Greenstick compound is one of the impression materials used during one step in the impression making for the complete denture preparation. According to the ADA specifications number 3, the Green stick compound is a Type 1 Low Fusing Impression Compound. To be accurate, the greenstick compound doesn’t help in making an entire impression, but it is used to form a proper seal in the sulcus area of the mouth so that a perfect impression with proper retention is made.
Composition of Greenstick Compound:
As Greenstick compound is a type of Impression Compound, it has the same composition as Impression Compound but with varied Flow, Fusion temperatures, color and shape.
- Rosin – 30 parts
- Copal resin – 30 parts
- Carbuna wax – 10 parts
- Stearic acid – 5 parts
- Talc – 25 parts
- Coloring agent – appropriately as required
Green Stick Compound Use:
The Greenstick compound is used in the step of complete denture preparation, called the Border Moulding or Peripheral sealing. This is a procedure where the shaping of the impression material is done by the manipulation or action of tissues adjacent to the borders of the impression tray, or the special tray prepared after the primary impression.
Green Stick Compound Properties
- The greenstick compound is a low fusing compound, and thus it gets melted on a temperature at which a normal candlelight or blow torch burns
- Hardens back to normal at the room temperature
- Hardens instantly when put in cold water
- Doesn’t react with the impression compound, a special tray
The green stick compound can be cut using a BP Blade or any sharp instrument when it is hardened. While soft, one should not try to cut it because that would dislodge the entire mass of the compound from the place.
How to Perform Border Moulding with Greenstick Compound?
Border molding is an important step in the process of making a Complete denture, it helps is attaining the most important aspect for the success of a Complete Denture – Retention. Greenstick compound helps in attaining the proper Suction and in turn Retention for the denture. There has not been a better substitute for this material for recording accurate Peripheral Seal during Border molding.
During the border molding (peripheral sealing) step, you need to hold the stick over the flame till it becomes soft and malleable. Now, place the material along the labial border of the impression tray or the special tray, and while it is still in the same soft / heated form, place it in the patient’s mouth and then ask the patient to do the normal mouth movements such as movements of the tongue, outward and inward movements of the jaws so that the actual physical movements of the jaws creates the shapes on the borders of the tray on the greenstick compound. These borders help in making a perfect seal and aid in retention of the denture later on.
Sir
While doing border molding, if the tray becomes short,the green stick compound keeps on falling again and again.how can i overcome this problem?
The Basic principle of doing border molding is to achieve proper suction or Retention with the denture. With the Acrylic the borders are not smooth and hence one cannot achieve proper retention and hence Green stick compound is used.
As you have mentioned that the tray has become short, the sole purpose of achieving Retention is lost due to no proper borders. One thing is to make sure you do not trim the denture base in excess.
Sir,may i know the melting point of green stick compound
The melting point of Green Stick compounds is 54 degrees Centigrade.
Why green stick is green in colour?
Composition of green stick compound?
Composition of Green Stick compound is similar to Impression compound as it is the Type 1 Imp Compound. As for the color, it is Green as to demarcate it from the Secondary tray which is fabricated using Acrylic which is usually Pink in color.
Why green stick gives a dull appearance on proper adaptation while the others impression compound doesn’t?
That’s an interesting question, I would have to get back to you on that after referring to some literature.
In general I feel it is because of the fact that the Green stick Impression compound is expanded due to heat making it loose the glossy appearance it has on cooling down.
Why green stick compound is named green?is it because of its colour?
If composition is similar to impression compound ,then why green stick compound has high coefficient of thermal expansion than impression compound?
What happens if green stick is burned ?
Types of Green stick Compound?
Can we make green stock alone with beeswax and stearic acid