The document discusses dental wax, including its history, components, classification, properties and uses. It provides details on the different types of waxes such as paraffin wax, beeswax, carnauba wax and their properties. Pattern waxes are specifically used to create wax patterns that are later replaced with more durable materials through lost wax casting. Inlay casting wax is among the oldest waxes used in dentistry to create wax patterns for inlays, crowns and fixed dental prostheses.

1. PRESENTED BY:
Dr. Pratistha Ghimire
PG Resident, 1ST Year
Department of Prosthodontics
and Crown-bridge

2. Contents
• History & Introduction
• Components
• Chemical nature
• Composition
• Classification
• General Properties
• Various types of wax
• Specific properties
• Uses
• Recent advances
• Conclusion
• References

3. History
• In ancient times, beeswax was used, derived from secretions that bees
use to build honeycombs
• Modern waxes are made from natural plant and animal sources
• Synthetic waxes are typically composed of hydrogen, carbon,
oxygen, and chlorine

4. Introduction
• The wide variety of dental waxes can be classified into two groups:
1. Those used primarily in the clinic
2. Those used in commercial dental laboratories

5. Components of dental waxes
• Dental waxes contain:
1. Natural Waxes
2. Synthetic Waxes
3. Additives

7. Chemical nature of waxes
• Natural waxes are long chain, complex combinations of organic
compounds of reasonably high molecular weight
• The two principal groups of organic compounds contained in waxes
are:
 Hydrocarbons, e.g. saturated alkanes
 Esters, e.g. myricyl palmitate (bees wax)
• Some waxes, in addition, contain free alcohol and acids

8. Mineral waxes
• Paraffin and microcrystalline waxes
• These are distillation products of petroleum
• They are both hydrocarbons
• Paraffin (melts at 40–70 °C) tends to be brittle
• Microcrystalline (melts at 60–90 °C) is more flexible

9. Mineral waxes….
Ozokerite
• It is an earth wax found in western US and central
Europe
• It improves the physical characteristics of paraffin

10. Mineral waxes….
Montan
• A fossilized wax extracted from coal and lignite
• It is very hard, reflecting the high concentration of saturated fatty
acids and alcohols
• Brittle and lustrous
• Although dark brown and smelly, they can be purified and bleached
• It can be substituted for plant waxes

11. Mineral waxes….
Ceresin
• Obtained from petroleum and lignite refining
• They are harder and are used to raise melting range of paraffin
Barnsdall
• Raises melting range and hardness
• Reduces flow of paraffin

12. Plant waxes
Carnauba
• Also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is a wax of the leaves of the
palm Copernicia prunifera, a plant native to and grown only in the
northeastern Brazil
• Carnauba is one of the hardest and most durable waxes
• Melting range is 84–91 °C
• Raises melting range and hardness of paraffin

13. Candelilla
• Wax derived from the leaves of the small Candelilla shrub native to
northeastern Mexico
• Yellowish-brown, hard, brittle, aromatic, and opaque to translucent
• Melting range is 68 to 75 °C
• Mainly hardens paraffin wax
Plant waxes…

14. Ouricury
• Brown-colored wax obtained from the leaves of a Brazilian Feather
Palm by scraping the leaf surface
• Melts between 79–84 °C
• Raises the melting range and hardness of paraffin
Plant waxes…

15. Japan wax and cocoa butter
• Both are not true waxes but are chiefly fats
• Japan wax : pale yellow, sticky, tough, malleable, has a gummy feel and
melts at 51 °C
Improves tackiness and emulsifying ability of paraffin
• Cocoa butter : Brittle and used to protect against dehydration of soft
tissues
Plant waxes…

16. Insect wax
Beeswax
• Melts at 63–73 °C
• Brittle at room temperature
• Plastic at body temperature
• Its addition reduces brittleness

17. Insect wax…
Shellac wax
• From the lac insect Kerria lacca
• Used for making special trays, temporary denture
base etc.

