What is an impression tray used for in dentistry?

An impression tray is specifically designed to hold impression material while creating dental molds of the teeth and surrounding tissues. This critical tool allows for the capture of an accurate and detailed negative impression of a patient’s dental anatomy, which is necessary for various dental procedures such as fabricating crowns, bridges, dentures, or orthodontic appliances. The tray comes in different sizes and shapes to accommodate individual mouth structures and is used to ensure the impression material remains in place until it sets.

The other options do not align with the primary function of an impression tray. Storing dental instruments and transporting patient records are tasks that involve different types of equipment, like sterilization trays or folders, respectively. Applying adhesive to tooth surfaces is a procedure related to dental bonding or cementation rather than impression taking, which emphasizes the unique role of the impression tray in the process of obtaining dental impressions.