3M ESPE Directed Flow Impression Trays (abridged)

Consultants’ Comments

• “I really like the self-adhesive fleece strip – it eliminates the mess and extra steps of using a liquid adhesive.”
• “The retention lip really did help keep the material in the tray.”
• “These trays take a great impression.”
• “I would like to see more sizes, especially a smaller size.”

Description

3M ESPE Directed Flow Impression Tray is a single-use, full-arch tray designed for preliminary and final impressions. The rigid plastic tray has a self-adhesive fleece strip designed to eliminate the need for adhesive. A built-in reservoir on the palate of the upper tray is designed to reduce overflow of material and gagging. The retention lip along the internal border of the maxillary and mandibular trays provides an undercut to lock the impression material in the tray. The trays are available in three sizes (small, medium, and large) in packages of ten. Twenty-seven consultants used the Directed Flow Impression Tray in taking over 400 impressions. This product received a 93% clinical rating.

Editors’ Note: The original evaluation was published in THE DENTAL ADVISOR, Vol. 21, No. 8, October 2004.