How to Use Dental Putty in Your Practice

Dental putty is an essential tool for a wide variety of dental procedures, from precise crown molding to intricate implant planning. Yet, despite its widespread use, the nuances of handling and applying this versatile material often leave even seasoned professionals seeking clarity. 

Whether you’re a new dental professional looking for a bit of guidance or you’re a seasoned veteran looking for a quick refresher, we’ll show you how to use dental putty here in this guide - dissolving those uncertainties and equipping you with confidence.

From the preparation of putty to application, aftercare, and even the digitalization of impression-taking - we’ll cover it all so you can harness the full power this supply has to offer. The best part? You’ll also discover the finest supply of dental putty just a click away at My DDS Supply, where quality meets convenience.

What is Dental Putty? 

First things first - what is dental putty? It’s a malleable, clay-like substance used by dentists to create accurate impressions of a patient's teeth and oral cavity. 

Putty is a critical component in the fabrication of dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and implants, as well as various orthodontic appliances. 

Formulated from silicones, dental putty exhibits excellent dimensional stability and detail reproduction, ensuring that the final restorations fit precisely and comfortably.

This impression material comes in two parts: a base and a catalyst. They undergo a chemical reaction when mixed which causes the putty to set. 

The working time - the period during which the dentist can manipulate the material - varies between products, allowing for flexibility in different clinical situations. You can choose a fast-setting or standard-setting putty depending on your goals.

Dental putty's strength and resistance to tearing make it a reliable choice for capturing the intricate details of the gingival tissues and tooth structures, which are paramount for successful dental work. 

Its consistency and ease of use make it a staple in dental practices, proving its value in both routine and complex dental procedures. Unfortunately, though, we still see common dental impression errors made across the industry. So - we’ll walk you through how to use dental putty below to avoid all this!

How to Use Dental Putty in Your Practice

The proper use of dental putty is what separates the industry-leading professionals from the rest. The right techniques save you time and stress all while ensuring more favorable patient outcomes - which is what every dentist strives for in their practice. So, here’s how to use dental putty in your practice.

Preparation Before Use

Prior to using dental putty, it's important to select the appropriate type for the procedure at hand. This choice will be influenced by the required working and setting times, which can vary based on the clinical situation. 

Once selected, ensure that the area for the impression is clean and dry to prevent any interference with the setting process. This is also a good opportunity to read our guide on how to soften dental putty, as it will be far easier to work with.

The base and catalyst must be blended until a uniform color is achieved, indicating a thorough mix. Avoid incorporating air bubbles, as these can compromise the accuracy of the impression.

Putty Application Techniques

Load the putty into the dental impression tray in a manner that minimizes the potential for air entrapment. Ensure that the tray is sufficiently filled to avoid thin areas that could tear upon removal. The putty should be seated in the mouth firmly to capture the full scope of the desired impression area.

Timing is critical here. The putty must be inserted before the initial set begins. Once in place, instruct the patient to remain still, and maintain a gentle but steady pressure until the putty sets to a rubber-like consistency.

Nuances for Specific Procedures

The approach to using dental putty will vary slightly depending on the procedure at hand. For crown impressions, it's crucial to capture the margins of the preparation accurately. This often means manipulating the putty around the gingival area to ensure a complete capture. 

A retraction cord can be used to gently displace the gingiva and expose the preparation margin, allowing the putty to flow into the crevice and form a precise impression of the area.

NOW - implant impressions require a different approach. After the dental putty is mixed, it is loaded into a special tray designed to accommodate the impression coping. The coping is attached to the implant, and the tray is seated in the mouth. 

It's essential to ensure that the putty flows around the coping and sets without shifting it. Once set, the impression will record the exact position and orientation of the implant, which is critical for the proper fit of the implant-supported restoration.

For orthodontic applications, including aligner fabrication, putty impressions must capture the entire arch accurately. This includes the teeth, gingival margins, and palate. 

A uniform layer of putty should cover the teeth and extend slightly beyond the gingival margin to ensure that the aligners or orthodontic appliances fit correctly over the entire tooth surface and do not impinge on the gums.

In the context of removable prosthodontics, such as complete or partial dentures, dental putty impressions must reproduce the dental arches, including the surrounding soft tissues and residual ridges. The impression must be border molded to accurately capture the extent of the soft tissue and the peripheral seal to provide stability and retention for the denture.

