Replication techniques with new dental impression materials in combination with different negative impression materials.

New materials and new techniques have enabled the fabrication of more reliable and more accurate replicas. Not only is the reproduction of detail of importance, but the expertise required from the operator and the time involved to produce a replica are considered key factors. For various reasons a reliable and reproducible replication technique for scanning electron microscopy offers many advantages. Recently a new dental precision impression material has been introduced, which in combination with low viscosity resins has produced superior results over other techniques. This combination processed by means of a centrifugal casting machine has produced replicas which could easily be compared to a standard test die at magnifications up to 3000 X. More in depth testing will have to be performed to establish whether these materials can be universally applied to a broad spectrum of replication problems. The combination Reprosil/Spurr low viscosity imbedding medium yielded replicas of high quality which can be made with simple equipment and without possessing special skills. Centrifugation of the positive replication material into the negative impression virtually eliminated the entrapment of airbubbles.