Impression materials: a comparative review of impression materials most commonly used in restorative dentistry.

Impression materials are used to record intraoral structures for the fabrication of definitive restorations. Accurate impressions are necessary for construction of any dental prosthesis. The relationship between static and mobile oral structures must be reproduced accurately for an optimum cast. The more common types of impressions are used for fabricating diagnostic and master casts. Accurate impressions depend on identifying the applications that do or do not fit each material's characteristics. Materials used without adequate knowledge of their characteristics can impair a successful outcome. Often, the choice of impression materials depends on the subjective choice of the operator based on personal preferences and past experience with particular materials.