Waxes used exclusively in

prosthodontics
 Introduction

Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that

are hydrophobic, malleable solids near ambient
temperatures.
 Classification

Waxes have been classified

according to their origin
 2 principal groups of organic
compounds

Hydrocarbons Esters
• The hydrocarbons in plant waxes -
saturated alkanes
• Plant and animal waxes contain
considerable concentrations of esters.
• Carnauba (a plant wax) contains 85% alkyl
esters of various kinds.
• The principal ester in Beeswax - myricyl palmitate
(reaction product of myricyl alcohol and palmitic
acid)
• Montan wax (an earth wax) contains large amounts
of esters
 Properties of wax
MELTING RANGE

THERMAL EXPANSION

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

FLOW

RESIDUAL STRESS

DUCTILITY
 Melting range
• Melting ranges rather than melting
points.
Melting range
 Thermal properties
•
• Solid-solid Transition Temperature: (Tg)
• Temperature at which a sharp increase in coefficient of
thermal expansion occurs indicating molecular mobility.
• Also called softening temperature or glass transition
temperature.
Thermal expansion

Expand

Contract
 Mechanical properties

ELASTIC MODULUS

PROPORTIONAL LIMIT

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
 Elastic modulus

• compared with those of other

materials, and this depend strongly on
the temperature
Flow
 Flow

• Flow results from-slippage of molecules over

each other
• Below the melting point of the wax, flow
would be a measure of the degree of plastic
deformation of the material at a given
temperature.
 Residual stress

• Regardless of the
method used to
prepare a wax pattern,
residual stress exists in
the completed pattern
 Ductility

• Ductility as the temperature of a wax

specimen is increased.
 Compression

• When cooled under compression, the atoms & molecules

are forced together as compared to when there is no external

stress

• After cooling & upon load removal, motion of molecules is

restricted – residual internal stresses

 Tension

• Cooling under tension results in

molecules moving away from one
another comparatively
 Classification
Pattern Processing Impression
Wax Wax Wax

1. Inlay Wax 1. Boxing Wax 1. Corrective Wax

2. Casting Wax 2. Utility Wax 2. Bite registration

Wax

3. Base plate Wax 3. Sticky Wax

 Pattern waxes
TYPES

1. CASTING WAXES 2. BASEPLATE WAX

 Inlay (Used in the
 Removable partial construction of
denture (the metal complete and partial
frame) denture)
 Inlay pattern wax

• Pattern for inlays, crowns and FPDs is

first made in wax and then replaced
by metal during casting.
 Inlay wax ADA NO 4

BY FLOW
1. HARD
2. REGULAR
3. SOFT

Flow can be reduced by

• Adding more carnauba wax
• Using higher melting paraffin wax
 Inlay wax
BY TECHNIQUE (Revised ANSI/ ADA sp. No. – 4)

 Type i - Direct
 Type ii - Indirect
 Composition
Paraffin wax (40-60%)

Ceresin(10%)

Gum Dammar (1%)

Carnuba wax(25%)

Candellila wax

Synthetic waxes
 Ideal Requirements Of Inlay Casting
Waxes

1.Uniform while softened

2.Color contrast

3.No flaking or crumbling

4.Vaporise completely

5.Dimensionally stable

6.Good flow properties

7.Plastic slightly above mouth

temperature
 Supplied As

• Blue, green or purple sticks

• Pellets and cones
• Commercial Names: Haravrd,Kerr.
 Properties
Flow

• According to ADA sp.No122/ISO 15854:2005

• At 45oC – class I and II –flow between 70to 90%
• At 37oC-Class I should not flow more than 1%
• At 30oC- Class II should not flow more than1%
 Thermal Properties

• Thermal conductivity-
Low Coeffecient of thermal expansion- High
(linear expansion of 0.7% with increase in
temperature of 200C)
 Wax Distortion
Due to

• Release of stresses
• Contraction on cooling
• Occluded gas bubbles
• Change of shape moulding
• From manipulation-carving, pooling,
removal
 Wax Distortion

• Due to manipulation that creates

inhomogeneity of wax involving the
intermolecular distance.
• Not held under uniform pressure
 Residual stress

• Method of forming the pattern

• Handling
• Length of time and temperatures of storage of
the wax
 Manipulation

Direct
technique Indirect
technique
 Direct technique

• Softened the stick of wax over the flame.

