3M ESPE manual

When fabricating upper and lower dentures, it is best to make the impressions simultaneously with the teeth lightly in occlusion. Always insert the maxillary denture first, making sure it is completely seated, and do an open-mouth border molding technique for the posterior border— picking up the hannular notches and posterior tuberosity areas. Simply have the patient open very wide

and move the jaw side to side to establish the thickness of the posterior tuberosity areas. With the mandibular denture, you want a “closed mouth” border molding technique; after you insert the denture, have the patient lift his/her tongue to record the sublingual frenulum and sublingual mylohyoid area — floor of the mouth.

Remove the dentures after the impression material sets and carefully trim away all impression material which is on the tissue surfaces, leaving an established border (Figure 4).

Border molding with the heavy body first, accomplishes two things. It creates a seal and makes a loose denture fit, and it lifts the denture off the tissue slightly — approximately 1/2mm, which creates relief for the final wash. The heavy body polyvinylsiloxane is ideal for border molding an existing denture as it will not overextend and will roll to the existing borders. This maintains the length and thickness of these borders.

1. Have the patient rinse out with very cold water for 1–2 minutes.

The cold water will shrink the tissues and reduce inflammation making an impression with the maxillary arch constricted. Often the maxillary arch will expand slightly to compensate for an ill-fitting denture.

2.Dry the ridges.

3.Make the final impression with “extra light” or “light” body wash (Figure 5). Avoid overfilling the anterior of the maxillary denture with impression material.

4.Always seat the maxillary denture prior to the mandibular denture when making the impressions simultaneously. Completely seat the maxillary denture and have the patient open wide, moving the jaw side to side. Insert the mandibular denture, and have the patient lift the tongue and border mold. Have the patient hold his/her teeth lightly in occlusion while the impression material sets.

Figure 4

Figure 5

5