Dental impressions give your dentist a replica of your teeth and mouth, helping them plan treatments and design custom devices like crowns, aligners or dentures. Dentists create these impressions using either soft, moldable putty or advanced digital scanning technology.
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Dental impressions are molds of your teeth and surrounding oral tissues. Dentists use them to create a replica of your mouth, determine how your teeth fit together and plan treatments. They can be made with soft putty — often alginate or polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) — or a digital scanner.
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Impressions are used to make:
There are three main kinds:
Dentists use either traditional putty or digital tools.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Traditional (putty-based) impressions | Digital impressions |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | May feel bulky, can trigger gag reflex | More comfortable, especially if you have a strong gag reflex |
| Time | Takes a few minutes to set | Quick scanning, often faster |
| Accuracy | Very accurate | Equally or more accurate |
| Mess | Can leave slight residue | No residue |
| Feature | ||
| Comfort | ||
| Traditional (putty-based) impressions | ||
| May feel bulky, can trigger gag reflex | ||
| Digital impressions | ||
| More comfortable, especially if you have a strong gag reflex | ||
| Time | ||
| Traditional (putty-based) impressions | ||
| Takes a few minutes to set | ||
| Digital impressions | ||
| Quick scanning, often faster | ||
| Accuracy | ||
| Traditional (putty-based) impressions | ||
| Very accurate | ||
| Digital impressions | ||
| Equally or more accurate | ||
| Mess | ||
| Traditional (putty-based) impressions | ||
| Can leave slight residue | ||
| Digital impressions | ||
| No residue |
Dental impressions don’t hurt, but the material can feel uncomfortable or trigger a gag reflex for some people. If you’re concerned, let your dentist know. They can recommend ways to make it easier.
You don’t need to do much to prepare, but it helps to:
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Your dentist ships your impressions to a lab. A technician makes your appliance. This process takes one to several weeks. If you’re waiting on something like a crown or bridge, your dentist may offer a temporary solution.
Afterward, you may have a lingering taste in your mouth or pieces of the material left over. But you can rinse your mouth or have a sip of water. There are no eating or drinking restrictions unless your dentist says otherwise.
Dental impressions help your dentist ensure your appliance fits comfortably and works as it should, giving you the best possible results.
Dental impressions are a small but important step toward a healthier, confident smile. Your dentist is there to help you feel as comfortable as possible and to answer any questions you have.
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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Dentistry plays an important role in oral health. Cleveland Clinic’s experts can design a personalized plan that will keep you smiling for the long haul.
