PRACTICES FOLLOWED FOR COMPLETE DENTURE IMPRESSIONS AMONG GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS- A SURVEY.

Aim: To determine the practices followed for complete denture impressions among general dental practitioners. Materials and Methods: The survey questionnaire consisted of 13 questions for dental practitioners to determine the practices followed for complete denture impressions. This questionnaire was validated by 10 dental practitioners and was sent to 600 general dental practitioners in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai fabricating complete dentures for patients. Conclusion: Irreversible hydrocolloid is the most commonly used primary impression material. Majority of the practitioners advocate the use of selective pressure technique for final impression. The trend of using a custom tray with spacer and providing relief holes still prevails. Low fusing impression compound and zinc oxide eugenol paste are the most preferred final impression material amongst dental practitioners. Majority of the dentists establish the posterior palatal seal area at the border molding stage. However, more awareness needs to be created to follow proper disinfection protocols. Clinical significance: Since there are numerous theories and philosophies of complete denture impression making, there is high variation in the method and materials followed by general dental practitioners. This survey will enable us to know the procedures followed by general dental practitioners during complete denture impressions and give us information about their belief and understanding of the influence of the method and materials used during complete denture impression making on the health of the oral tissues and on the retention, stability and support of the complete denture prosthesis.