18. Animal wax
Spermaceti
• Found in the spermaceti organ inside the sperm whale’s head
• It is not widely used
• Mainly used as a coating for dental floss
Lanolin : wool wax
• From the sebaceous glands of sheep
• Consists of esters of sterols

19. Synthetic waxes
• Synthetic waxes are chemically synthesized from natural wax
molecules
• Prepared under controlled conditions to give standardized reliable
results
• Highly refined unlike natural waxes which are frequently
contaminated
• More homogeneous than pure natural waxes
• Their use is still limited

20. Wax additives
Gums
• Viscous, amorphous exudates from plants that harden when exposed
to air
• Complex substances mainly made of carbohydrates
• Either dissolve in water or form sticky, viscous liquids
• E.g. gum Arabic and tragacanth

21. Wax additives….Resins
• Exudates of certain trees and plants (except shellac which is from
insects)
• Complex, amorphous mixtures of organic substances
• Insoluble in water
• Improve toughness
• Used to make varnishes (by dissolving in an organic solvent)
Synthetic resins : They are also used

22. Wax additives….
Fats
• Tasteless, odorless and colorless substances
• Similar to wax but have lower melting temperatures and are softer
• Chemically composed of glycerides
• E.g. beef tallow and butter
• Increase melting range and hardness of waxes

23. Wax additives….
Oils
• Lower the melting point of paraffin
• Hydrocarbon oils : soften waxes
• Silicone oils : improve ease of polishing of waxes

24. Composition of Dental Wax
• The primary components of dental waxes are derived from synthetic
waxes and natural waxes
• Coloring agents are added for contrast of wax patterns against tooth,
die, and model surfaces
• Some formulations contain a compatible filler to control expansion
and shrinkage of the wax product

25. Classification of dental waxes

26. According to origin
• Mineral
• Plant
• Insect
• Animal

27. According to Use

28. General properties
1. Melting range
2. Thermal expansion
3. Mechanical properties
4. Flow
5. Residual stresses
6. Ductility

29. Melting range
• Waxes have melting ranges rather than melting points
• E.g. Paraffin : 44- 62oC, Carnauba: 50- 90oC
• Significance: Mixing of waxes may change their melting
range
• Melting range varies depending on its use

30. Thermal expansion
• Waxes expand when subjected to a rise in temperature and
contract as the temperature is decreased
Coefficient of thermal expansion and its importance
• Dental waxes and their components have the largest CTE among the
materials used in restorative dentistry
• Temperature changes in wax patterns after removal from the mouth
can produce inaccuracies in the finished restoration
• Waxes are somewhat elastic in nature and tend to return to their
original shape after deformation (Elastic memory)

31. Mechanical properties
• The elastic modulus, proportional limit and compressive strength of
waxes are low compared to other dental materials
• These properties are strongly dependent on the temperature
• The temperature is inversely proportional to the mechanical
properties of the dental waxes

32. Flow
• It is a measure of a wax’s ability to deform under light forces and is
analogous to creep
• An important property, especially in inlay waxes
• Results from the slippage of wax molecules over each other
• When melted, the wax should flow readily into all the parts of the
die
• Flow increases as the melting point of the wax is approached

33. Flow is dependent on:
1. Temperature of the wax
2. Force applied
3. The length of time the force is applied

34. Ito M, Yamagishi T, Oshida Y, Munoz CA. Effect of selected physical properties of waxes on investments and casting shrinkage.
The Journal of prosthetic dentistry. 1996 Feb 1;75(2):211-6.
Effect of selected physical properties of waxes on
investments and casting shrinkage
Ito et al investigated the relationship between flow characteristics,
bending strength, and softening temperature of paraffin and dental inlay
waxes to casting shrinkage
They found that the casting shrinkage decreased as the flow of the wax
pattern increased
It is of great importance to select the type of wax which has the most
desirable properties for the margin and the occlusal portions
They also concluded that, to accurately fabricate castings, it is
necessary to understand the physical properties of the chosen waxes

