Impression kit · At-home tutorial

Impression Kit Tutorial

Every set of grillz we make starts with an impression of your teeth. Your kit lets you take one at home, anywhere in the world, to the same standard we work to in the London studio. Follow the video and the steps below and you will have it done in about twenty minutes.

TimeAbout 20 minutes DifficultyEasy — no experience needed AttemptsMaterial for two impressions per row

Watch the whole video once before you open the putty. Then follow the written steps below with the video paused at each stage.

Why it matters

The impression is
the whole fit

Custom grillz only fit perfectly because they're made from a perfect copy of your teeth. Your impression is that copy. We 3D scan it, design your set on top of the scan in CAD, and cast the metal to it — so every detail in the putty ends up in the finished piece, good or bad.

A clean impression gives you grillz that click on, sit flush against the gum line and stay put. A rushed one gives you gaps, rocking and a set that needs remaking. That's why your kit includes enough material for two impressions of every row you order: take your time, take both, and if an attempt isn't right, go again. We check every mould before anything goes into production and we'll always tell you if we need another.

You don't need a dentist or any special skill. The materials are the same dental-grade silicones used in surgeries — a firm putty for the overall shape, then a lighter second-step material that captures the fine detail. Each stage sets in a few minutes and doesn't taste of much. What matters is preparation, pressing firmly and staying completely still while it sets.

In the box

What's in your kit

  • Impression trays For the rows you have ordered — top, bottom, or both.
  • Putty — two sets per row The heavy first-stage material. Order top grillz and you get two sets for your top row. Order top and bottom and you get two of each.
  • Second-step dual syringe and mixing tips A lighter impression material for the second stage. It flows into the fine detail the putty cannot reach.
  • Return box and order sheet Post your finished impressions back in the box the kit arrived in. Complete the order sheet if your kit includes one.

Before you begin

Set yourself up first

  • Watch the tutorial video all the way through before you touch the putty.
  • Brush and floss, then rinse with water. Food debris and plaque show up in the mould.
  • Dry-fit the tray with no putty in it. It should cover all your teeth back to the molars without touching them.
  • Have a mirror, a clock or the timers on this page, and a clear surface in front of you.
  • Remove any removable dental work, such as retainers, unless we have told you otherwise.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly — you will be mixing the putty with your fingertips.

Step by step

Taking the
impression

One row at a time. If you've ordered top and bottom, complete the whole process for one row, check it, then start fresh for the other. Use the timers — the putty doesn't wait.

  1. Mix the putty

    Take one base and one catalyst — equal amounts. Fold and knead them together firmly with your fingertips until the colour is completely uniform with no streaks or marbling. Work quickly: you have around 30 seconds before it starts to set.

    Have the tray in reach before you start.

    Studio tipStreaks mean it is not mixed. Unmixed putty stays soft in patches and the mould tears when it comes out. Better to over-knead than under-knead.

  2. Load the tray

    Roll the mixed putty into a sausage the length of the tray and press it into the tray evenly, filling it to the top with no gaps or air pockets. The putty should sit slightly proud of the tray edges.

    Studio tipDo not skimp on the front. The teeth at the front are usually the ones being made into grillz — they need the deepest, cleanest capture.

  3. Seat it and hold still

    Look in the mirror and line the centre of the tray up with the centre of your teeth. Press the tray on evenly and firmly so the putty gets good coverage of all your teeth and gums. Once it is in place, do not move it. Relax your lips, breathe through your nose, keep your tongue away from the tray, and hold light, steady pressure for the full set time. No biting, no wiggling, no talking.

    Hold still until the timer finishes — it will beep.

    Studio tipGagging is usually caused by pushing the tray too far back. If the dry-fit felt fine you do not need to go further than that.

  4. Remove the impression

    When the timer ends, pull the tray off your teeth in one smooth, careful motion. A gentle wiggle is fine if it needs persuading — just keep it controlled so nothing drags or tears. Shake out any saliva.

  5. Add the second-step material

    Take the dual syringe and attach a mixing tip. Squirt the material directly into the impression — into every tooth you are having grillz made for, plus the teeth either side of them. You have around 30 seconds, and you can use the tip of the syringe to spread the material nicely as you go.

