Impression (Dental)

An Impression (Dental) is a negative replica of the teeth and gums made to capture the precise contours and relationships of oral structures. Traditional impressions involve placing a tray filled with a soft, setting material such as alginate or silicone over the teeth until it sets, while digital impressions use an intraoral scanner to capture a 3D image without impression material; both approaches aim to produce an accurate cast or digital model for laboratory work.

Dental impressions are essential for planning and fabricating restorations and appliances including crowns, bridges, dentures, inlays/onlays and orthodontic devices, and they influence the fit, function and comfort of the final result. The choice between conventional and digital techniques depends on the clinical situation, required accuracy and patient factors like gag reflex or comfort, and clinicians will select the method that provides the best detail for the intended treatment.