35. Residual stress
• Regardless of the method used to make a wax pattern, residual
stresses will exist in the completed pattern
• The stress may be compressive or tensile in nature

36. Ductility
• Ductility increases as the temperature of the wax is increased
In general:
• Waxes with low melting points have greater ductility than those with
high melting points

37. PATTERN WAXES

38. Pattern waxes
• Many dental restorations or prostheses are first made with pattern
waxes
• The wax is later replaced with more durable material
• All pattern waxes have two major qualities which cause serious
problems in their use:
1. Thermal change in dimension
2. Tendency to warp or distort on standing

39. Inlay Casting Wax
• Among the oldest waxes in dentistry
USES
• The pattern for inlays, crowns and FPDs is first made in wax and then
replaced by metal during casting

40. Direct and Indirect Techniques
• If the pattern is made directly in the tooth (in the mouth), it is
said to be prepared by direct technique (Type 1 wax)
• If it is prepared on a replica of the tooth (die), it is called
indirect technique (Type 2 wax)

41. Lost Wax Pattern Technique

42. Ideal Requirements of Inlay Casting Waxes
1. When softened, the wax should be uniform, there should be no
graininess or hard spots in the plastic material
2. The color should contrast with the die - helps in identifying and
finishing of margins
3. The wax should not flake or crumble when the wax is softened
4. The wax should not chip during carving

43. Ideal Requirements of Inlay Casting Waxes...
5. During burnout (500 °C), it should vaporize completely without residue
6. The wax pattern should be completely rigid and dimensionally stable
at all times until it is eliminated
7. The wax should have good flow when heated and set rigidly when
cooled

44. Classification (ADA Specification 4)
• Type 1 : Medium wax- direct techniques
• Type 2 : Soft wax - indirect techniques
Supplied as

45. Composition
• Paraffin wax
• Gum dammar
• Carnauba or Candelilla
• Coloring agents

46. Paraffin wax (40–60%)
• Main ingredient
• Used to establish the melting point
• Paraffin wax flakes trimmed do not give a smooth surface, so other waxes are
added to modify
Gum dammar (1%)
• Dammar resin (a natural derivative from pine tree) improves the smoothness
during molding and makes it more resistant to cracking and flaking
• Also increases toughness of the wax and enhances the luster of the surface

47. Carnauba wax (25%)
• Increases melting point of wax
• Combined with paraffin to decrease the flow at mouth temperature
• Acceptable odor and gives glossiness to the wax surface
Candelilla wax
• Added to replace carnauba wax
• Contributes the same qualities as carnauba wax, but its melting point is
lower and is not as hard as carnauba wax
Synthetic waxes
• In modern inlay waxes, carnauba wax is often replaced partly by certain
synthetic waxes
• Because of their high melting point, more paraffin can be incorporated and
the general working qualities are improved

48. Properties of Inlay Wax
Flow

49. Properties of Inlay Wax
Flow

50. Properties of Inlay Wax
Thermal properties
Thermal conductivity
• The thermal conductivity of these waxes is low
• It takes time to heat the wax uniformly and to cool it to body or room
temperature
Coefficient of thermal expansion : High CTE
• It has a linear expansion of 0.7% with increase in temperature of 20 °C (36˚ F)
• Contract as much as 0.35% when it is cooled from 37˚ to 25˚ C (99˚ to 77˚ F)

51. • The expansion rate increases abruptly
above approximately 35˚ C (95˚ F). The
temperature at which the change in
rate occurs is known as the glass
transition temperature
• Some constituents of the wax probably
change crystalline form at this
temperature, and the wax is more
plastic at higher temperatures

52. Wax distortion
Wax distortion is the most serious problem in inlay wax
It is due to release of stresses in the pattern caused due to:
1. Contraction on cooling
2. Occluded gas bubbles
3. Change of shape of the wax during molding
4. From manipulation—carving, pooling, removal, etc.

