VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE)

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VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE) is used as an adhesive for trays when impressions are made with siloxane elastomeric impression materials.

VPS-Tray-Adhesive-3M-ESPE
  • Only for VPS material
  • Air Dry
  • 17ml
  • Viscous liquid
  • Paint on type
Pros:
  • Ensures adhesion of VPS impression material to the tray.
  • Specially useful in custom (special) trays, where mechanical retention by way of perforations is minimal.
  • Ideally used with 3M ESPE medium viscosity VPS.
  • Paint on type.
Cons:
  • Inflammable
  • Not recommended for use with other manufactures VPS material or even 3M ESPE polyether impression material.

Best used with:

  • Custom (special) tray with VPS medium(monophase) body.

How to use VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE)?

  • Dry the custom try by air blowing or compressed air.
  • Paint on the tray adhesive on all the surfaces where impression material is going to be placed or will flow to.
  • Air dry the adhesive without using compressed air.
  • Air drying for 10-15 minutes is recommended for achieving proper bond strength between VPS impression material and tray.
  • Impression material is dispensed on to the tray, allowed to polymerize and removed from the mouth.

My review of VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE)

I have been using a tray adhesive for all my custom trays where the impression is made with medium viscosity monophase material, specially for the secondary impression for complete dentures.

VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE) is to be used with 3M VPS materials only.

I have used it though with other manufactures’ VPS materials and have not found any significant difference. Studies have shown no significant difference too.

It contains :

  • Alkyldisiloxane
  • Xylene

When tray adhesive were first manufactured, they were to be primarily used with auto polymerising custom trays. Since then, Light cured polymerised custom trays have become very popular.

Studies have shown, these tray adhesives to have even better bond strengths when used with Light cured polymerising custom trays.

Few points to remember though is –

  • Apply a thin layer.
  • Apply on the internal & external surface of the tray including the perforations on the outside.
  • Always airdry for 10-15 mins. You may gently dry it by moving the tray in the air. Never use compressed air to dry it. Some recent studies have shown air drying for 5 mins to be enough.
  • It contains highly inflammable solvents and should be kept away from flames.
  • Always close the cap tightly after use. If not closed properly, the liquid becomes extremely viscous and difficult to apply uniformly.

Today there are Universal Tray Adhesives from GC and Zhermack available in the market which can be used with any manufactures’ VPS impression material and studies have also shown they have comparable and at times higher bond strength than even manufacture’s recommended tray adhesive.

No studies have shown any adverse effect on impressions if manufacture’s recommended tray adhesive is not used.

I have also used Caulk Tray Adhesive from Dentsply Sirona.

Hence, make it a point to use a tray adhesive, specially if you are using a custom tray and using a VPS impression material. VPS Tray Adhesive (3M ESPE) is an effective tray adhesive.

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