A stock tray is a pre-made dental impression tray that comes in standard sizes and shapes. It is used to carry impression material into the mouth so a mold of teeth and gums can be recorded. Clinics commonly use a stock tray for preliminary impressions and many routine restorative and prosthodontic steps. It is different from a custom tray, which is fabricated for one specific patient.
A custom tray is a dental impression tray made for one specific patient and one specific arch or area. It is designed on a model of the patient’s mouth to control the thickness and accuracy of impression material. custom tray is commonly used in prosthodontics (dentures, crowns, bridges), implant dentistry, and some specialty procedures. It can also describe patient-worn trays, such as bleaching or fluoride trays, depending on clinical context.
An impression tray is a dental tool that holds impression material while it records the shape of teeth and gums. It is placed in the mouth to capture a negative mold that can be used to make models, restorations, or appliances. impression tray use is common in general dentistry, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery planning. Trays can be pre-made (stock) or made specifically for a patient (custom).
An intraoral scanner is a handheld dental device that captures a digital 3D model of teeth and gums. It replaces, or reduces the need for, traditional “putty” impressions in many situations. It is commonly used in general dentistry, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and implant workflows. The scan becomes a computer file that can be used for diagnosis, treatment planning, and making dental appliances.
An intraoral scan is a digital way to record the shape of teeth and gums using a small handheld camera. It creates a 3D model that can be viewed on a screen and saved to a patient record. It is commonly used in restorative dentistry, orthodontics, implant dentistry, and prosthodontics. It often replaces or supplements traditional “putty” impressions taken in trays.
A digital impression is a 3D digital record of teeth and gums captured with an intraoral scanner. It replaces or supplements traditional “putty” impressions made with physical impression materials. It is commonly used to plan and make restorations like crowns, bridges, and clear aligners. It can also be used to monitor changes in the mouth over time using digital models.
A polyether impression is a dental impression made with a polyether-based elastomeric (rubber-like) material. It is used to capture an accurate negative mold of teeth and gums so a lab or scanner can produce a model. Dentists commonly use it for crowns, bridges, implants, and other precise fixed restorations. It is valued for detailed reproduction and predictable accuracy in many clinical situations.
A **PVS impression** is a dental mold made using **polyvinyl siloxane** (also called an “addition silicone”) impression material. It records the shape of teeth and gums so a lab or clinic can create restorations that fit accurately. It is commonly used for crowns, bridges, inlays/onlays, implant restorations, and some dentures. PVS materials are valued because they tend to hold their shape well after they set.
A polyvinyl siloxane impression is a dental mold made from an elastomeric (rubber-like) silicone material. It records the shape of teeth and gums so a lab or clinic can make a restoration that fits. It is commonly used for crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, and some dentures. It is also used for bite records and study models in many dental offices.
An alginate impression is a molded copy of the teeth and surrounding oral tissues made with an alginate-based material. It starts as a powder mixed with water and quickly becomes a soft gel that captures shape details. It is commonly used in general dentistry and orthodontics to make study models and preliminary casts. It is typically chosen when a fast, comfortable, and cost-conscious impression is needed.