What material is generally considered the best choice for a final denture impression?

Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) is generally regarded as the best material for final denture impressions due to its excellent dimensional stability and fine detail reproduction. PVS offers a precision that is crucial for fabricating dentures that fit well and are comfortable for the patient. Its ability to capture intricate surface details ensures that the impressions reflect the anatomy of the dental arches and surrounding tissues accurately.

Moreover, PVS has favorable properties such as low shrinkage over time and resistance to distortion, which means that the impressions can be poured multiple times without a significant loss of accuracy. Additionally, this material is hydrophobic, allowing for a more controlled handling process and ensuring that it does not mix with moisture in the mouth during impression taking.

In contrast, while alginate is easy to use and quick to set, it does not offer the same level of precision or stability, and it tends to distort over time. Polyether, although it provides good detail and is used in some applications, can be more rigid and less forgiving when removing from undercuts. Polysulfide rubber offers good flexibility and detail as well, but it typically has a longer setting time and can be more difficult to work with in terms of odor and taste. Therefore, when seeking the best