3M ESPE User Manual

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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