53. Thus, the amount of residual stress is dependent on:
• The method of forming the pattern
• Its handling
• Length of time and, temperature of storage of the wax pattern

54. Causes of distortion
• Distortion is due to any method of manipulation
that creates inhomogeneity of wax involving
the intermolecular distance

55. Distortion of the wax can occur:
• If wax is not at uniform temperature when inserted in the cavity, some
parts of the wax pattern may thermally contract more than others
when stresses are introduced
• If wax is not held under uniform pressure during cooling
• If fresh wax is melted and added in an area of deficiency, the added
wax will introduce stresses during cooling
• During carving, some molecules of wax will be disturbed and stresses
will result

56. • To avoid the distortion
1. Minimal carving and change in temperature
2. Minimal storage of pattern. Invest immediately
3. Store it in a refrigerator if necessary

57. Manipulation of Inlay Wax
• Wax stick is held over the visible flame and rotated, taking care not to volatilize
the wax
• The softened wax is shaped approximately to the form of the prepared cavity
• After the wax is inserted into the cavity, it is held under finger pressure while it
solidifies
• The wax should be allowed to cool gradually to mouth temperature
• Dry heat is preferred to the use of a water bath
The latter can result in the inclusion of droplets of water, which can
splatter on flaming, smear the wax surface during polishing, and
distort the pattern during temperature changes
For direct technique

58. • To fabricate indirect patterns, the die should be lubricated, preferably
with a lubricant containing a wetting agent
• The melted wax is added in layers with a spatula / waxing instrument
overfilling the cavity, and then carved to the proper contour
• When the margins are being carved, care should be taken to avoid
abrading any surface of the stone die
Manipulation of Inlay Wax…
Polishing
Done with a silk/ other fine cloth rubbing toward the margins

59. CASTING WAX
To make patterns of the metallic framework and sprues of removable
partial dentures

60. Properties
• Tacky and highly ductile as they must adapt easily and stick onto the
refractory cast
Supplied as

61. MILLING WAX
Also known as machinable wax

62. • An extremely hard wax with high melting temperature - high resolution
detail
• The wax pattern formed after machining is invested and cast like
regular casting waxes
• Can be shaped by milling or machining using CAD/ CAM or dental
drills
MILLING WAX…

63. Available as
 Blocks, Cylinders, Discs, Cakes in containers
Properties
• It is harder and has a higher melting temperature than most other
waxes
• It powders or flakes on milling

64. BASEPLATE WAX
Also referred to as modeling or Type 2 (ISO 15854) wax

65. Uses
1. To establish the initial arch form in the construction of complete
denture
2. To make occlusion rims
3. To form the contour of the denture after teeth are set
4. To make patterns for orthodontic appliances and other prostheses
which are to be constructed of plastics

66. Properties
Ideally,
• Should be easy to carve
• Should not chip and break at try-in
• Should boil out without leaving any oily residue

67. Classification (ADA specification 24)
• Type I : Soft — for building veneers
• Type II : Medium — to use in mouths in normal climates
• Type III : Hard — for use in tropical climates

68. Composition

69. PROCESSING WAXES
Used mainly as accessory aids in the construction of a variety of
restorations and appliances, either clinically or in the laboratory
Beading and boxing
wax
Utility wax Sticky wax

70. Boxing wax and Beading wax
USES
• Used to build up vertical walls around the impression, in order to pour
the stone and make a cast
• The procedure is known as boxing
SUPPLIED AS :
• Boxing wax as sheets
• Beading wax as strips

71. Advantages of Beading and Boxing
1. Preserves the extensions and landmarks
2. Determines the thickness of the borders
3. Controls the form and thickness of the base of the cast
4. Conserves the stone

