A dental impression material must have sufficient strength to allow removal from a gingival sulcus without tearing; it must also have adequate elastic recovery. This study examined the tear energy, the permanent deformation upon extension, the energy absorbed to an estimated point of significant deformation, and the extent of permanent deformation at tear of polysulfide, polyether, and addition-reaction silicone impression materials. As expected, polysulfide material had a higher tear energy and strain at tear than either polyether or addition-reaction silicone materials. However, the more relevant clinical properties, such as energy absorbed per amount of deformation and tear at a point of minimal permanent deformation, favored the addition-reaction silicone material, followed by the polyether material.