The Denture Impressions Notes Template

Disputes over denture aesthetics and bite invariably come back to whether the jaw registration was recorded — and most denture notes omit it. Below is a template for UK clinicians to paste into their PMS for each impression stage.

Why this denture impressions template wins

• Stage explicitly identified (primary / secondary / jaw reg / try-in) — defensible for sequential records.
• Ridge assessment captured at primary — defines the prosthetic challenge.
• OVD and RCP recording method documented — a strong defence against bite disputes.
• Shade + mould + patient agreement — aesthetic dispute defence.
• Lab prescription detail with MDR reminder — regulatory compliance.

The template (paste into your PMS notes field)

Paste the denture impressions template below into your PMS notes field. Patient demographics are left out because your PMS already holds them.

STAGE: [Primary impression / Secondary impression / Jaw registration / Try-in]
DENTURE TYPE: [Complete upper / complete lower / complete upper + lower / RPD upper / RPD lower / immediate]

REASON FOR DENTURE: [First denture / replacement / immediate post-extraction]

EXISTING DENTURES (if replacement):
- Age: [Years]
- Issues: [Loose / aesthetic / chewing / sores / occlusion]
- Assessment: [Retention / stability / occlusion / tooth wear]

[IF PRIMARY IMPRESSION:]
RIDGE ASSESSMENT:
- Maxilla: [Hard tissue — high / medium / low ridge / flabby ridge / undercuts / tuberosities]
- Mandible: [Atrophic / good / lingual undercut / mylohyoid prominence]
- Soft tissue health: [Healthy / inflamed / candidal / stomatitis]
- Tongue size and position: [Normal / large]

PRIMARY IMPRESSION:
- Tray: [Stock — size / modified with adhesive + green stick]
- Material: [Alginate (brand) / impression compound]
- Technique: [Mucostatic / mucocompressive]
- Quality: [Acceptable / repeated — reason]
- Special tray lab instructions: [Spacer for definitive impression material / handle position]

[IF SECONDARY IMPRESSION:]
SPECIAL TRAY ASSESSMENT: [Fits / requires border adjustment / extension / reduction]
BORDER MOULDING: [Greenstick compound / impression compound — sectional movements per landmark]
DEFINITIVE IMPRESSION:
- Material: [Light-body PVS / zinc oxide eugenol / wash with heavy body / single mix]
- Technique: [Static / functional / selective pressure]
- Quality: [Acceptable for all landmarks visible: hard palate, sulcus depth, frenal attachments, retromolar pads, post-dam]

[IF JAW REGISTRATION:]
OCCLUSAL RECORD BLOCKS:
- Vertical dimension occlusion (OVD): [Measured — typically 2-4mm freeway space between rest and occlusion]
- Method: [Willis bite gauge / dot-to-dot]
- RCP recorded: [Method — neuromuscular / chin point guidance / fish hook]
- Aesthetic considerations: [Lip support / smile line / incisal length]

SHADE AND MOULD:
- Tooth shade: [Recorded with patient input under natural light]
- Tooth mould: [Selected from manufacturer chart — patient agreement]
- Base shade: [Pink / vein characterisation]

LAB PRESCRIPTION:
- Lab: [Name]
- Work: [Specific stage requested]
- Special instructions: [Setup style / palatal extension / etc.]
- MDR statement of conformity to be retained when work returns.

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS: [Stage-specific — e.g. removable special tray for storage, soft diet, expected next appointment timing]

NEXT VISIT: [Booked for next stage in __ weeks]

Try the denture impressions note in the live demo → No account needed.

What good looks like — a worked example

The same denture impressions template, completed for a realistic case.

STAGE: Secondary (definitive) impression + jaw registration combined visit
DENTURE TYPE: Complete upper + complete lower

REASON FOR DENTURE: Replacement — existing dentures 12 years old, lower very loose, upper acceptable but losing colour.

EXISTING DENTURES:
- Age: 12 years
- Issues: Lower mobile — patient embarrassed to chew in public. Upper functional but discoloured.
- Assessment: Lower — minimal retention, gross occlusal wear, lost vertical dimension. Upper — acceptable fit, worn anterior teeth.

[SECONDARY IMPRESSION:]
SPECIAL TRAY ASSESSMENT: Upper special tray well-fitting. Lower special tray adjusted — extended distolingual to retromolar pad, reduced labial frenum area.

BORDER MOULDING: Greenstick compound — sectional movements applied per anatomical landmark (each sextant moulded with appropriate functional movements — cheek pull, tongue protrusion, swallowing).

DEFINITIVE IMPRESSION:
- Material: PVS light body wash + heavy body (Impregum F)
- Technique: Selective pressure technique — light body in muscular regions, heavy in static areas
- Quality: All landmarks visible — hard palate, sulcus depth, frenal attachments, retromolar pads, post-dam area, lingual sulcus. Acceptable.

[JAW REGISTRATION:]
OCCLUSAL RECORD BLOCKS (sent from lab on definitive impressions):
- Vertical dimension occlusion (OVD): Measured 18mm from chin to nose with patient at rest. Reduced to 16mm for OVD (2mm freeway space). Confirmed acceptable phonetically and aesthetically.
- Method: Willis bite gauge measurements + dot-to-dot.
- RCP recorded: Chin-point guidance technique. Patient guided into retruded position, bite blocks engaged, wax interocclusal record taken.
- Aesthetic considerations: Upper anteriors set with 2mm overjet, 1mm overbite. Lip support assessed — upper lip slightly fuller than current denture (patient pleased). Smile line confirms 80% incisor display at full smile.

SHADE AND MOULD:
- Tooth shade: A2 (patient input — wishes a slightly brighter shade than current B1, but realistically natural for her age)
- Tooth mould: Vita Lumin Vacuum size 6L (ovoid, matches face form). Patient agreement noted.
- Base shade: Light pink with subtle vein characterisation (more natural appearance vs current uniform pink).

LAB PRESCRIPTION:
- Lab: Generic Dental Lab
- Work: Set up trial dentures on master casts using jaw records, shade A2, mould 6L, light pink base with vein characterisation. Anterior teeth: midline coincident with facial midline, slight diastema between UR1-UL1 as per patient request to look more natural. Posterior teeth: balanced articulation, 33° anatomic teeth.
- Special instructions: Try-in stage ONLY at next visit (not finishing). Send back for clinical assessment.
- MDR statement of conformity to be retained when work returns.

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS: Soft diet maintained while old lower denture continues to be used. Continue daily denture cleaning. Try-in appointment in 2 weeks.

NEXT VISIT: Try-in in 2 weeks.

Compliance: the medico-legal angle

• BSSPD Guidelines in Prosthetic Dentistry — recognised UK standard.
• CGDent Clinical Examination & Record-Keeping (3rd ed) — prosthodontic records.
• MDR 2017 — custom-made denture requires lab statement of conformity, retained 10 years.
• Montgomery — patient input on aesthetics (shade, mould, smile line) documented protects against aesthetic complaints.

Common documentation mistakes

• OVD not measured or method not recorded — bite disputes have no defence.
• No patient input recorded on aesthetic decisions — aesthetic complaints indefensible.
• Lab prescription vague — specialist denture lab work needs detail (mould, setup, characterisation).
• No record of which impression material at which stage — leaves the technique undocumented.
• No record of border moulding — peripheral seal failures have no defence.

Sources

• CGDent: Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping, Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition) (accessed 18 October 2026)
• Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board (UK Supreme Court, 2015, UKSC 11) (accessed 18 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Patient leaflets for this treatment

• Your Guide to Dentures

Related dental note templates

Browse the full set of free dental notes templates.