Impression Kit Instructions & Safety

Last updated: November 10, 2026.

Impression Kit Instructions & Safety

This page is part of the Terms of Service of Alienguards, LLC doing business as Traybite, 25 S 3rd St, Unit 105, San Jose, CA 95113. Questions: support@alienguards.com.

Read this entire page before you open or use an impression kit. The step-by-step timing guide on the site is in addition to these safety rules. If anything in a printed insert that ships with the kit is more specific about materials or timing, follow the insert for those details and follow this page for warnings and eligibility.

Warning: choking and swallowing hazard

Impression putty, trays, and completed impressions can be a choking and aspiration hazard. Do not swallow putty or tray pieces. Do not leave putty, trays, or completed impressions where children or pets can reach them. Use the kit only while awake and seated, never while lying down or in bed, and never while walking or in a moving vehicle.

If putty, a tray, or a piece of an impression is swallowed or inhaled, or if a person cannot breathe, coughs persistently, or starts to turn pale or blue, call emergency services immediately (in the United States, 911). We are not an emergency service.

Warning: allergy and irritation

Impression materials and appliance plastics can cause irritation or allergic reaction in some people. Your kit includes impression putty and trays. Follow the kit insert for the exact material names and any manufacturer allergy warnings.

Do not use the kit if you or the person being impressed has a known allergy to the materials listed for your kit, or a history of severe reactions to dental impression materials. If you are unsure, ask a dentist or physician before proceeding.

Stop immediately if you feel burning, itching, swelling, rash, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Remove the tray if you can do so safely, rinse the mouth with water, and seek medical care. For trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat, seek emergency care.

Mild, short-lived gagging or a strange taste can occur. If gagging is severe, remove the tray and pause. Do not force a tray into place.

Supervise minors; age

A person under 18 may use a kit only if a parent or legal guardian has purchased it, has agreed to the Terms of Service and Assumption of Risk and Release, and is present and supervising the entire impression process. Do not allow a child to mix or handle putty unsupervised. Keep all kit contents out of reach of children when not in use. This kit is not a toy.

Who should not use the kit without a dentist’s guidance

Do not use the kit, and talk to a dentist first, if the person being impressed has any of the following, unless a dentist has told you it is appropriate:

  • Active sores, abscesses, unusual swelling, or an untreated oral infection.

  • Recent oral surgery, extractions, or dental work that has not fully healed.

  • Loose teeth, loose crowns or bridges, or orthodontic hardware that could be pulled or damaged by a tray or putty.

  • Severe gag reflex, difficulty breathing through the nose, or an inability to sit still for the working time of the material.

  • A condition that makes it unsafe to have a tray in the mouth without professional supervision.

This list is a safety screen, not a diagnosis. We cannot decide whether an impression is medically appropriate for you; only you and a licensed clinician can.

Before you start

  • Read every step, set out the kit pieces, and wash and dry your hands.

  • Remove removable appliances, jewelry that will interfere, and heavy lipstick or food from the teeth. Brush as you normally would unless a dentist has told you otherwise.

  • Have a clock or the on-site timer ready. Work over a clean, dry surface. Do not mix putty over a sink where it can be lost or washed away.

  • Confirm tray size if your order process asked for a smile photo or tray selection. Do not trim or melt a tray except as the kit insert expressly allows.

  • If you are taking impressions for someone else, that person must be willing, able to follow directions, and supervised as required above.

Taking the impression (general method)

Follow the kit insert for the exact knead time, seat time, and set time. In general:

  • Mix the putty components as the kit insert directs, usually by kneading until the color is even, for the stated number of seconds only. Do not add water, oil, or other substances unless the insert says to.

  • Load the tray quickly and evenly so the putty will capture the teeth and a portion of the gums, without leaving large gaps or overfilling so that material flows down the throat.

  • Seat the tray with steady pressure. The person being impressed should bite or hold as the insert directs, breathe through the nose, and not talk or chew. Do not shift the tray once it is seated.

  • Leave the tray in place until the material has fully set for the time stated in the insert. Removing it early can distort the impression.

  • Remove the tray with even pressure, check that tooth indentations are clear and not torn or thin at the edges, and set the impression in a safe place, away from heat, sun, and anyone who might touch or mouth it.

  • Repeat for the other arch if your kit requires both arches. Do not reuse mixed putty. Do not reuse a tray that has already been used, unless the insert says a specific tray is for a second attempt.

If you are unsure whether an impression is usable, photograph it and email support@alienguards.com before you mail it. We will tell you whether it can be used or whether you should take a new one. Replacement kits and extra putty are available in the store when offered.

After you finish

Do not bake, boil, freeze, or otherwise try to “improve” an impression. Pack and mail it as the kit and shipping instructions describe, as soon as reasonably possible. Wash your hands and any tools. Dispose of leftover mixed material in the trash, not down the sink, and out of reach of children and pets.

When your finished appliance arrives, inspect it before the first use. Do not use it if it is cracked, has sharp unintended edges, or does not match the order. Follow any wear-and-care card that ships with it. Stop use if you have irritation or any of the symptoms listed in the Medical & Product Disclaimer, and contact your dentist and us.

Your responsibility

You are responsible for following these instructions and the kit insert, for supervising minors, and for the care with which impressions are taken. A poor impression can produce a poor fit. See the Refund & Remake Policy, Medical & Product Disclaimer, and Assumption of Risk and Release.