72. Properties
• They are pliable and can be adapted easily
• A slight tackiness allows it to stick to the impression

73. Technique
• Beading wax is adapted around the periphery
• This wax should be approximately 4 mm wide and 3–4 mm below the
borders of the impression
• The height is adjusted until a boxing wax strip extends approximately
13 mm above the highest point on the impression
• Stone is vibrated into the boxed impression

74. UTILITY WAX
• COMPOSITION:
• Beeswax
• Petroleum
• Other soft waxes in varying proportions
• SUPPLIED AS:
• It is available in the form of sticks and sheets

75. Properties
• It is pliable and can be easily molded
• It is adhesive and can stick to the tray
Uses:
• To adjust contour of the tray
(E.g. to raise flange height, to extend the tray posteriorly, to raise palatal
portion of the tray in cases of deep palate, etc.)

76. STICKY WAX
Composition
• Yellow beeswax
• Rosin
• Natural resins such as gum dammar
Properties
• Sticky when melted and applied in molten state and adheres closely
to the surfaces to which it is applied
• At room temperature, it is firm, free from tackiness, and brittle

77. Uses
• For joining (assembling) metal parts before soldering
• For joining fragments of broken dentures before repair procedure

78. CARDING WAX
• Used by manufacturers for the packaging of acrylic or porcelain teeth
• They are soft, tacky and pliable at room temperatures
• They are available as sheets or strips

79. SHELLAC
• Shellac was once extensively used in dentistry to fabricate temporary
denture bases and custom trays

80. Composition
• Shellac wax
• Plasticizers like stearin and stearic acid
• Fillers like mica (strength), talc
• Some contain aluminum which is also used as a filler to adjust viscosity
• It may be white (bleached), brown (natural color) and pink or bronze
(dye)

81. • Heating of the shellac in water above 70 °C - leaching of the
plasticizers
• Heating over flame above 100 °C - polymerization with release of
water (characterized by bubbling)
• This results in a marked increase in its viscosity (becomes stiffer)

82. Manipulation
• Being a thermoplastic material, it is manipulated by softening with
heat to adapt, cut and shape it
Drawbacks
• Again being a thermoplastic material, it is affected by heat and is,
therefore, potentially unstable and subject to distortion
• It is now largely replaced by resins which are more stable

83. IMPRESSION WAXES
Generally used in combination with other impression materials
such as polysulfide rubber, ZOE, or dental impression compound

84. A. Corrective wax
(Dental impression wax)
Composition
• Paraffin
• Ceresin
• Beeswax

85. Uses
• It is used to register the soft tissues details
1. To make functional impression of Class I and II removable partial
dentures
2. To record the posterior palatal seal (Fluid Wax Technique)
3. Functional impression for obturators

86. Properties
• The flow at 37 °C is 100%
• These waxes are subject to distortion during removal from the mouth
• They should be poured immediately

87. Types
1. Korecta wax (No. 4) (extra soft - orange)
2. Iowa wax (white) —Available as 6 inch sticks or in a small container
3. H-L physiologic paste (yellow-white)
4. Adaptol (green)
Mouth temperature waxes

88. I. Korecta Wax
• Extra Hard No. 1 - (Pink) is a reinforcing material used only on the
external surface to support wax extensions beyond tray margins
• Hard No. 2 - (Yellow) is used in rebasing (as a hard foundation for
Korecta - Waxes No 3 and 4)
• Soft No. 3 - (Red) is for minor tray corrections/ initial lining to stabilize
the tray
• Extra Soft No. 4 - (Orange) - to secure a completely adapted
impression under natural masticatory pressure. It leaves a finished
surface and registers fine tissue details

89. II. Iowa Wax
• Developed to record the functional or supporting edentulous ridge
• Ideal for atrophic or knife edge residual ridge
• Can be used as secondary impression material or relining finished FPD
• Designed primarily for impression technique to record tissue under
occlusal load

90. III. HL Physiologic Paste
• Used to record the posterior palatal seal
IV. Adaptol
• Used as a thermoplastic moulding
material for peripheral tracing

