Dental mold is a process used in dentistry to create a replica of a patient's teeth and gums. The two main components of this process are the IMPRESSION and the stent. An IMPRESSION is a 10-letter term which refers to the process of taking a negative imprint of the patient's teeth and gums. This is done by using a putty-like material that is placed in the patient's mouth and allowed to harden. A stent is a 5-letter term which refers to a device that is used to hold the IMPRESSION in place while it is being made. The stent is usually made of plastic or metal and is designed to fit snugly around the patient's teeth and gums.