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1. “DENTAL WAXES”
GUIDED BY:
- Dr.S.R.Godbole.
- Dr.Trupti.Dahane.
Presented by:
Apurva.Deshmukh

2. Content:
 Introduction.
 Definition.
 General features.
 Ideal requirements.
 Classification.
 Properties.
 Summary.
 References.

3. Introduction:
 Waxes has been an important commodity
to human civilisation from over 2000
years.
 And being such an indispensable
material,its no surprise that they are used
in dentistry too.

4. Review Of Literature
 Over 60 million years ago beeswax was accepted by
peoples as a diet source.
 In 3000 B.C. in Egypt,beeswax was used for the
mummification process and for protective coverings.
 In Greek and Roman literatures, wax was used for
sealing ships n letters ,fine arts for making paintings,
wax tablets used for writing, binder matrix, protection
coating at art objects.

5.  Then came the era in which three people Pliny in 23-79 AD,
Theoplillus in 11th century and Celklini in 1558 described lost
methods used in various arts by blacksmiths, craftsman, ceramist n
metal workers in their writings.
 1700 – M.G.Purrman : used waxes for edentulous impressions.
 1907 -- Dr. William.H.Taggart
Wax pattern compound,
Lost wax technique &
Centrifugal casting machine.

6.  1930 -- P. S. Bowle & S. G. Applegate developed
physiologic waxes
 1935 -- Paraffin - first synthetic liquid.
 1939 -- Driksen - IOWA waxes

7. Definition
 G.P.T : Waxes can be defined as one of the
several esters of fatty acids with higher alcohols,
usually monohydric alcohols.
 Waxes are thermoplastic materials which are
normally solid at room temperature, but when
subjected to moderate temperatures, melt
without decomposition, to form mobile liquids.
(-McCabe)

8. General features:
 Waxes are more amorphous than crystalline.
 Structurally they have long chains of C-C backbone.
Eg - Beeswax.
 At solid state,waxes are relatively soft and exhibit
surface gloss.
 They have poor mechanical properties.

9.  Most dental waxes are a blend of
different kind of waxes.
 This blending is done to change the
melting range and hardness for a certain
given application.
 Waxes contain gums, resin, colorants &
oils.

10. Classification:
I. Waxes can be natural and synthetic:
 Natural waxes can be classifies according to their origin.
- Mineral.
- Plant.
- Insect.
- Animal.
 Synthetic.
- Petroleum products and distillates.

11. WAX
MELTING
RANGE
( ° C) CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTY
PARAFFIN 48-71 Main ingredient.
MICROCRYSTALLINE 65-90
↑Melting point.
↓Brittleness.
OZOKERITE 65 ↑ Physical properties
Restorative Dental Material - Craig
Mineral Wax
CERESIN 90 ↑ Melting range
MONTAN 72 - 92 ↑ Melting range & hardness

12. WAX MELTING RANGE
( ° C)
CHARACTERISTIC
PROPERTY
CARNAUBA AND
OURICURY
84 - 91
79 - 84
↑ Melting range & hardness
CANDELILLA 68 - 75 ↑ Hardness
JAPAN WAX 51
↑ Tackiness & emulsifying
ability
COCOA BUTTER -
↑ Tackiness & emulsifying
ability
Plant Wax.

13. WAX MELTING RANGE
( ° C) CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTY
BEES WAX 63 - 70 ↓ Brittleness & Flow.
Animal wax

14. II. According to their chemical composition:
- Hydrocarbons.
- Esters.
III. The wide variety of dental waxes can be broadly divided
into 2 groups :
1) Clinical waxes:
 Bite registration wax.
 Disclosing wax (pressure indicating wax.)
 Utility wax.
Classification: (Conti)

15. 2) Dental laboratory waxes :
 Boxing wax
 Baseplate wax
 White wax
 Carding wax
 Sticky wax
 Beading wax
 Utility wax : Hard, medium and soft
Type II inlay wax.

16. IV. Classification according to their use:
- Pattern waxes, Processing waxes and Impression
waxes.
 Pattern waxes: These are used to form the carved pattern of
the restoration, which is to be replaced with a more durable
restorative materials.
Inlay Wax Casting Baseplate
Type I
Type II
Type III
Type I Type II

17. A) Inlay wax:
 Used to produce patterns for metal casting using the
the lost wax technique.
Eg. inlays, crowns & bridges.
 These waxes are supplied in several forms: sticks,
pellets & tins.
 Dark colours: blue,green and gray.
 They are labeled according to ADA Specification no 4:
no 4: hard, medium & soft (according to their melting
melting range).

