What is the ideal working and setting time for impression materials used in fixed prosthodontics?

The ideal working and setting time for impression materials used in fixed prosthodontics is indeed typically 2-3 minutes for working time and 5-10 minutes for setting time. This time frame allows dental professionals to efficiently manipulate the material and create an accurate impression of the prepared tooth and surrounding soft tissues without feeling rushed.

During the working time, dentists can adequately mix the materials, load the impression tray, and position it in the patient's mouth. Following this, a setting time of 5-10 minutes allows the impression material to accurately harden, capturing fine details necessary for the fabrication of precise dental prosthetics such as crowns and bridges.

This balance of time ensures that the material can be worked with effectively, while still providing sufficient time for the material to set, maintaining accuracy and detail. Other options either allow too little time for adequate manipulation or are too lengthy, which could compromise the fidelity of the impression for successful crown or bridge applications.