Impression Techniques Used in the Fabrication of Fixed Prostheses: A Study Among Private Sector Dentists in Casablanca, Morocco

Background: The variety of impression materials and the diversity of clinical situations sometimes complicate the choice of impression technique. The objective of this article was to determine the impression techniques in fixed prosthodontics, the criteria for their selection, the causes of impression failures and the training needs expressed by private sector dentists in Casablanca regarding impression techniques. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted over five months using a questionnaire distributed to 262 private sector dentists in Casablanca. Results: The most used impression technique was the two-stage impression (78.2%), followed by the single-stage double-mix impression technique (68.7%). The main criteria for choosing the impression technique were mastery of the technique (97.3%) and degree of accuracy (95.4%). Among the causes of impression failures, clinical reasons related to the practitioner were noted at 86.3%. The most cited reason for needing further training was to stay updated with the current evolution of impression techniques (25.2%), followed by the desire to improve skills (14.1%). Conclusion: This study identified the most frequently used impression techniques in fixed prosthodontics by private sector dentists in Casablanca. Strict respect for the protocols and the indications for each impression technique ensures its success. It would be interesting to encourage practitioners to integrate optical impressions into the digital workflow.