What is the term for a negative reproduction of dental arches used to produce a cast?

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An impression is the negative reproduction of the dental arches used to produce a cast. It captures the exact anatomy of teeth and surrounding tissues in pliable material, which is then poured with dental stone or plaster to create the cast—the positive replica you use for diagnosis, planning, and fabrication of restorations. The other terms refer to different parts of the process: a model is the positive replica (the cast) itself; a wax pattern is used in the casting process to form the shape of a restoration; a die is a precise segment derived from the cast, typically used to fabricate or evaluate a single tooth restoration.