91. B. BITE REGISTRATION WAX
USES
• It is used to record the relationship between the upper and lower
teeth
• This is necessary in order to mount the casts correctly in the articulator
SUPPLIED AS : U-shaped rods or wafers

92. Composition
• Beeswax or paraffin or ceresin
• Some contain aluminum or copper particles
Properties
• Flow at 37 0 C ranges from 2.5 % to 22 %

93. Alu Wax
• Used to verify jaw relation records
• Contains Aluminum and Cuprex chloride
• Available in sheets and in arch form, or, two sheets of wax with a cloth
from center

94. Bite Wafers
• Designed for a fast precise record
• Used for checking occlusal relationships
• Copper particles provide uniform flow of heat and
soften quickly
• Wafers having a foil laminated center (Laminated bite
wafers)

95. RECENT ADVANCES
Conventionally, the wax patterns are prepared manually and then
casted, but there are newer advancements in the preparation of wax
patterns

96. 1. CAD CAM machines: The wax pattern is produced using the milling
technique based on a virtual model created from the digital data
that are obtained from the oral cavity
2. Rapid prototyping technique known as the 3D-printing , is being used
to design and print a wax pattern for a restoration. Later, the wax
pattern is cast in the same conventional manner
The advantages of these technologies: High precision of the patterns
fabricated, reduced laboratory time and turn over of the restorations
fabricated

97. Comparison the Marginal and Internal Fit of Metal Copings Cast from Wax
Patterns Fabricated by CAD/CAM and Conventional Wax up Techniques
Vojdani M, Torabi K, Farjood E, Khaledi AA. Comparison the marginal and internal fit of metal copings cast from wax patterns fabricated
by CAD/CAM and conventional wax up techniques. Journal of Dentistry. 2013 Sep;14(3):118.
Conventional method of wax-pattern fabrication produced copings with
significantly better marginal and internal fit than CAD/CAM (machine-milled)
technique
Cross-sectional technique after cementation and embedding (internal
microscopic examination) was used for measuring marginal and internal gaps
The CAD/CAM group had significantly larger gaps at all measured areas than
conventional group (p< 0.001), especially the AMD and MG, which were
254.45 ±25.09 and 157.37±20.63 for CAD/CAM group and; 88.08±10.66 and
69.54±15.60 for conventional Group respectively

98. Although CAD/CAM technology has already changed dentistry, it needs
some improvement in scanning procedure, data processing,
manufacturing techniques and material processing to be a competitive
alternative for conventional method of fabrications

99. Conclusion
• Waxes are among the most popular and useful of dental materials
• They are economical, suited for many purposes
• Proper knowledge of certain critical characteristics – effect of heating
on flow, thermal expansion, distortion, etc. will enable easy, effective
and efficient handling of the wax
• The alteration of its properties by modifying the compositions make it
versatile and useful for most applications

100. References
• Phillips' science of dental materials- 12th and 13th edition
• Restorative dental materials 11th edition – Robert G. Craig and John M. Powers
• Basic dental materials- John J. Manopallil – 4th edition
• Sheriff AH, Nittla PP. Dental Waxes–A Review. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2019 Nov
30;12(11):5589-94
• Ito M, Yamagishi T, Oshida Y, Munoz CA. Effect of selected physical properties of waxes on investments and
casting shrinkage. The Journal of prosthetic dentistry. 1996 Feb 1;75(2):211-6
• Zeltser C, Lewinstein I, Grajower R. Fit of crown wax patterns after removal from the die. The Journal of
Prosthetic Dentistry. 1985 Mar 1;53(3):344-6.
• Vojdani M, Torabi K, Farjood E, Khaledi AA. Comparison the marginal and internal fit of metal copings cast from
wax patterns fabricated by CAD/CAM and conventional wax up techniques. Journal of Dentistry. 2013
Sep;14(3):118