How to Choose the Best Dental Impression Trays: A Simple Guide

Picking the right dental tray helps make good teeth molds. Bad trays can mess up your work and make patients feel bad. This guide will help you pick the best trays for your needs.

What Are Dental Impression Trays?

Dental impression trays are tools that hold goop that makes molds of teeth. The mold helps make things like:

• Crowns
• Bridges
• Dentures
• Night guards
• Whitening trays

Types of Dental Impression Trays

Let’s look at the main kinds of trays:

Stock Trays vs. Custom Trays

Stock trays come ready to use. They are:

• Cheap – cost $0.50-$2.50 each
• Fast – no wait time
• OK for basic needs

But they fail in 22% of hard cases like people with no teeth.

Custom trays are made just for one person. They:

• Fit better
• Use less goop
• Work 40% better for full mouth work

Metal vs. Plastic Trays

Metal trays (like stainless steel):

• Last a long time
• Can be cleaned in hot cleaners
• Save about $1,200 per year
• Cut down germs by 90%

Plastic trays:

• Use once and throw away
• No need to clean
• Good if you worry about germs
• Less hard on patient’s mouth

Tray Shapes and Sizes

Trays come in many shapes for different jobs:

How to Pick the Right Tray

Follow these simple steps:

1. Think About What You Need It For

Ask yourself:

• What teeth am I making a mold of?
• Is it for a crown, bridge, or full denture?
• Does my patient have special needs?

For crowns and bridges, dual-arch trays work well.

For full dentures, pick rigid metal trays.

2. Match Trays to Your Goop

Different goops need different trays:

• Alginate (soft goop) → Use perforated trays with holes
• Silicone (thick goop) → Use rigid trays that won’t bend
• Polyether (sticky goop) → Use smooth trays with no holes

Did you know? 80% of silicone molds fail when used with the wrong tray!

3. Check the Size for Your Patient

Too big = patient gags and too much goop Too small = missing parts of the teeth

How to size:

1. Look at the width of the patient’s jaw
2. Pick a tray that goes past the last tooth by a bit
3. Check that it fits with no pushing on cheeks

Important! 45% of patients gag when trays are too big.

4. Think About Germs and Cleaning

If you use trays more than once, they must be very clean.

• Metal trays: Can go in hot cleaner (autoclave)
• Plastic reusable trays: Need special cleaning

Warning: 15% of dental offices have germs from poorly cleaned trays.

5. Look at Your Budget

Think long-term:

• Disposable trays: Cheap now but cost more over time
• Metal trays: More money up front but save $1,200/year

For a busy office (50+ patients a month), reusable trays save money.

Special Tray Features to Look For

Some trays have helpful extras:

• Retention – ridges that hold the goop better
• Handles – for easy holding
• Border molding – edges you can shape
• Perforations – holes that help goop stick

Look for trays with good handles if you have trouble with slipping.

Top Brands of Dental Impression Trays in 2025

The best trays come from these trusted makers:

• ASA Italy – great shape for comfort
• Kerr Corporation – strong metal trays
• Crosstex – good throw-away trays
• Prestige Dental – cheap but good quality

Common Tray Problems to Avoid

Watch out for these issues:

• Using big trays = wasted goop
• Wrong tray for your goop = bad details
• Skipping border molding = ill-fitting teeth
• Trays with no retention = goop falls out

68% of do-overs happen from bad tray picks!

Digital Options vs. Regular Trays

New digital tools are changing how we make molds:

• Intraoral scanners make digital molds with no goop
• They cut mold time in half
• Good for patients who gag
• Work well for same-day crowns

But regular trays still work better for:

• Full dentures
• Complex cases
• Offices on a budget

How to Use Impression Trays Right

Even the best tray won’t work if used wrong:

1. Check the fit before adding goop
2. Use adhesive if needed
3. Put it in straight – don’t tilt
4. Hold still until set
5. Remove carefully – don’t twist

Best Trays for Special Cases

Some patients need special care:

For Kids

Use pediatric trays with:

• Smaller size
• Soft edges
• Fun colors

For Denture Patients

Pick edentulous trays with:

• Deep sides
• Good rim support
• Space for no teeth

For Gaggers

Try:

• Quadrant trays (smaller)
• Perforated trays (less goop needed)
• Digital scanners (no goop at all)

Where to Buy Quality Dental Trays

Get good trays from:

• Dental supply stores (Henry Schein, Patterson)
• Online dental shops (Net32, DentalSupplyHero)
• Direct from makers (often cheaper in bulk)

Tray Care and Storage Tips

Make trays last with good care:

• Clean right away – don’t let goop harden
• Follow maker’s rules for cleaning
• Store in dry place
• Check for cracks before each use

Conclusion

Picking the right dental impression tray makes a big difference. Think about:

• What you need it for
• What goop you use
• Patient comfort
• Cleaning needs
• Your budget

The best tray helps make good molds, saves time and money, and keeps patients happy. For most jobs, a set of good metal full-arch trays with some quadrant options works well.

Want to learn more about custom dental work? Check out our other guides on dentures and night guards.

FAQs About Dental Impression Trays