Updated: August 2025
Taking a dental impression at home can feel intimidating — and many people worry about messing it up. The truth? Mistakes happen all the time, and they’re easy to fix. At Sentinel Mouthguards, we’ve reviewed thousands of impressions, and we can usually tell right away if yours will work or if we should send you a redo kit.
👉 The most important thing to remember: you won’t be stuck with a bad impression. If it isn’t good enough, we’ll help you redo it until it’s right.
If you’d like step-by-step instructions to get it right the first time, check out our [How to Take a Dental Impression guide] — it walks you through mixing, timing, and alignment in detail.
Want the full picture on protecting your teeth from grinding? See our [Complete Guide to Custom Night Guards].
Common Impression Mistakes We See
1. Shallow Impressions (especially back molars)
If the putty doesn’t fully capture the depth of your teeth, the guard may feel loose or unstable.
Fix: Make sure your molars sink all the way into the putty and hold still for the full 3 minutes.
2. Distortion from Movement
Shifting or removing the tray too early can warp the impression.
Fix: Once you bite down, hold steady until the putty sets completely.
3. Incomplete Mixing (white streaks left in putty)
This creates soft spots that distort details.
Fix: Knead the putty until it’s one uniform color before loading the tray.
4. Off-Center Alignment
Sometimes one side is deeper than the other, making the guard uneven.
Fix: Practice with an empty tray before mixing putty so you know how to center it.
How to Know If Your Impression Is Good Enough
✅ A good impression should clearly show:
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Full detail of every tooth (front and back)
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Deep molars with no “shallow spots”
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No white streaks, bubbles, or tears
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Centered placement with even depth
❌ A redo is needed if:
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Teeth look only half-formed or cut off
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The tray shifted during setting
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Material pulled away and left gaps
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Back molars are missing
What Happens If I Mess Up?
At Sentinel, here’s our process:
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Lab Review – Every impression is inspected by a technician before we make your guard.
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Free Redo Kit – If we spot an issue, we’ll send a complimentary redo kit right away.
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Customer Support – Not sure? Email us a photo of your impression for free feedback before mailing it back.
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Extra Kits if Needed – Your first redo kit is free. If you need another, they’re available at a low cost.
FAQs About Messed-Up Impressions
Q: What if I mess up more than once?
That’s okay! We’ll guide you through it until it’s right. Many customers need two tries.
Q: Do I need to send the bad impression back?
No — just discard it. We’ll send you a new kit.
Q: How fast will I get my redo kit?
Most ship out within 1 business day and arrive in 2–5 days depending on location.
Q: Can I check my impression before sending it in?
Yes! Email us a photo at info@sentinelmouthguards.com, and we’ll confirm if it looks good.
Need help picking the right style of guard? Our breakdown of [Night Guard Types & Which to Choose] explains the differences between soft, hard, and dual laminate options.
Final Thoughts
Messing up your dental impression isn’t the end of the world — it’s part of the process. With clear instructions, a little patience, and Sentinel’s redo policy, you’ll end up with a perfect-fitting guard no matter what.
💚 Ready to try again? [Order your custom impression kit today] and get the perfect fit with zero risk.