Product Evaluation

Kettenbach USA

Identium Impression Material

Identium impression material combines the best features of both A-silicone and polyether materials.

"Great product detail. We were able to achieve detailed impressions very easily," said a dentist from Johnstown, CO, with 9 years of experience. Another dentist said, "I'm quite impressed with this product and truly enjoyed using it."

Kettenbach's Identium was developed for the 1-step impression technique and combines the advantages of conventional polyether materials with those of A-silicones.

Ten dentist evaluators participated in Dental Product Shopper's evaluation of Identium, rating several features, including ease of use, flowability, margin detail, and ease of removal, and overall satisfaction with the product.

Ease of Use

Manufacturer Description: According to Kettenbach, Identium vinylsiloxanether impression material is a new chemistry developed for the 1-step impression technique for many different clinical procedures.

Evaluator Feedback: An evaluator with 15 years of experience said, "[It] was very easy to use. You can use your existing machine and margins were easy to read. No re-do's or any complaints from the lab." An evaluator with 7 years of experience said he "liked the ease of use and its ability to do well in slightly bleeding/wet areas." All of the evaluators rated Identium's ease of use as excellent to good.

Flowability

Manufacturer Description: The manufacturer describes Identium as offering excellent flowability that, in combination with remarkable hydrophilicity (lowest achievable contact angle of less than 10 degrees after 1 second) ensures an optimal inflow in a humid environment, even in the narrowest sulcus crevices.

Evaluator Feedback: An evaluator who named "flowability" as his favorite feature of Identium went on to say that he would definitely recommend it to colleagues. Another evaluator said, "Unlike other impression materials, patients never complained about taste or viscosity." When asked if he would recommend Identium to colleagues or contacts within the dental profession, this evaluator said "definitely."

Margin Detail

Manufacturer Description: Identium provides precise quality impressions and prosthesis work. The reliability of good quality impressions requires that an identical replica of the clinical dental scenario can be made"the best precondition for high-quality restorations.

Evaluator Feedback: When asked to rate Identium"s margin detail, 8 evaluators rated it as excellent or very good. When asked what he liked best about Identium, one clinician named "quaility impressions" and "great detail." When asked what he would like to see improved about Identium, an evaluator from Glendale, CA, said, "The color differences in light and heavy body. It was hard to read margins if both impression bodies were different shades of blue." This evaluator went on to rate Identium's margin detail as "good."

Ease of Removal

Manufacturer Description: Identium retains its dimension accuracy, is very easy to remove (from the patient"s mouth and from the plaster model), and is odorless and tasteless.

Evaluator Feedback: When the evaluators were asked to rate ease of removal, all 10 rated it as excellent or very good. A dentist who practices in Ann Arbor, MI, said, "[It] came out of the sulcus well."

Overall Satisfaction

Seven evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend Identium and purchase it in the future. An evaluator with 15 years of experience summarized his evaluation of Identium saying, "Another excellent material. I have been using another product for years but I loved this material." An evaluator with 10 years in practice added, "I"m quite impressed with this product and truly enjoyed using it."