Dr. Hall,
I went to a dentist here in New Jersey to have a bridge to replace a missing molar. After the two adjacent teeth were prepared, the dentist took an impression of my lower teeth. After it set, he was unable to get the mold off my teeth. It took about a good half an hour of spraying all kinds of stuff in my mouth, rocking and pulling while i was thinking that all my teeth was going to be pulled out, or my jaw broken. My question: Have you seen this happen before and should I continue with this dentist or should I see another dentist.
Thank you very much,
Len in New Jersey
Dear Len,
I wouldn’t quit going to this dentist over this. I’ll bet many dentists have had something like this happen in their practice, especially if they use certain precise impression techniques.
What happens is that there is a stiff putty that is used in certain impression techniques, and it is used with a lighter-body wash impression material. The putty pushes the wash into fine crevices in order to pick up the tiniest details in the impression. If your teeth or your jaw have undercuts, or if you have another dental bridge in your mouth somewhere, it’s possible for the putty to get into the undercuts. If it does, it can be very hard to remove. It’s nothing the dentist did wrong, really. It’s just kind of embarrassing and it can really throw the schedule off. The impression may well need to be cut off.
If there is an existing bridge or another significant undercut where the putty impression material can get under and lock in place, the dentist should put something, such as a piece of soft wax, under the bridge or the undercut before taking the impression. That will keep the impression material from getting into that undercut and will make the impression easier to remove.
– Dr. Hall
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
Kate James says
Dear Dr Hall,
I went to the dentist for some front teeth crowns as my teeth were very cracked. Since that time I have had a film or something stuck on part of the roof of my mouth. The office person said it was probably irritation from the impressions, but I think material got left behind. I’m booking an appointment with another dentist as I no longer trust this one. He said I should put “nail polish” on my temporary crowns which are radically the wrong color. What a nightmare! What do you think? Please email me your answer. – Kate
Kate,
While material from an impression could stick to the roof of your mouth, it wouldn’t last there very long. My guess would be that your palate got irritated, which would make it feel like something got stuck there.
I don’t understand putting nail polish on your temporary crowns. That sounds very weird. While the temporary crowns might not be exactly the right color, they should be close enough to look somewhat natural. I think they should fix that. I have a bad feeling about how your case might turn out.
– Dr. Hall
Karen says
MY wife had a lower impression, after setting the dentist could not remove it, the first three hours of yanking, cutting and drilling WITH NO PAIN medication. Ambulance to the hospital before my wife passed out from exhaustion and pain, recommended I drive to Los Angeles where services were available with this large object stuck in her mouth. I refused, dentist then recommended his other shop that had full facilities, pain shots, in twenty minutes, they finally cut it in three sections and were able to remove it.
Comment by Dr. Hall:
Why did it take them so long to figure out they had to cut off the impression? That’s quite the story. So sorry your wife had to suffer through that.
Margaret says
Yesterday, I had an impression ( with my current chrome plate in) with a very recommended dentist to hopefully have a better fitting new plate. Unfortunately, after being in the chair for almost 3hrs, & a terrific amount of drilling, pulling & shoving (very painful), I have been sent home with my original plate stuck in my mouth ( which has resulted in me having bad earache, & totally emotionally exhausted. I now have to go back in two days, presumably with another attempt at removing it from my mouth. I am extremely nervous & shattered, which is probably not good, as I am 87 years old. I must add that the dentist did ring me in the evening to check how I was.
Renee Sistrunk says
I have putty from impression stuck between my teeth. How do I get it out? Toothpick doesn’t work.
Response from Dr. Hall:
Your dentist should be able to get that out. This could be a problem with do-it-yourself impressions being advertised for some do-it-yourself dentistry services.