Preliminary silicone putty casts: diagnosis to final impression for complete dentures.

Silicone putty casts are useful for articulating existing dentures for evaluation and problem solving before relining procedures are performed or a new prosthesis is made. Tissue health may require significant modification of the existing dentures and treatment with tissue-conditioning material before final impressions are made. This practical procedure uses a functional impression that substitutes for a quality preliminary impression and combines tissue conditioning, a functional impression, silicone putty cast, custom final impression tray, and a final impression for a complete denture.