• Custom Tray
• The Final Impression

The Custom Tray

The custom tray should be both strong and adjustable. It needs to withstand the dimensional changes that can occur in the setting impression material and due to the dentist’s finger pressure during the set. It needs to be readily adjustable in order to achieve a suitable and comfortable fit to the patient’s oral anatomy in a timely manner. These features will ultimately provide the patient with a comfortable, custom-made impression tray.

Fabrication of the Custom Impression Tray

Armamentarium for the self-curing methyl methacrylate custom impression tray include:

• Baseplate wax and knife
• Separating fluid and brush
• Autopolymerizing acrylic resin
• Spatula and mixing container
• Tray former and roller
• Scalpel
• Straight angle and carbide acrylic trimming burs

Light-cured sheets of composite resin can also be used in place of the methyl methacrylate. One advantage to this material is the absence of chemical fumes. Disadvantages include somewhat greater cost; also the debris formed from trimming light-cured materials is tenacious to clothing and surfaces in the dental operatory and laboratory and more difficult to contain.