18.  Composition :
- 40-60% paraffin
- 25% carnauba
- 10% ceresin
- 5% bees wax
- 1% gum dammer

19. Ideal requirements:
 No dimensional change should take place in the wax
pattern once it is formed.
 During carving, wax should not pull away with carving
instrument or should not chip as it is carved.
 The colour should be in contrast with the die material
or prepared tooth.
 It should not leave any residue during burnout.

20. There are two types:
 Type I wax:
- Used directly in the mouth.
- Wax is softened & placed into the prepared tooth in the
direct waxing technique.
 Type II wax:
- More frequently used.
- Wax is melted onto a die outside the mouth in the
indirect technique.

21. B) Casting wax:
 Used to construct the metal framework of partial dentures.
dentures.
 These come in sheets and preformed shapes.
 The physical properties are similar to inlay wax except the
the melting range.
 The melting range is only important for laboratory
procedures because these waxes are not softened in mouth.
mouth.

22. C) Baseplate wax:
 They are sheets of wax generally pink or red in colour to
simulate the colour of gingiva.
 Uses:
1) To form occlusal rims to establish
- vertical dimension
- plane of occlusion
- initial arch form
2) To produce desired contour of the denture after teeth are set in
position.

23.  Composition :
- Paraffin/ceresin- 70% to 80%
- Beeswax- 12%
- Carnauba- 2.5%
- Natural/synthetic resin- 3%
- Microcrystalline/synthetic wax- 2.5%
 Classification :
According to American Dental Association Sp. No. 24:
- Type I – Soft
- Type II – Hard
- Type III – Extra-hard

24.  Processing waxes: These are auxillary dental waxes
which aid in constructing the restoration either in
the clinic or in the laboratory.
a) Boxing
b) Utility
c) Sticky

25. A) Boxing/Beading wax
 It is used to form the base portion of a gypsum
model.
 The 1.5-inch-wide, red strip of boxing wax is
wrapped around the impressions to produce a
form into which the gypsum is poured.
 It is easily manipulated and slightly tacky at room
temperature, allowing it to adhered to itself to
secure the boxed form.

26. B) Utility wax
– Also called periphery wax.
– To give desirable contour to a perforated tray
– It comes in ropes and sheets that are easily
manipulated at room temp.
– These come in various colours of pink, white &
red.

27.  Uses of wax ropes:
– To adapt the periphery of the impression tray
to customise the tray & aid in patient comfort
by reducing tissue irritation.
– Provide a better fit into the vestibule & control
of the movement of the impression material.
– To cover sharp brackets and wires in
orthodontic patients.
 Use of wax sheets:
– May be layered to form a horseshoe shape used
for wax bite registrations.

28. C) Sticky wax
 Uses:
- Repair agent for broken plaster models
- To join fragments of broken dentures
- To assemble metallic pieces temporarily before
soldering.
 It comes in orange sticks that at room temp are hard &
brittle, but when heated under flame become soft &
sticky.

29.  Impression waxes:
- They are used primarily to make impressions of the
edentulous regions of the mouth.
- They exhibit high flow at mouth temperatures, hence
the name 'mouth temperatures waxes'.
- Types
1) Corrective.
2) Bite registration.

30. A) Corrective wax:
- It is used in conjunction with other impression
materials in the process of taking edentulous
impressions.
- Used to record posterior palatal seal
- This wax flows at mouth temp & is used within
another (original) impression material to
correct undercut areas.

31.  They exhibit high flow & distort on
withdrawal from undercuts.
(disadvantage)
 They are replaced by elastomeric
impression materials.

32.  Commercial names: Korecta wax, Kerr's impression wax, Iowa
wax and Adaptol.
 Korecta impression wax :
No. I wax – Reinforcement
No. II wax – Rebasing for use with type III & IV wax
No. III wax - Minor tray correction
No. IV wax - For making correctable impression

33. B) Bite registration wax:
 Bite wafers:
- To record the occlusal surfaces of teeth as an aid in establishing
establishing maxillo-mandibular relationships.
- Composition: Beeswax, paraffin wax, ceresin, some contain
Aluminium or Copper particles.
- The preformed horseshoe shapes are often reinforced with metal
metal particles to provide stability.

34. Occlusal indicator wax:
- It is used to detect areas of premature occlusal contact.
- Supplied in scored strips & is dark green, yellow or blue
in colour.

35. Carving Wax
 For tooth carving procedures in dental
anatomy & laboratory procedures &
demonstration purposes.
 Contains synthetic wax, fillers & colouring
agents.

36. Disclosing wax
 These points are located by painting the wax
on the tissue side of the denture base and
holding the denture in place under pressure in
the mouth.
 The wax flows away from the points needing
relief.
 Disclosing wax is sometimes known as
pressure indicator paste.

