Exquisite Impressions: A Key to Restoration Success

Whether it is a diagnostic impression, which is often the first step in restorative dentistry, or the final impressions for the actual restoration, exquisite impressions are crucial to the ultimate outcome of a case. This discussion provides an update on impression materials and techniques for maximizing their accuracy and that of the restorations on which they are based.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Review impression materials,properties, and clinical applications.

• Describe tissue retraction techniques.

• Discuss diagnostic and restorative impression techniques.

About the Authors

Lee Ann Brady, DMD, owns Desert Sun Smiles Dental Care, a private restorative practice in Glendale, Arizona. Outside of her private practice, Dr. Brady is the Director of Education for Clinical Mastery, a series of hands-on education programs focused on occlusion and restorative dentistry. Dr. Brady earned her DMD degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. She has worked in a variety of practice models from small fee-for-service offices to large insurance-dependent practices, as an associate and as a practice owner. She was invited to join the Pankey Institute in 2005 as their first female resident faculty member and was promoted to Clinical Director within a year, and held this position until November of 2008. She was asked by Dr. Frank Spear in September of 2008 to join him in the formation of Spear Education and the expansion of his curriculum. As the Executive VP of Clinical Education at Spear Education, she managed the development and delivery of all programs in addition to her teaching responsibilities until June of 2011. In 2010 she was recognized by Dental Products Report as one of the “Top 25 Women Dentists in the U.S.” in the category of dental educators. She is on the editorial board of Inside Dentistry, DentalTown, and the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Brady is a guest presenter at The Pankey Institute and teaches continuing education for the University of Florida College of Dentistry and University of Minnesota. She has published articles in numerous national and international peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent presenter at local, state, national, and international dental meetings such as the ADA Annual Session, AACD Annual Meeting, Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, Chicago Midwinter Meeting, Yankee Dental Congress, and Florida National Dental Congress.