Non-dusting and fast-wetting impression material and method of preparing same

In a dry powdered impression material comprising an alginic acid salt component and a filler component, wherein said material exhibits a tendancy toward dusting in its dry powdered state, wherein said material is mixable with water to form an impression paste capable of setting to a solid, and wherein said material exhibits a further tendancy toward dusting upon admixture with water, the improvement comprising a coating on at least a portion of the powdered components rendering said material substantially non-dusting in its dry powdered form and during admixture with water, said coating being readily and rapidly wet, dispersed or dissolved by water and present in an amount of from about 1-10% by weight based on the total weight of the dry powdered components.