Evaluation of the Facial Impression Technique Using a Casting Tape

—Effect of Patient’s Posture—

Abstract

The accuracy of facial impressions depends on several factors. It is suggested that inaccuracy of facial impressions might be partially due to the weight of impression materials and the patient’s posture. Therefore, we adopted a technique of using a light-weight tray made of casting tape for taking facial impressions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the facial impression technique using casting tape in the upright position. Facial impressions of four volunteers were made with alginate and using the tray in both the upright and supine positions. Laser surface scanning of the face was also performed on the same day in the upright position by a 3-D digitizer. The discrepancies between the two measurements were calculated after data matching.
By using the casting tape tray, the weight of the facial impressions was dramatically decreased. Moreover, there was little discrepancy between the laser scanned face and the face mold fabricated using this impression technique. In terms of the effect of posture, the accuracy did not differ between both positions.
In conclusion, the casting tape method was useful because it was easy to make light-weight individual trays and to make accurate facial impressions in the upright position.