Tips on Minimizing Patient Gag Reflex and Discomfort

The hardest part of using dental putty is keeping your patients comfortable throughout the process. Minimizing the gag reflex is crucial for the success of the impression. Here are some specific strategies:

• Patient Positioning: Seat the patient upright or semi-upright to reduce the likelihood of triggering the gag reflex.
• Breathing Techniques: Encourage the patient to breathe through their nose; slow, deep breaths can help control the gag reflex.
• Distraction: Engage the patient in conversation or allow them to listen to music through headphones to divert their attention from the procedure.
• Sprinkle Salt: A small amount of salt on the tip of the tongue can help suppress the gag reflex for some patients, as suggested by Today's RDH.
• Use of Topical Anesthetic: Applying a topical anesthetic to the palate can numb the area and reduce sensitivity.
• Proper Material Selection: Opt for a fast-setting putty to minimize the time the material is in the mouth, thereby reducing the potential for gagging.

Ultimately though, there is only so much you can do as a dental professional. This is simply an uncomfortable experience for patients even when using the perfect technique and product.

Aftercare and Follow-Up

Once the impression is taken, it's important to provide the patient with immediate aftercare advice. If a temporary restoration is in place, instruct them on how to care for it, including what foods to avoid and how to clean it. 

Schedule a follow-up appointment to fit the permanent restoration, ensuring the patient knows what to expect in terms of timing and any necessary adjustments.

A Word on Integrating Dental Putty With Digital Dentistry

The way we use technology as dentists is constantly evolving, and there’s a use case for digital dentistry pertaining to putty specifically.

Dentists can integrate traditional impression techniques with advanced digital workflows. Impressions taken with dental putty can be scanned to create a digital model, combining the tactile precision of putty with the convenience and versatility of digital design and milling procedures. 

This integration can enhance the accuracy of restorations and allow for more efficient collaboration between dental practices and laboratories. 

Consider how you can work smarter rather than harder by harnessing the power of technology in your practice. It’s an investment that not only saves time but also ensures more favorable patient outcomes.

Using Dental Putty Becomes a Whole Lot Easier When You Have the Best Supply at Your Disposal…

You know how to use dental putty, but are you aware of just how important quality putty is in enhancing your practice's efficiency alongside patient outcomes?

Selecting the right dental putty is a decision that can significantly impact the quality of your dental impressions and, consequently, the success of your restorative procedures. 

The right putty should be easy to handle, have excellent dimensional stability, and provide an accurate representation of the dental structures. That’s why professionals trust My DDS Supply for the finest putty online.

What Makes My DDS Supply the #1 Choice Online?

My DDS Supply is the premier choice for dental professionals seeking top-quality dental putty. Our putty is meticulously crafted in Germany, known for its exceptional engineering and manufacturing standards. We offer both fast and regular set putties to accommodate different clinical needs and preferences:

• Fast Set Putty: Ideal for situations where time is of the essence, our fast set putty reduces the time your patients spend in the chair, enhancing their comfort and your practice's efficiency. It's perfect for patients with a strong gag reflex or those in need of a quick procedure.
• Regular Set Putty: When you have complex cases that require more working time, our regular set putty offers the flexibility you need. It provides ample time to ensure the impression material is perfectly placed and the patient is comfortable throughout the process.

Our silicone-based dental putty is a two-part system that includes a vinyl polysiloxane base and a catalyst, ensuring a smooth, homogenous mix for detailed impressions. 

We prioritize safety, ensuring our products are non-toxic and safe for all ages, which is crucial when treating a diverse patient demographic. 

You also gain access to the best value as we offer factory direct pricing. With world-class customer service every step of the way, what more could you ask for? Get yours today as we leave you with a few tips on maximizing the shelf life of your putty supply.

Maximizing the Shelf Life of Dental Putty

Stocking up on dental putty is a great way to stretch your budget further as you’ll gain access to better pricing. But, proper storage is paramount to ensuring the long-term integrity of your putty.

Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Ensure that the caps are securely fastened after each use to prevent the material from hardening or degrading. Regularly check the expiration date on the packaging and rotate your stock so that older products are used first.

Parting Thoughts on How to Use Dental Putty

There you have it - everything you need to know about how to use dental putty. This is an indispensable tool for creating precise dental impressions, essential for high-quality restorations. 

The right technique, coupled with the correct putty consistency - be it fast or regular set - can significantly enhance patient comfort and the accuracy of your work. Remember, the key to flawless impressions lies in selecting premium materials and mastering their application.

Find more tips in our blog such as how to use rolled gauze, dental suction technique, how long does temporary dental cement last, types of suction in dentistry, saliva ejector or suction device, and more.

For dental practices striving for excellence, My DDS Supply offers the superior German-made dental putty you can trust.  We don’t just have putty, though. You can also trust us for all the different dental bur types or dental syringe types, the best gauze for tooth extraction, various dental sterilization pouches sizes, and more.

So, elevate your dental impressions and all the other procedures that go on in your practice by choosing our safe, reliable, and easy-to-use products. Shop with us today and discover firsthand what separates our supplies from the rest!