How to Take Perfect PVS Impressions Every Time

Course Overview

Course Description: Increased costs? Annoyed patients? When it comes to Invisalign® there is no tolerance for an inaccurate PVS impressions. When impressions are off, aligners don’t fit and impressions need to be retaken. There are no shortcuts.

If accurate PVS impressions are what you want and need, using illustrative videos, Dr. Rebecca Poling can teach anyone how to take them. Here are her criteria:

• Impression is fully seated around the arch
• Impression captures the detail of ALL teeth and 2 mm beyond the gingival margin
• Gingival margins are crisp and clear, with no air bubbles
• Dental midline is at center of the impression
• Impression is centered on the arch, not shifted to one side
• 1/8” (3mm) thickness of wash extends over the entire impression
• Includes 1/8” (3mm) extension into all vestibular, palatal, and lingual areas
• Less than 1 sq mm of tray shows through
• Captures mesial ½ of terminal molar if it is NOT going to be moved, full molar if moving (orthodontically)
• No distortion, tray separation, material separation, drag areas, wrinkles, double imprints, or other defects

Course Objectives: After completing this course the participant should be able to:

• List the criteria for acceptable maxillary and mandibular PVS impressions
• Identify the materials needed for producing PVS impressions
• Describe each step in producing acceptable PVS impressions and a PVS bite registration
• Recognize and distinguish acceptable PVS impressions from unacceptable impressions
• Identify every defect of an unacceptable PVS impression and describe what steps should have been performed differently to correct the defect in the impression

Available Sections

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