Impression trays for teeth are found in the offices of most dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons. Dentist impression trays allow the dentist to take an impression of a patient's teeth for future reference and to pinpoint problems. It's important for dental workers to know how to properly use dental trays to get an accurate tooth impression.

Disposable impression trays need to be used properly in order for them to be safe and effective for the patient, and to be disposed of correctly in order to maintain sanitation in the office. Dental assistants and dental workers should receive dental impression trays education and training and:

1. Learn how to fill and apply impression trays.

2. Understand how to get an accurate impression in a dental tray.

3. Find out how to use and dispose of a dental impression tray safely.

Action Steps
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Learn how to correctly use a dentist impression tray

Dental assisting includes a range of responsibilities including patient health, cleaning, and using dental impression trays. It's important that dentists and assistants learn how to correctly prepare a disposable impression tray before application, and also how to apply it and remove it from the patient's mouth correctly.

I recommend: The Dental Implants Guide offers an informative educational video to teach you how to take a dental impression correctly and remove it once it's dry. DentalArticles.com offers several resources that explain the effects that water and certain chemicals have on specific types of impression trays for dental work.

Get an accurate impression with a dental tray with the right instruction

Dental impression trays allow a dentist to have a unique view of a patient's teeth that is vital for determining treatment and ensuring the patient's dental health. It's important for dental assistants and dentists to know how to take an accurate impression with a dental tray the first time.

I recommend: Take online continuing education courses pertaining to dental impression trays at PerioEducation.com. The site offers education courses in many dental-related topics, including dental trays and impression tools. Superior Dental teaches you how dental impression trays work and how to clean and sterilize them properly.

Find training that covers the different kinds of dentist impression trays

There are several different types of dental impression trays, and each is used for a specific purpose. It's important for dentists and dental assistants to learn about all kinds of dental trays and be able to determine which one is right for each patient. Be educated about all impression trays for teeth and their uses.

I recommend: Go to the Journal of the American Dental Association's website to learn the usage, benefits and drawbacks of using different kinds of dental impression trays. Visit Dentrek's website and download the guide to troubleshooting impression trays to learn how to handle problems when using an impression tray for dental work.

Dental impression trays can run relatively expensive on an individual use basis, but looking at quantity discounts and reusable models can help you save money. Disposable impression trays have their advantages, though, too. They don't require autoclaving, and plastic models have some of the lowest prices in the industry.

Dentist impression trays are necessary for a variety of uses including model creation, bleaching trays, fabrications of splints and bridge and crown work. Ensuring that your patient doesn't gag and that he or she has a tolerable experience with your teeth impression trays will also help form his or her opinion of your services and patient care.

When comparing impression trays for teeth, consider the following:

1. Are you looking for disposable impression trays vs. reusable dental trays?

2. If going with disposable impression trays, are you interested in plastic or the new disposable metal models available?

3. Are you interested in a solid or perforated style of dental tray?

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Purchase reusable impression trays for teeth

Consider buying reusable dental impression trays for your dentist office. They come in plastic or metal varieties.

I recommend: Look at the wide variety of tray options from Clinician's Choice Dental Products, Inc. DiaDent Group International offers a wide variety of plastic and metal impression trays for dentists. Harry J. Bosworth Company sells stainless steel impression trays that are autoclavable for extended use and wear. They also come in 32 solid or perforated styles.

Consider disposable impression trays

Disposable impression trays usually come with a quantity discount, and variety packs can be helpful to ordering multiple sizes at one time. They are a ultra sanitary means to taking impressions, and you can work the expense into your service fee.

I recommend: Originate Impression Trays by Axis Dental come 12 per pack. The ULTRA Twin-Tray Model System from Dental Ventures of America simplifies making double-arch impressions. Check out the clear disposable perforated universal anterior tray from DENTSPLY Raintree Essix. The come in bags of 12. Quantity discounts are available on Tri-Bite Impression Trays. Tri-Bite also offers a line of disposable metal trays as well.

Order crown and bridge dental impression trays

Purchase dental impression trays that are suitable to crown and bridge work.

I recommend: The Bite Relator 2000 - Dual-arch Stainless Steel Posterior Quadrant Impression Tray by Temrex are suitable for crown and bridge work. The 3M ESPE Directed Flow Impression Tray is a single-use tray that can be used for final impressions for crown and bridge work.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at metal trays, stainless steel impression trays offer two particular advantages over nickel-plated trays. Some patients may be allergic to nickel, and nickel plating can wear off. This leaves your trays looking old and worn.