    Attach the tip, then start straight away.

    Studio tipThe material starts setting as soon as it mixes in the tip, so have the impression in front of you before you squeeze.

  6. Press it back on

    Line the tray up exactly as before and press the impression back onto your teeth. The lighter material flows into every fine edge and picks up the extra detail that makes the fit exact. Hold still for the full set time, then remove it in the same smooth, careful motion.

    Hold still until the timer finishes — it will beep.

  7. Check it and rinse it

    Rinse the impression under the tap and inspect it under a good light against the quality check below. The second-step layer should sit smoothly inside the putty with crisp, glossy tooth detail and no drags or gaps.

  8. Take your spare impression

    Your kit includes enough material for a second impression of each row. Take it, even if the first one looks perfect — two impressions let us cross-check the detail, and it saves a week of posting if anything is off. Watch the video again before this attempt for the exact technique.

Quality check

Good enough
to cast from?

Hold the impression under a good light and look at the teeth you're having grillz made for. Compare against the two lists below.

Send it — looks like this

  • Every tooth you are having grillz made for is fully captured, including the biting edge.
  • The gum line is visible as a clean edge above or below the teeth.
  • Surfaces are smooth and glossy, with sharp detail on the tooth edges.
  • The putty is firm all the way through and stays in the tray.
  • The second-step material sits smoothly in the putty with crisp, glossy tooth detail.

Redo it with your spare material if you see

  • Air bubbles or voids on the front or biting edge of a tooth.
  • Tray showing through the putty — you pressed through to the plastic.
  • Dragged, smeared or doubled tooth shapes from moving while it set.
  • Soft, sticky or streaky patches — the putty was not mixed enough.
  • Teeth you need are only half captured or missing at the back.
  • The second-step layer has dragged, torn or pulled away from the putty.

Not sure? Photograph the impression in daylight, straight on and from the side, and send it to us on Instagram @gliderjewels or by email before you post it. We'll tell you within the day whether it's good to go.

Sending it back

Post it to the studio

Rinse each impression under the tap and let it dry off for a few minutes. No hot water, and keep it away from radiators and direct sun — heat can distort silicone.

Place your impressions back in the box the kit came in, complete the order sheet if your kit includes one, and post the box back to the studio. A tracked service is worth the extra pound or two. Once it arrives we check everything, and your production time starts from that day.

Common questions

Before you open the kit

Does taking an impression hurt?

No. The putty is soft, sets at mouth temperature and comes away cleanly. The most anyone feels is a bit of pressure on the gums and, occasionally, a gag reflex if the tray is pushed too far back. Keep it where the dry-fit felt comfortable and breathe through your nose.

How long do I keep the tray in my mouth?

Around three minutes for each stage — first the putty, then the lighter syringe material. Use the timers on the steps above, and do not take it out early — that is the most common reason an impression fails.

What if my first impression is not good enough?

Your kit includes material for two impressions of each row, and we ask you to take both anyway. If neither looks right, message us and we will send more material. We would always rather post extra material than cast from a bad mould.

Do I need an impression of both rows if I only want top grillz?

No — just the row you are having made. If you have ordered top and bottom, do both, one at a time.

Can I take an impression with braces, a retainer or missing teeth?

Missing teeth are fine — the mould just captures the gap and we design around it. Fixed braces are a problem, as the putty locks under the brackets; message us before you order. Removable retainers should come out before you take the impression.

How do I send the impression back?

Rinse it under the tap, let it dry off, place it back in the box the kit came in with the order sheet completed if there is one, and post it to the studio using a tracked service. Your production time starts the day it arrives and passes our check.

Can I skip the kit and come to the studio instead?

Yes. If you are in or near London, book a moulding appointment and we will handle everything in person at the studio. You are also welcome to visit your own dentist and request an intraoral scan, which you can email to us — a digital scan works just as well as a physical impression.

Don't have a kit yet?

Custom grillz,
shipped anywhere

Every online order includes an impression kit. Or if you're in London, book a moulding appointment and we'll take the impression for you in the studio.

Shop grillz Book a London appointment