Abstract
The authors conducted analysis of contour repeatability of lower jaw functional impressions made according to Herbst's method. Functional impressions were made for fifteen edentulous patients (three for each of the patients) according to this method. The impressions were made of Adheseal resin-wax compound, Xantopren silicone elastomer or Ash's zinc oxide eugenol paste. The working models were cut along previously designated lines using an accurate circular saw designed for this purpose. Cut lines were made so that they were identical in all of the models for a given patient and comparable (in the greatest practically possible approximation) for different patients. The depth and width of the vestibular sulcus as well as the lingual sulcus were measured exactly to within 0.001 mm on the cross-sections of the models using a microscope. The data for 3, 780 measurements were then statistically evaluated. On the basis of reproducibility analysis of the vestibular sulcus and lingual sulcus, an almost identical usefulness for all examined impression materials forming functional profile impressions according to Herbst was found. It was determined that this method employs functional tests which facilitate the repeated projection of chosen arrangements of tissues adjacent to the borders of a complete lower denture.
