A majority of the impressions taken in modern implant dentistry will be closed tray. Simply seat the impression post supplied by the specialist, take a confirmation x-ray, and take a high quality PVS or equivalent impression. Then send the impression and impression post to the lab.
Occasionally, it’s necessary to utilize an open tray impression technique. In order to do this, the dentist must order open tray impression posts from the appropriate manufacturer, cut enough access in a plastic impression tray for the tray to seat fully with the posts in place, and BE SURE to unscrew the impression posts prior to removing the impression from the patients mouth.
The open tray technique should be employed:
- When multiple implants are being restored and they are not parallel, being divergent more than 15 degrees
- For fully edentulous cases where all soft tissue and vestibules need to be captured
