Final impressions can be a challenge for clinicians. They need to capture detail in less-than-optimal environments, occasionally with patients who are having difficulties of their own.
Clinicians want an impression material that delivers smoothly, tastes pleasant, performs in a wet environment, sets quickly, captures margin details, and resists tearing. Just as importantly, the material should work the first time, with no need for a retake. That’s why our evaluators were eager to try Aquasil Ultra+ Smart Wetting Impression Material from Dentsply Sirona Restorative for this Dental Product Shopper evaluation.
“I like the predictability of the product,” Dr. Pearl Zadeh shared after testing the product in her practice. “[It] minimizes re-impressions.” She said a fast set product is necessary for some patients and explained how this material helped her complete a challenging posterior case with a dementia patient who kept trying to get out of her chair. Dr. Zadeh praised the material’s set time and its “amazing accuracy” for helping her successfully finish the difficult case. “One impression and done was all it took,” she said.
“It has a tremendous combination of excellent flow characteristics, strength, and pleasant taste,” Dr. Eric Van Zytveld concluded after trying this material. “I was looking for an impression material which is hydrophilic and tastes better than polyether impression material,” he noted. “[Aquasil Ultra+] is a material that does well in a moist environment and it smells and tastes pleasant.”
Delivery, Placement, Flavor, and Smell
Available in fast or regular set, Aquasil Ultra+ comes in 5 viscosities: extra light, light, medium, heavy, and rigid; and in 3 delivery systems: unit dose, cartridge, and 5:1 DECA for mixing machines. With its patented digit Targeted Delivery System and single-use cartridges, Aquasil Ultra+ can get clinicians up to 34% closer to the prepared tooth, according to the manufacturer.
“The targeted delivery system is pretty neat and simple to use,” shared Dr. James Rhea, and Dr. Van Zytveld called the unit dose a very efficient use of material. Dr. Zadeh said she loved the angled tip on the single-unit cartridges.
“Aquasil Ultra+ flows very well to produce an excellent impression,” Dr. Van Zytveld said. Speaking on the handling and flowability of the material, some evaluators said it is easier to handle, flows nicely, and works well in a moist environment. Some commented that the heavy body was harder to load. Dr. Abraham Jaskiel said it has a nice smell that is not overwhelming, and Dr. Van Zytveld noted, “The peppermint smell and taste is pleasant and a big improvement over that of polyether impression material.”
Working Time & Setting Time
The Regular Set formula provides sufficient work time for multi-unit and more complicated cases while Fast Set is ideal for single-unit restorations. Dr. Zadeh said a fast set product is best for “patients that cannot tolerate regular set of 5 min due to gagging or pain.” Prior to using Aquasil Ultra+, Dr. Zadeh said she didn’t stock a fast set material in her practice, but concluded, “Now I definitely will because of the speed and accuracy of the impression.” Dr. Rhea said the “faster set time and quicker impression” improves the patient’s experience and saves chair time.
Margin Detail, Tear Strength, Accuracy
Aquasil Ultra+ impression material helps clinicians capture detail and reduce the chance of voids and tears at the margin with leading intraoral hydrophilicity, according to Dentsply Sirona. As co-owner of a dental lab, Dr. Zadeh viewed her impressions under a microscope of 25x and was amazed by the detail. “All pours were noted and followed to delivery, and cases dropped in beautifully,” she remarked. Dr. Paul Olenyn said it captured “very good detail of margins,” while Dr. Rhea said it was “a little hard to read margins.” Dr. Alfred dela Cruz said the material “captured more detail and better extension into the socket.”
Aquasil Ultra+ uses polyfunctional bonds which result in a very high intraoral tear strength. “Aquasil Ultra+ exhibited excellent strength when I took an impression of a tooth with deep subgingival margins,” noted Dr. Van Zytveld. “It produces an excellent impression even in a moist environment,” he added. Praising the material’s “strong tear strength,” Dr. dela Cruz said the “final delivery and accuracy was better than usual” and the “final fit and delivery was excellent,” resulting in “improved impression results.”
Overall satisfaction
All but one dentist said they would recommend the Aquasil Ultra + to colleagues. “It seemed to work better than my present material,” stated Dr. David Mastrota, noting that, overall, he got better impressions in less time. Dr. Irwin agreed, calling it “more user friendly than my prior impression material,” and Dr. Gregory Peppes summarized, “This is something I would use all the time.”
