Using the open tray technique when impressing implant sites

Sometimes it’s the little things that save time and aggravation and you wonder what took you so long to think of it. I always use the open tray technique when impressing implant sites for final restorations. I used to spend time marking where I thought the impression abutment would emerge through the tray, make an opening, try it on and adjust accordingly until I had it where I wanted it. In retrospect this was not the best approach because I could never really see where the implant abutment sat within the tray.RELATED |Close the access opening of implant abutments Clear impression trays have been available forever; however, since I didn’t use them in my ordinary impression armamentarium I continued to use the tray I used for my conventional CB.RELATED |A simple tool to use for accurate dental impressions But how much easier and faster it is to use a clear tray when impressing abutments. Not sure why I hadn’t thought of that sooner but it’s just too simple and easy a change to make if any of you are doing what I used to. Most tray manufacturers make a clear version and the pricing is about the same.Mary Anne Salcetti, DDS, PC, Spear Education Visiting Faculty.Reprinted with permission from Spear Education.