Full impressions with silicone elastomers. The wash technic

: The wash-technic is one of the most well known and most used impression technic when using elastomeric silicones. It is however one of the most criticized technic. The wash-technic depends on Biomaterials and on operative procedures. After reviewing the two types of elastomeric silicones available and the properties that are required for this technic, the author shows that additive materials are reliable and successful when used for the wash-technic. Nevertheless to eliminate all possible deformations due to internal tensions of the materials, it is very important to follow strict operative procedures (specially for the pre-impression preparation), and to respect the contra-indications of this technic.