When it comes to achieving the best fit and comfort for dental prosthetics, custom dental trays play a crucial role. If you’ve ever wondered how your dentist ensures the precision of your dental impressions, this article will provide you with an in-depth understanding of custom dental trays, their fabrication, and their benefits.
What is an Impression Tray?
To understand what a custom tray is, one first has to understand what impression trays are. An impression tray is a simple yet essential device used in dental procedures to take accurate impressions of your teeth and gums. It serves several key functions:
- Carrying, confining, and controlling the impression material
- Supporting the material during and after the impression is taken
- Facilitating the insertion and removal of the impression from your mouth
Typically, impression trays come in standard shapes and sizes. This makes them very cost-effective for alginate impressions. Alginate impressions are cheaper, but pick-up fewer details about your teeth. They are ideal for less important impressions, such as for whitening trays. For more precise impressions, another solution is required…
What is a Custom Tray?
A custom tray is an individualized impression tray made specifically for a patient. Custom trays are used to take final impressions, which are crucial for creating precise dental restorations such as dentures. These trays are made on diagnostic casts and are designed to perfectly adapt to the patient’s oral anatomy.
There are two main types of custom impression trays:
- Dentulous Trays: Used for patients with existing teeth.
- Edentulous Trays: Used for patients without teeth.
Benefits of Custom Trays
- Accurate Recording of Anatomical Landmarks: Custom trays are extended to capture all the relevant details, including hard-to-reach areas.
- Minimized Material Distortion: They ensure uniform thickness and rigidity, reducing the chances of impression material distortion.
- Prevention of Tissue Distortion: With a closely-adapted tray, less viscous materials can be used, which reduces tissue distortion.
- Cost Efficiency: Custom trays require less impression material, making them more cost-effective.
How Dentists Make a Custom Tray
Creating a custom dental tray involves several steps to ensure it fits perfectly and functions effectively.
Making a Model of Your Teeth
First, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth using a preliminary impression material. This impression is then used to create a detailed model of your teeth and gums. This model serves as the foundation for crafting your custom tray.
Shaping the Tray Base
Next, a sheet of wax is heated and placed over the model to create a base for the tray. The wax is trimmed to match the outline drawn earlier, ensuring it fits just right.
Applying the Tray Material
A special light-curing acrylic material (like Triad) is placed over the wax base. This material is shaped and trimmed to fit the outline of your mouth, ensuring a snug and accurate fit. A handle is then shaped from the same acrylic material and attached to the tray base. This handle will help your dentist easily insert and remove the tray from your mouth.
Curing the Tray
The tray, still on the model, is placed in water and cured (hardened) using a special light. This process takes about three minutes and ensures the tray material is set properly. The water prevents the wax from melting and stops an air-inhibited layer from forming.
Finishing Touches
After curing, the wax spacer is removed from the tray. Any sharp edges are smoothed out to ensure comfort. Holes are also made in the tray to help hold the impression material securely.
Final Inspection
Your dentist will check the completed tray to make sure it has smooth edges and fits comfortably in your mouth. A well-made custom tray will provide an accurate impression and a more comfortable dental experience.
Conclusion
Custom dental trays are vital for taking precise dental impressions, leading to better-fitting and more comfortable dental restorations. They offer numerous benefits, including accurate recording of oral anatomy, minimized distortion, and cost efficiency. Understanding the process of creating custom trays can help patients appreciate the care and precision involved in dental treatments. If you have any questions or concerns about dental impressions, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for more information.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY AT ANY DENTIST
Less dental work is healthier for you. Learn what you can do to minimize the cost of dental procedures and avoid the dentist altogether!
English