The invention is directed to a process for taking a dental impression and/or conducting a dental retraction, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a composition (A) having the consistency (a1), composition (A) comprising curable components, and a catalyst suitable to initiate or catalyze the curing of the curable components, composition (A) being contained in a device, (b) applying a portion (I) of composition (A) with a consistency (a2) into the sulcus of a tooth, (c) applying a portion (II) of composition (A) with a consistency (a1) in contact with composition (A) applied in step (b), (d) removing portion (I) together with portion (II) of composition (A) from the surface of the tooth, consistency (a2) being higher than consistency (a1).