Why is polysulfide commonly used in impression making?

Polysulfide is commonly used in impression making primarily because of its excellent elastic recovery. This characteristic is crucial for dentistry, as it allows the material to accurately reproduce the fine details of the oral structures while being flexible enough to be removed without distortion. The elastic recovery ensures that after being deformed during the impression process, the material returns to its original shape, which is ideal for creating accurate prosthetic models.

While other factors like cost, ease of mixing, and setting time can influence the choice of impression materials, the superior ability of polysulfide to maintain accuracy after being stretched or compressed makes it particularly valuable in prosthetics dentistry, where high fidelity in impressions is vital for successful treatment outcomes.