National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the National Dental Assisting Exam with comprehensive quiz questions, including multiple choice and detailed explanations. Equip yourself for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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How long can the final cure of elastomeric impression material take?

30 minutes to 1 hour
1 to 24 hours
24 hours to 2 days
2 to 4 hours

The correct answer is: 1 to 24 hours

The final cure of elastomeric impression material typically falls within the range of 1 to 24 hours. This timeframe is essential for ensuring that the impression material fully sets and achieves its maximum dimensional stability and accuracy. Elastomeric materials, such as polyether and polyvinyl siloxane, rely on a chemical reaction that continues over time to achieve their final properties. During this curing period, the material undergoes cross-linking, which enhances its mechanical strength and enhances resistance to deformation. Sufficient curing time is particularly important when the impressions are used for precise applications, such as fabricating dental restorations or orthodontic appliances. While shorter curing times, such as those listed in some of the other options, may allow for an initial set, they do not provide the assurance needed for maximum performance. For instance, a cure in 30 minutes to 1 hour might be suitable for specific applications with rapid turnover but may not guarantee the ultimate stability and surface details required in high-precision dental work. Similarly, curing longer than 24 hours might not be necessary and could lead to wasted time and resources in clinical settings. Therefore, the time frame effectively balances curing efficiency with the necessary characteristics required for dental procedures.