Take me through the steps you follow to make an alginate impression.

The interviewer is interested in your knowledge of current techniques and products as well as your ability to select the appropriate tools for the task at hand. They also want to know that you can still provide a pleasant patient experience in the midst of a messy and sometimes stressful situation. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you can form accurate impressions on the first try by walking them through your process.

Answer: The first step is to select the appropriate tray size. The correct size is always one that is slightly larger than the patient's arch. I then thoroughly mix the alginate to ensure there are no bubbles. This is necessary to make a clean first impression. I then fill (but do not overfill) the tray and place it back to front. It's critical to keep the patient's lips away from the tray, and I always tell them to breathe through their nose. This prevents them from gagging. I carefully remove the tray once it has set. I always try to keep the patient calm and reassured throughout the procedure.