• Inserted into the cavity & held under finger

pressure.

• Allow to cool gradually at mouth temperature.

• Withdraw the wax pattern carefully.

 Indirect technique

• Pattern is prepared over a lubricated die.

• If molten wax used, very little stresses occur.

 Methods of indirect technique

Dipping Method
* In full crowns.
* Die is dipped in hot liquid wax.
Softening In Warm Water
* Not recommended.
Adding in Layer
* Using spatula or brush.
 Dipping wax
• The hotty led is a wax dipping pot which permits controlled
temperature setting and displays the set and the actual value
 Advantages

• High precision via low shrinkage

• Optimum viscosity at 89–91°c (192–196°f)
• Precise-fitting copings with an even layer thickness
• High stability and elasticity
• Contains no acrylic additives
• Easy to cut off the preparation border
 Method

Preparation

• Place a thin isolating layer on the die surface.

• Build-up of bubbles and streaks are thus prevented
 Dipping-procedure

Support your hand comfortably

• Do a quick dip to just beyond the preparation border
• Slowly and evenly remove the die from the wax
• Just before the tip comes out hold it steady in the pot for
a short time so that any excess wax can drip down
Aramentarium
 Warpage

• Patterns distort when allowed to stand unrestrained.

• It increases with increase in time & temp
• Of storage
 Minimizing warpage

• Use higher temperature at time of formation – less force to

shape – less residual stresses
• Soften the wax uniformly at 50°c for 15 min
• Warmed carving instruments & die
 Rpd pattern wax

For patterns of the metallic frame work of

removable partial dentures
 Rpd pattern wax

• Used for metallic framework of RPD’s

• Serve same purpose as inlay wax, differ slightly in physical
properties
• Ingredients similar to inlay waxes
• sheets used to establish minimum thickness in some areas
of RPD framework such as palatal & lingual bar
 Supplied as

Sheets (0.40mm &0.32mm thickness)

Readymade shapes –
Round
Reticular, grid or mesh form
Clasp shapes
Bulk
Properties
 Properties

• Slightly tacky so as to maintain position on cast

• Pliable & readily adaptable at 40 - 45°c
• Copy accurately against the surface which it is
pressed
• Shall not be brittle on cooling
• Must vaporize at 500°c
• Can be bent double on itself without fracture at 23°c
 Flow

Are to be used on a cast & not in mouth

• They have a higher flow as compared to inlay waxes at
around 35 – 37°c
• 35°c – 10% min
• 37°c – 60% max
 Baseplate wax (ADA 24)

Modelling wax

Uses
Occlusal rims
Setting teeth
 Baseplate wax (ADA 24)

Three types

• Type i – soft wax for contours & veneers

• Type ii – medium wax for temperate

climates

• Type iii – hard wax for tropical climates

 Composition

Paraffin/ceresin- 80.0%

Bees wax-12.0%

Carnuba-2.5%
Natural or synthetic resins-
3.0%
 Supplied as

Sheets 7.60 x 15 x 0.13 cm, red, pink or orange in

colour
 Requirements

• Linear thermal expansion from 25° to

40°c < 0.8%
• Softened sheets cohere readily
without flaking or adhering to fingers
• No irritation to oral tissues
• Pigment not to separate on
processing
• No adhesion to other sheets or
separating paper on storage
Processing waxes

Boxing wax
Beading wax
Utility wax
Sticky wax
Boxing wax &Beading wax
 Boxing and beading wax
• Build up vertical walls around the impression
 Utility wax

COMPOSITION
Bees wax
Petrolatum

SUPPLIED AS
Sticks & sheets
 Requirements

• Pliable at 21° to 24°c; workable & easily

adaptable at room temp.
• Flow be between 65% & 80% at 37.5 °c
• Tacky at 21° to 24°c; adhesion for build up
• Color- Green or Black
 Uses

• Improving the contour of perforated tray for

hydrocolloids
• To stabilize a pontic for a temporary bridge while
index is being made
 Sticky wax

