Viscoelastic properties of Oral Soft Tissue

A method of measuring the elastic modulus of oral soft tissue was developed and used to determining the elastic moduli of oral soft tissue in two patients and of two elastomeric impression materials.The elastic modulus of oral soft tissue varied considerably according to positions measured and became slightly higher, compared with that of elastomeric impression materials. These results suggest that the accuracy of dental impression is affected by the viscoelastic properties of oral soft tissue. The developed instrument was also found to be appropriate for the comparative assessment of rheological properties of oral soft tissue and impression material.