Methods: Taking Impressions
The 19th century brought the advent of dental impressions. (9) A dental impression is a negative print of the mouth created by placing material in the mouth. (12) Impressions allow for the production of accurate dentures that will best fit a specific patient’s mouth. Impressions were primarily obtained through two methods: one requiring wax, and the other requiring plaster. (9)
In modern-day dental practices, dentists use dental impression trays as containers for the impression material. Similarly, 19th century dental practices used objects called dental cups or holders. (9) Dental cups came in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate for different mouth configurations. Â These cups varied by intended jaw, either the upper or lower, and by their utility for the creation of impressions for partial or full dentures. (11)