37. Laser Wax
 For the CAD/CAM technique
 Highly stable wax which allows the milling
cutter to work on the narrowest space with
highest efficiency.
 Advantages :
- laser readable
- Can be milled
- Pleasant color
- Shows immediate recognition of secondary
contamination.

38. Diagnostic waxes
 Employed on diagnostic models or master models to the patient.
 Better wax-ups than with conventional modelling waxes as tooth
shades are available which help in creating life like restorations.
 These waxes have better carving properties, high strength & elevated
melting point.
 Advantages :
- Provide assistance in understanding the functional & aesthetic
planning to the dentist.
- Offers patient a concrete idea of the final restoration
- Act as great value of reference

39. Dipping wax
 Available as pellets, cones,or in bulk
 Special waxes for processing within an electronic wax die pot.
Wax heating unit has a melting Temp range 30-120°C
Wax kept molten for constant usage.
 Advantages -
- Precise-fitting copings with an even layer thickness.
- Low shrinkage
- Optimum viscosity
- High stability & elasticity
- Contains no acrylic additives

40. Properties:
I.Melting Range:
 Waxes contain several types of molecules having
different molecular weights, so they have melting
range rather than a melting point.
 Controlling the melting range of the wax is decided
by the manufacturer according to specific needs.
 It is done by:
- Blending waxes,
- Molecular weights.

41. II.Thermal Expansion:
 Highest thermal expansion coefficient.
 Mineral waxes > Plant waxes
 Expansion α Temperature
α Time
α Residual stress
 Poor thermal conductors

42. III.Wax distortion /warpage of wax pattern:
 Tendency to warp when allowed to stand unrestrained
– Causes : 1) thermal changes
2) relaxation of stresses
- contraction on cooling
- molding , carving , removal of pattern
- occluded air
 Warpage α 1/temperature of wax during fabrication
α forces for fabrication
α temperatures & time of storage
α 1/promptness of investing

43.  Techniques to prevent formation of residual stresses :
- Manipulation done above softening temperature
- Warm instruments & die
- Wax added in small increments
 Techniques to prevent release of already formed residual stresses :
- Patterns not subjected to temperature changes
- Time gap > 30 minutes - stored in refrigerators
- Details of patterns refinished, if refrigerated

44. IV.Flow:
 The relative ability of wax to plastically deform
when it is heated slightly above mouth
temperature.
 It is the movement of the wax as it approaches the
melting range.
 Control of the flow & melting range is important in
manipulating the wax.
 Flow α temperature,
α force &
α time

45. APPLICATIONS:
A) In the clinic:
 If we are doing a wax bite registration, a melting
range that is only slightly higher than mouth temp
is desirable.
 And it is important that the wax does not require
temp much greater than mouth temp to soften
(uncomfortable to the patient).

46. B) In the Lab:
 Waxes may have a much higher melting
range.
 However, even for lab purposes this may
be undesirable.
e.g. In the boxing of an impression using wax,
it is more desirable to mould the wax
using the heat of the hand or warm water
rather than having to use a flame.

47. V.Dimensional Change:
 Waxes expand when heated & contract when cooled.
cooled. The thermal expansion & contraction of waxes
waxes is greater than any other dental material.
Important for pattern waxes.
Pattern waxes: a duplicate of the restoration carved in the
the wax.

48. APPLICATIONS:
 If a wax is heated above the melting range or heated
unevenly, expansion above acceptable standards will
result in inaccuracies in the final casting.
 If waxes are allowed to stand, dimensional changes
occur from the release of residual stress.
 It should be invested and casted within 30 min after
carving the wax.

49. VI.Residual Stress:
 It is the stress remaining in wax as a result of
manipulation during heating, cooling, bending,
carving, or other manipulations.
 Elastic memory - It is the tendency of a solid wax form to
form to partially return to its original shape when stored
stored at temperature higher than that to which it was
was cooled to.

50. VII.Excess Residue:
 A wax film remaining on an object after the wax is
is removed.
 If excess residue remains after the wax is removed,
removed, it may result in inaccuracies in the object
object being produced.
 Important in the lost wax technique when the wax
wax pattern is melted out of the investment mold.
mold.

51. Summary.
All waxes share the properties of having melting range, flow,
residual stress and thermal expansion.
The proper manipulation of waxes is critical to ensure that
these properties do not interfere with the success of the
final restoration.

52. References:
 Dental materials and their selection, William J. O’
brien : 2ndedition.
 Applied dental materials, McCabe JF, Walls
AWG: 8th edition.
 Phillips Science Of Dental Materials, 11th Edition.
 Restorative Dental Materials, Craig, 12th Edition.
 Dental materials properties and manipulation,
John M. Powers and John C Wataha, 9th edition.

53. Thank you.