Investigation of a new approach to measuring contact angles for hydrophilic impression materials.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the initial water contact angles of seven unset impression materials using commercially available equipment, in an effort to determine whether polyether impression materials (Impregum) have lower contact angles and are, therefore, more hydrophilic than VPS impression materials.

Materials And Methods: The hydrophilic properties of unset polyether and VPS impression materials were analyzed with respect to their water contact angle measurements using the commercially available Drop Shape Analysis System DSA 10. Twenty-five data points per second were collected via video analysis.

Applicable research in practice: understanding the hydrophilic and flow property measurements of impression materials.

The flow properties and hydrophilicity of an impression material are key factors that affect its performance. This article details in vitro studies comparing these properties in 1 polyether and several vinyl polysiloxane light-body impression materials. The first series of studies examined the materials' flow properties used in a "shark fin" measurement procedure to determine which exhibited superior flow characteristics.