Dental impression trays are used in a wide variety of ways in the office including modeling, bleaching and for the fabrication for crown work or bridges. The dental impression tray can be reusable or disposable. Trays come in many styles and sizes made of different materials, including plastic and metal.

The dental impression process is easier to understand when you start with the basic terms. Learning the key terms associated with dental impression trays can help in your search for the right trays for your office.

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Autoclaving

After each use, a reusable dental impression tray must be sterilized in some manner. The sterilization of the impression tray is called autoclaving. It is important to make sure any trays you plan to reuse are capable of autoclaving. Disposable trays are often referred to as nonautoclavable trays because they can't be sterilized for additional uses.

I recommend: Doctor NDTV defines the autoclaving process as it relates to both the dental and medical field. Examples and more descriptions of autoclaving impression trays are available at Impression Trays.

Dentulous

The dentulous impression tray is used to cast a mold of the current, or actual, teeth in a patient's mouth. Dentulous trays have deep inserts with sides so the molding material can easily fill in around the teeth being cast. The dentulous tray is the most common impression tray used in the office.

I recommend: Use the resources provided with the Border Lock disposable dental tray line to get a better understanding of the dentulous and edentulous trays.

Edentulous

The edentulous tray is used for casting an accurate molding of the gum area usually used for denture construction or prosthetic building. Trays used for edentulous molding are usually not as deep as those used in impression for teeth.

I recommend: Clinicians Choice explains the important steps needed in using edentulous trays.

Perforated

Trays with perforation have small holes, or perforations, around the impression tray to hold the molding material in place. Trays that do not have perforation are used to carry non-rigid impression materials such as alginate.

I recommend: The Junior Dentist gives a good overview of the dental impression tray and how perforated and non-perforated trays compare and work differently.

Alginate

Alginate is the typical material used by dentists to take impressions of teeth and gums for many different uses from building crowns or bridges to casting forms to use in restructuring.

I recommend: The Journal of American Dental Association has several articles that explain and compare alginate materials. The FX Supply website includes a definition of alginate for dental and other casting uses.

Double-arch impression

The double-arch impression is an impression of the upper and lower bites at the same time. It is usually used to compare the bites together and can be done in one step just like a single bite.

I recommend: Dental Ventures of America provides an overview of the double-arch impressions tray system. It includes tips on use and maintenance, plus a product demonstration.

Different dental impression trays are used for different dental procedures and check ups. It is important to have several different dental impression trays types and styles so you accommodate every patient's mouth. Since every medical appointment is bound to present a different situation, be sure you are prepared.

Not only it is important to know which type and style of dental impression tray to use, there are also disposable versus reusable trays. Knowing your dental impression trays types and styles will help you to better assist every patient that comes through the door.

1. The typical dentulous dental impression tray can help you assist most patients.

2. You can use edentulous impression trays for patients that need extra care.

3. There are both disposable impression trays and reusable dental trays that can benefit your office.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use dentulous dentist impression trays for every day office use

The dentulous type of dentist impression tray is used for typical castings of teeth due to its depth and ability to fill in around all the nooks and crannies of the teeth. The dentulous tray has tall sides and an impression that accommodates the roof of the patient's mouth.

I recommend: Border Lock gives a good description of a dentulous impression tray. SweetHaven Publishing Services defines and illustrates dentulous dental trays.

Use an edentulous dental impression tray for specialized cases

Edentulous impression trays for dentists are used for making dentures or other prosthetic devices. The edentulous tray is more shallow than the dentulous impression tray since it is used for getting a casting of the mouth and not for creating an impression of the teeth. Many times these patients either have none or fewer teeth. An impression tray for teeth therefore differs in its features and uses.

I recommend: Clinicians Choice discusses the uses of the edentulous dental impression trays. Global Dental Impression Trays details an innovative type of edentulous impression tray.

Decide whether disposable teeth impression trays or reusable dental trays are best for your office

Each dental office must decide whether it is beneficial to use disposable teeth impression trays or reusable dental trays. Reusable trays are made of plastic or metal and can be used over and over again. Disposable dental trays are designed to be used one time only. There are pros and cons to both, so it is important to weigh both options.

I recommend: DiaDent Group International explains the benefits of reusable plastic dental trays. Tri-Bite Impression Trays displays several types of disposable impression trays for teeth.