The time it takes to apply a cast depends on the material used. Plaster casting can take up to a day and a half to dry before it’s hard enough to support the patient’s weight. On the other hand, fiberglass casts may only take 20 to 30 minutes to apply.
Here are some average casting times for each material:
- Plaster: About 15 minutes to cool and 24 to 72 hours to dry.
- Fiberglass: About 10 to 15 minutes to dry and can bear weight after 30 minutes.
- Polyester-cotton: About 7 to 10 minutes to dry and can bear weight almost immediately.
Of course, every procedure is different, depending on how smoothly the application goes and the quality of the products used.