What type of impression is typically used as a first step in the impression process?

Prepare for the Oregon Expanded Function Dental Assistant Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for your certification!

The correct answer, which is the preliminary impression, is fundamental in the process of creating dental restorations or appliances. Preliminary impressions are the initial impressions taken to create a model of the patient’s dental arch and surrounding tissues. This model serves as a foundation for further procedures, including the creation of custom trays for final impressions, or for treatment planning.

Preliminary impressions are typically made with materials that are easier to manipulate and set quickly, such as alginate, which makes them ideal for this first step. They are not as detailed as final impressions but provide enough information to aid in the treatment plan and the creation of devices such as dentures or orthodontic appliances.

In contrast, final impressions are more precise and are used for the final product. Bite registrations capture the occlusal relationship but are performed after preliminary impressions. Functional impressions, while they can provide more detail about the dynamics of oral tissues, are not standard for the first step and tend to involve specific functional movements. Thus, preliminary impressions are the first step in the impression process, allowing for the subsequent stages of treatment.

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