Your trays now come with the impression putty already inside, so there's nothing to mix. You warm each tray in boiling water, let it cool for a couple of minutes, then press it onto your teeth and hold still.

If an impression doesn't come out right, you can reheat the same tray and take it again, as many times as you need.

You have our original impression kit, which uses different steps from our new kit. Follow the instructions that came in your kit, or go to getcheeky.com/pages/impress-original for the original video, steps and return label.

We still need both a top and a bottom impression to make your guard.

Your kit includes:

• 1 top (upper) impression tray, medium size, with putty inside
• 1 bottom (lower) impression tray, medium size, with putty inside
• 1 clear medical bag for your finished impressions
• 1 return mailer to send them back to us

• A pot or pan with enough water to fully cover a tray
• A stove
• Tongs or a slotted spoon
• A timer or stopwatch (your phone works)
• A free-standing table mirror
• A desk or table with a chair, so you can rest your elbows
• A clean, hard surface
• A metal spoon (optional, helpful if you need to remold)
• About 20 minutes with no distractions

About 20 minutes for both impressions. Read through the instructions and watch the how-to video once before you start (https://youtu.be/H0pryKJ7G1k), so you know what's coming. Timing matters, so have your timer ready.

Yes, please send both, even if you ordered only one guard.

Your guard sits on one set of teeth, but we shape it around how your other teeth bite into it. That's what makes it fit comfortably. If we only get one impression, we can't make your guard, and we'll need to send you a new kit, which delays your order.

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/H0pryKJ7G1k

We recommend watching it all the way through once before you begin.

• Brush your teeth so they're free of food and debris.
• Take out any lip, mouth or tongue piercings.
• Take out any removable dentures or plates.
• Fill your pot with enough water to fully cover a tray.
• Take the trays out of their plastic bags.
• Sit at a table where you can rest your elbows, with your mirror in front of you.

Your kit comes with medium trays, which fit most people. Before you heat anything, place each tray over your teeth to check the size. It should cover all of your teeth, back molars included, with a little space between your front teeth and the front edge of the tray.

If the medium trays feel too small or too big, email customersupport@getcheeky.com and we'll send small or large trays right away. Please wait to heat your trays until you have the right size.

Yes. You can take your impressions with braces or a permanent (bonded) retainer. Leave them in while you take your impressions.

Take out anything removable, like dentures, plates or a removable retainer, before you start. If you have other dental work you're not sure about, contact us before you begin and we'll help.

You'll repeat the same 3 steps for each tray: heat, cool, impress. Start with your top teeth.

1. Heat (1 minute). Bring your water to a rolling boil, with big bubbles breaking across the whole surface. Place one tray in the water, putty side up and fully underwater, for exactly 1 minute.
2. Cool (2 minutes). Lift the tray out with tongs or a slotted spoon, holding it by the handle or base. Don't touch the putty. Let it cool for exactly 2 minutes. It will be warm, but safe to put in your mouth.
3. Impress (3 minutes). Using your mirror, line your teeth up with the channel in the putty and press the tray on in one smooth push, as deep as it will go. Hold completely still for 3 minutes, then remove the tray using the front handle.

Then repeat all 3 steps with your bottom tray.

Use your mirror. Center your teeth over the channel in the putty so every tooth sits inside it.

Keep a tiny gap between your front teeth and the front edge of the tray. If your front teeth touch the front of the tray, your impression will likely need to be redone. Keep your lip on the outside of the tray.

Firmly. Push the tray on in one continuous movement, as deep as it will go, so the putty captures the full height of every tooth. Push evenly on both sides.

• Top tray: place your thumbs under the tray, below your canine (fang) teeth, and push up.
• Bottom tray: place your pointer fingers on the tray and push down.

Rest your elbows on the table to keep the pressure steady.

3 minutes, without moving. Keep your elbows on the table and stay relaxed. Any movement can distort the impression.

Don't take the tray out early. The putty needs the full 3 minutes to set.

After 3 minutes, hold the front handle and gently pull the tray off your teeth. Leave the putty in the tray.

No. The putty stays in the tray the whole time: while you take your impression, if you remold it, and when you mail it back.

Take the tray out of your mouth. Remold it (see "Can I redo my impression?"), and this time let it cool 30 seconds longer before you put it in your mouth.

It needs a little more heat to soften fully. Remold the tray and adjust your timing:

• On a first impression: cool it for 30 seconds less (1 minute 30 seconds instead of 2 minutes).
• When remolding: reboil it for 30 seconds longer (3 minutes 30 seconds instead of 3 minutes).

Yes. The water must be at a full rolling boil, with big bubbles breaking across the whole surface, for the entire minute the tray is in it. Make sure the tray is fully underwater.

A pot or pan on the stove is the easiest way to keep it boiling. Water that has stopped boiling, like water poured from a kettle, won't soften the putty enough.

Yes, as long as you're careful with the boiling water. Never leave the pot unattended, keep the water away from your skin, and always use tongs or a slotted spoon to move the tray.

After the 2-minute cool, the tray will be warm but safe to put in your mouth. If it ever feels too hot, take it out and let it cool longer.

Before you send your impressions back, check each one for:

• Teeth centered in the tray
• A clear gumline you can see
• The full height of every tooth
• Your back molars fully included
• Deep, even marks across all of your teeth
• A tray that was held still for the full 3 minutes

Compare yours to the example photos in your instructions.

Most impressions that need a redo come down to one of these:

• Front teeth touching the front of the tray
• Not pressing deep enough
• Moving during the 3-minute hold
• Missing the back molars
• Taking the tray out too early

Take your time. Careful placement means faster approval.

Yes. The putty is reusable, so you can remold and retake an impression as many times as you need.

1. Cool the tray to room temperature. Let it sit, or run cold water over it to speed things up.
2. Reboil for 3 minutes. This fully softens the putty.
3. Cool for 1 minute. It will be warm but safe to handle.
4. Smooth the putty for about 45 seconds. Use your thumbs to press out all of the old tooth marks, right in the tray. The back of a metal spoon helps flatten it, and you can use the spoon to press a clean channel down the center. It should look as close to new as possible.
5. Retake right away. Put the tray in your mouth immediately and hold still for 3 minutes, just like the first time.

Keep the putty in the tray the whole time.

The putty probably didn't soften enough. Reboil it for another 3 minutes and smooth it again. If the surface still isn't smooth, press it flat with the back of a metal spoon.

No worries. If our lab can't use an impression, we'll reach out and send you a new impression kit free of charge.

A redo does add time to your order, so it's worth checking your impressions against the checklist before you mail them.

1. Let both impressions cool completely.
2. Put both trays, with the putty still in them, in the clear medical bag.
3. Put the bag in the return mailer.
4. Print your return label at learn.getcheeky.com and attach it to the mailer.
5. Drop it off at USPS.

Print it at learn.getcheeky.com, then attach it to your return mailer. If you have any trouble, email customersupport@getcheeky.com and we'll email you a label right away.

No. Your return label is prepaid.

As soon as you can. The sooner we have them, the sooner your guard ships. Please mail them back within 60 days of receiving your kit.

Once our lab receives and processes your impressions, we'll email you. Please allow up to 48 hours after they arrive for that email.

We ship your guard within 7 to 14 business days of receiving your impressions. Busy periods can occasionally take a little longer.

No. Once your impressions are approved, we keep them on file, so refills and plan changes don't need a new kit.

Email customersupport@getcheeky.com or message us at getcheeky.com. Our team is available 7 days a week, 9 AM to 5 PM ET.