Formulated from a mixture of waxes, resins &

other additives
 Requirements
• Have a dark or vivid color to
distinguish from gypsum products
• Shrinkage - < 0.5 % from 43° to
28°c, Sticky when melted, adheres
closely to the surface
• At room temperature – firm, free
from tackiness & brittle
• Should fracture rather than flow
when deformed
 Uses
• Used primarily on dental
stones and plasters
• Used in repair for holding
the metal or resin parts
temporarily
• Joining metal parts for
soldering
• Denture repair
 Impression waxes

Impression waxes are classified as:

1) Corrective impression wax
2) Bite registration wax
 Composition

• consist of a mixture of low melting paraffin wax

and bees wax in ratio of 3:1.
• contains other wax like ceresin and also metal
particles e.g. aluminum or copper particles.
 Properties
Melting temperature:
• Beeswax is 62.8°C.
• Paraffin wax is 52°C.

Melting range:
• Beeswax is 34-
70°C.
• Paraffin wax is 44- 60°C
 Flow

• The flow is measured at 37°C and is 100% and 2.5%-

22% respectively, thus susceptible to distortion on
removal
• Flow as tested by compression of cylindrical specimens
is 2—85% at 37°C.
 Mechanical Properties

• The elastic modulus, proportionately limit and

compressive strength is low and are dependent
on temperature.
 Corrective impression wax
Wax veneer over an original impression
Uses
Functional impression of free end saddles

Record posterior palatal seal

Functional impression for obturators

 Corrective impression wax

Four Types

HL physiologic
IOWA wax Korrecta wax Adaptol wax
paste
 Corrective impression wax

Extra hard(Pink)-
flow(3%)
IOWA wax-white
colored(Carl &
smith)
Hard (Yellow)
(80%)
Korrecta wax (O.C.
Applegate)
Soft (Red)(85%)
HL physiologic
paste(C.S
Harkin’s)-Yellow
Extra soft(orange)
(90%)
Adaptol
(Nathan.G.kay)-
Green
 Corrective impression wax

• These waxes can also be used to produce

a muco-compressive impression of the
edentulous saddles for a lower, free
end saddle partial denture-called the
Applegate technique.
 Corrective impression wax

• Heartwell and Rahn plainly state that wax cannot be

used.
• Mc Cracken stated that in some instances placement of
the tissue is necessary to obtain maximum support of
mandibular dentures.
Fluid Wax Technique
 Waxes used are

• IOWA Wax

• Korecta Wax No. 4(orange)

• H-L physiologic paste (yellow-white)

• Adaptol (green)
 Bite registration wax-Alu wax
Uses
• Relationship between upper and lower teeth
Supplied as
• U-shaped rods or wafers
 Recent Research

Rajagopal P, Aras M, Chitre V. A comparison of the accuracy of

patterns processed from an inlay casting wax, an auto-
polymerized resin and a light-cured resin pattern material. Indian
Journal of Dental Research. 2012;23(2):152.
 Recent Research

Joshi N, Shetty S, Prasad K. Comparative study to evaluate the

accuracy of polyether occlusal bite registration material and
occlusal registration wax as a guide for occlusal reduction during
tooth preparation. Indian Journal of Dental Research.
2013;24(6):730.
Recent Research
Recent Research
 Recent Research

Bhaskaran E, Azhagarasan N, Miglani S, Ilango T, Krishna G,

Gajapathi B. Comparative Evaluation of Marginal and
Internal Gap of Co–Cr Copings Fabricated from
Conventional Wax Pattern, 3D Printed Resin Pattern and
DMLS Tech: An In Vitro Study. The Journal of Indian
Prosthodontic Society. 2013;.
 Recent Research

Viswambaran M, Sundaram R. Effect of storage time and

framework design on the accuracy of maxillary cobalt-
chromium cast removable partial dentures.
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry. 2015;6(4):471.
CONCLUSION
 Refference
• Anusavice, Philipps’: Science of dental materials,
11th edition, Elsevier.
• Craig RG, Powers JH: Restorative dental materials,
11th edition, Mosby.
• William J. O’ brien: Dental materials and their selection,
2nd edition.
• McCabe JF, Walls AWG: Applied dental materials,
8th edition, Blackwell Science.