BACKGROUND: Removable dental prostheses (RPDs) contribute significantly as a treatment option for old aged patients. However sometimes financial, anatomic, psychological, or medical considerations of the patients still require the dentist to treat them with removable prosthesis. Most RPDs are constructed from irreversible hydrocolloid impressions. The aim of this survey was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners on impression materials for Removable partial denture. In particular, this study investigated the most commonly used impression material in the present day by dental practitioners for making final impressions for Removable partial dentures. Also, we discussed dental practitioners' opinions regarding the decision making process for the selection of impression materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Self-administered structured questionnaire comprising 12 questions regarding various impression material, their physical properties and the most commonly used material for Removable partial denture. The survey was distributed through an online google form among dental practitioners in Chennai. The questions were carefully studied and therefore the corresponding answers were marked by the participants. The data was collected and statistically analysed by SPSS version 22. RESULTS: A total of 100 dental practitioners responded to this survey. The material of choice for best recording the edentulous arch was irreversible hydrocolloid among general dental practitioners (69%) and the value was statistically significant ( p value= 0.012). Most common factors of selecting an impression material was based on their previous experiences and knowledge (50%), manufacture instructions (33%) and consultation by (17%) dental practitioners and the value was statistically significant ( p value = 0.005) CONCLUSION: The present survey study, concludes that dental practitioners in Chennai have a clear tendency toward an impression material usage in Removable partial denture and it was found that most of the dental practitioners followed recommended impression materials.

Removable partial denture; Impression material; Final impression; Impression tray; Survey; Innovative technique