the FIRST TRY is a great feeling. Using the Pentamix machine to mix and dispense it makes it easy and gives an excellent homogenous, void-free mix. Far fewer retakes and brag-worthy impressions makes Impregum material a no-brainer.