DENTAL WAXES

DR. ARCHANA VYAS

DEPT. OF PROSTHODONTICS
 CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CLASSIFICATION
3. COMPOSITION
4. DESIRABLE PROPERTIES
5. FLOW OF DENTAL WAXES
6. THERMAL PROPERTIES
7. MANIPULATION
8. WAX DISTORTION
9. SPECIALITY WAXES
 INTRODUCTION
• The oldest wax used by people - beeswax
• Waxes are among the oldest materials used in dentistry.
• Waxes are organic polymers consisting of hydrocarbons and their
derivatives
• Dental Wax- A low molecular weight ester of fatty acids derived from
natural and synthetic components such as petroleum derivatives that soften
to plastic state at relatively low temperature.
 CLASSIFICATION
• BASED ON ORIGIN

Natural waxes Synthetic waxes

•Mineral •Acrawax C
•Plant •Aerosol O T
•Insect •Castorwax
•Animal •Aldo 33
• BASED ON CLINICAL USE

[1] Pattern:

Inlay wax.
TYPE I: Low melting type(direct waxing procedures)

TYPE II : for making patterns on models/dies

Casting wax

Base plate wax.

[2] Processing : Boxing ,

Utility,

Sticky,

[3] Impression : Corrective wax

Bite registration wax.

 COMPOSITION
• Primary components of dental waxes are derived from

1. Natural Waxes­
 Minerial: Paraffin, Microcrystalline, Ozokerite
 Plant: Carnauba, Candelilla, Japan Wax, Coca
 Butter.
 Insect : Beeswax.
 Animal : Spermaceti.

2. Synthetic Waxes-

 Acrawax. Aeroso , Castorwax. Flexowax. Albacer. Durawax.

3 .Coloring Agents: Provide contrast of wax patterns against
tooth/die

4. Additives- Fats. Oils. Turpentine

5. Natural resins : Copal rosin : Dimmer rosin : Shellac rosin.

Synthetic resin : Elavx : Polyethylene : Polystyrene
 GENERAL COMPOSITION OF DENTAL WAXES

1. Paraffin : 40-60% (main constituent)

likely to flake & does not produce a glossy surface

2. Gum Dammar : a natural resin

improves smoothness & overcomes flaking
3. Carnauba Wax : to decrease flow at mouth temp.

contributes glossiness to wax surface

4. Candelilla Wax: same as Carnauba wax

5. Ceresin: may replace part of paraffin to modify toughness &

carving characteristics
 DESIRABLE PROPERTIES
1. Should be of uniform texture when softened
2. Color should contrast with die material or prepared teeth
3. Should not flake when molded after softening

4. Once the wax pattern is solidified, it should conform precisely to die

surface after carving.
5. During burn-out procedure(at 500c), the wax should vaporize
completely without leaving impervious coating on walls of mold.
 FLOW OF DENTAL WAXES
• Flow is decidedly dependent on the temp. of the waxes.
• Flow is greatly increase as the melting point of the wax is approached.
• TYPE I INLAY WAX:

 should exhibit flow at a temp. slightly above mouth temp.

 Max. permitted flow at 37c= 1%
 This permits carving & removal from prepared cavity at oral temp.
without distortion
 At 45c – minimal flow of 70% & maximum flow of 90% for both
type I and II
 Thermal properties
• Thermal conductivity of wax is poor

• High linear coefficient of thermal expansion-(disadvantage when

used for direct technique)
 Wax distortion- elastic memory

• Results from thermal changes and release of stresses.

• These stresses arise from;

- contraction on cooling
- occluded air
- change of shape during molding, carving, removal

Waxes tend to return to their original shape after manipulation.

This is commonly called as elastic memory
 MANIPULATION OF INLAY WAX
Direct technique
• Dry heat is preferred over water bath
• When wax stick is softened over a flame care should be taken not to over
heat it.
• It should be twirled until it becomes shiny and then removed from the
flame. The process is repeated until the wax is warm throughout. It is then
kneaded and then shaped to the prepared cavity.
• Pressure should be applied by the finger/asking the patient to bite on it
• It is cooled gradually at mouth temperature, and not by cold water
• Care is taken while removing the pattern. it should be hooked
with an explorer point and rotated out of the cavity

• After removal, touching with the fingers should be avoided to

prevent any temperature changes
 Indirect technique

• First lubricate the die.

• Melted wax is added in layers with a spatula/ waxing instrument/painted
on with a brush
• The prepared cavity is overfilled and then carved to desired contour
• When margin is being carved care should be taken to avoid abrading the
surface of the die
• Silk cloth may be used for final polishing of the pattern,
• Regardless of the method chosen, the most practical method
for avoiding any possible delayed distortion is to invest the
pattern immediately after removal from the mouth or die

• Once the investment hardens there will be no more distortion

of the pattern
Dipping wax
• Used for faster waxing
procedures

• Dipping Wax ensures

clean burnout.

• It is kept molten for

constant usage

• Wax pots are used that

can be set to different
temperatures
 SPECIALITY WAXES

Casting wax

• Used in patterns for partial denture frame works

• The Sheets are sufficiently thin to have thinner casting as possible

without Defects to reduce machining.

• They easily burn out during casting

Base plate wax

• used mainly for making

occlusion rims and for holding
artificial teeth to baseplate
during the fabrication of
dentures

• Baseplate wax must be capable

of holding porcelain or acrylic
teeth in position both at
normal room temperature and
at mouth temperature
Boxing wax
• used to form a box around
impressions of the mouth
when making a cast (model).

• Boxing wax is usually issued

in red strips measuring 1 1/2
inches wide, 12 inches long,
and 1/8 inch thick
Utility wax
• used to

- provide rim locks

- adapt impression trays for individual impressions

-to build up post-dam areas on impressions
-to form a bead or border on preliminary and final
impressions.

• Utility wax is normally issued in stick form

and is usually red in color. When it is
supplied in rope form, it is sometimes
called rope wax.
 Sticky wax
• It holds broken pieces of a denture
together and assembles
components of fixed partial
dentures and wrought partial
dentures in preparation for
soldering.

• Sticky wax becomes sticky when

melted and has the property of
adhering to the surfaces of various
Melts at 73°C / 163°F. materials
 CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION WAX

Used as a wax veneer over an original impression to contact

and register the details of soft tissues.

It records the mucous membrane and underlying tissues in a

functional state.
 Bite registration wax
Bite registration wax is used to
accurately articulate certain
models of opposing quadrants.
Bite registrations are often made
from hard baseplate wax
Certain bite waxes contain
aluminum or copper particles.
OTHER WAXES
Margin Wax
• Applications: Seal margins of
copings crowns, inlays and
onlay.

• Properties:
- Semi transparent
- medium hard
- wax flows readily
- superior adaptation
-
Blockout Wax
• Applications:
Fills undercuts, covers sharp
edges

• Properties:
-Bright red for visibility
- hard
- easy flow when molten
-excellent carvability for smooth
contouring on die surfaces.
 Green stick wax

 It comes in sticks of diameter of 9.2mm x 113mm length

 PROPERTIES & ADVANTAGES

1. It is border moulding compound for accurate impressions.

SPRUE WAX
• It is in the wax wire form
in diameter of 2mm,
2.5mm, 3mm, 5mm

• Stiff enough to hold the

wax patterns and does not
deform in shape.

• Easy burn out without

residue
Occlusal Indicator Wax

• A superior indicator to
define occlusal
prematurities with a
positive reading of
contacting surfaces.
Bite Wafers

• Preformed wax wafers

with a foil laminated
center. Used for
checking occlusal
relationships.