This document provides information on various types of dental waxes. It begins with definitions of waxes in general and an introduction to dental waxes. It then describes the typical composition of dental waxes which includes a base wax, modifiers, and colorants. Several types of dental waxes are discussed, including pattern waxes for inlays, castings, and baseplates as well as processing waxes for tasks like boxing and utility uses. The document concludes with a brief section on impression waxes used for bite registration and corrections.

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DENTAL WAXES
PRESENTED BY
DR.HASHMAT GUL
DEMONSTRATOR
DENTAL MATERIALS DEPT.
INTRODUCTION

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WAXES
DEFINATION
Waxes are thermoplastic materials which are normally solids at room
temperature but melt without decomposition, to form mobile liquids.
ORIGIN OF WAXES
MINERAL ANIMAL PLANT
1) Paraffin 1) Bees 1) Carnauba
2) Microcrystalline 2) Candela
DENTAL WAXES

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DENTAL WAXES
DEFINATION : Dental waxes are thermoplastic moldable materials
that are solids at room temperature.
GENERAL COMPOSITION OF DENTAL WAXES
• Hydrocarbon (e.g. Paraffin )* or Ester types
• High or low MW Acc.to desired properties
• Constitute the main bulk
Base wax
• Hydrocarbon or Ester type
• High or low MW Acc.to desired properties
• Traces To impart the desired properties in the final product
Modifier
Colorant
DENTAL WAXES-BASE WAX
BASE WAX
Paraffin
Microcrystalline
PARAFFIN
The major component of almost all dental waxes
Obtained by fractional distillation of petroleum.
Linear hydrocarbon
Low MW (a couple dozen carbon atoms long) just high enough that it is
solid at room temperature.
Not pure as a mixture of hydrocarbons

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DENTAL WAXES-MODIFIERS
MODIFIERS
Normally Dental waxes consist of two or more components which
may be natural or synthetic waxes, resins, oils, fats and pigments.
Blending is carried out to produce a material with the desired properties for a
specific application e.g.
Wax Desired Property imparted by the Modifier wax
1). Bees Wax Less brittle
Increase stickiness
2). Carnauba wax &
Candelilla wax
Control the softening temperature.
Carnauba tend to increase the hardness and water resistance.
3).Micro- crystalline
wax
Raise melting point.
Lower the softening temperature
Lower brittleness.
PROPERTIES OF DENTAL WAXES
THERMAL PROPERTIES
The softening temperature
Melting point
The coefficient of thermal expansion which affect
Accuracy
Dimensional stability
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Flow & Creep
Brittleness & Toughness

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THERMAL PROPERTIES
THE SOFTENING TEMPERATURE
Also called SOLID-SOLID TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
All the waxes used in dentistry have
a predominantly crystalline structure
a well-defined melting point
On heating, a second endothermic peak exists at a temperature somewhat
lower than the melting point. This peak is indicative of a solid– solid transition
involving
Change in crystalline structure of the wax , accompanied by a change in
mechanical properties i.e.
Brittle solid Softer, moldable material

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MELTING POINT: It is the temperature at which the
wax converts into liquid-state & began to flow.
METHODS OF SOFTENING WAX PRIOR
TO MOULDING INCLUDE :
A Bunsen burner
A water bath
An infra-red lamp
A Wax Annealer
Waxes are very poor thermal conductors and must be maintained
above the solid-solid transition temperature for long enough to allow
thorough softening to occur throughout the material. *

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THE COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL
EXPANSION
DEFINATION : The fractional change in size per degree change in
temperature at a constant pressure.
Waxes exhibit high values of The coefficient of thermal expansion which affect
Accuracy
Dimensional stability
PROBLEMS
On cooling waxes undergo thermal contraction.
Low thermal conductivity values uneven Cooling*
internal stresses Dimensional changes.*
Greater stresses may also be incorporated if the wax is not properly
softened before moulding
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

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FLOW & CREEP
A major factor which determines the moldability and stability of a wax is
its flow value. This property is related to creep. *
To prevent distortion , Waxes should, ideally, exhibit
considerable flow at the molding temperature.
little or no flow at mouth temperature or room temperature .
CREEP AND FLOW ARE BOTH MEASURED by applying a load (2 kg) to a
cylindrical specimen (10 mm diameter by 6 mm height) and measuring
the extent to which the specimen becomes compressed after a given
time(10 min).
The flow is recorded as the percentage change in the height of the
cylinder.
BRITTLENESS & TOUGHNESS*
BRITTLENESS & TOUGHNESS are the important properties which the
manufacturers can, to some extent, control.
EXAMPLES
FOR DENTURE WAXES, toughness is required since the wax denture
base may have to be removed from a slightly undercut cast many
times without fracturing.
FOR INLAY WAXES, brittleness is preferred in order that the wax will
fracture rather than distort on removal from an undercut cavity. This
will indicate to the dental surgeon that a modification to the cavity
shape is required

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CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL WAXES
1. PATTERN WAXES
Are used in the construction of metal
castings & bases for dentures through lost
wax technique.*
TYPES
1) Inlay wax
2) Casting wax
3) Baseplate wax/Modeling wax

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PATTERN WAXES-Inlay wax
COMPOSITION
Paraffin + Carnauba + Ceresin + Beeswax +
Colorant.
a) 60% Paraffin (and Microcrystalline) Wax = BASE Wax
b) 25% Carnuba (and Candelilla) Wax = MODIFIER Wax
c) 10% Ceresin = MODIFIER Wax
d) 5% Beeswax = MODIFIER Wax
e) < 1% Colorants = COLORANT
USED to produce patterns for metal casting using
the lost wax tech.
e.g. inlays, onlays , crowns & pontics
PATTERN WAXES-Inlay wax
SUPPLIED IN:
Several forms: sticks, pellets & tins.
Dark colours : blue or green.
They are labelled : hard, medium & soft (acc. to their
melting ranges).
They are not sticky to touch
REQUIREMENTS :
a) Good adaptation to dies .
b) Thermal stability at low temperatures.
c) Complete pyrolysis at high temperatures.

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PATTERN WAXES-Inlay wax
TYPES : There are two types:
Type 1 Soft Indirect tech
Type 2 Hard Direct tech
PATTERN WAXES-Inlay wax
a). TYPE II INLAY WAX:
Used directly in the mouth , softened & placed into
the prepared tooth in the direct waxing technique.*
Has a lower melting range for the comfort of the
patient & the accuracy of the wax on removal.
Has a softening point slightly higher than the mouth
temp.
All the limitations of the mouth must be considered.

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PATTERN WAXES-Inlay wax
b). Type I INLAY wax:
More frequently used, where
wax is melted onto a die outside
the mouth in the indirect
technique.*
Softening temp. lower than
mouth temp. for indirect tech.
Most dentists prefer to use this &
have a dental laboratory
technician produce the wax
pattern and casting.
INLAY WAX
Physical Properties – Melting Range
COMPOSITION (%)
TEMPERATURE(C)
Paraffin Carnuba
40
30
20
60
50
70
80
90
25 50 75 100
LIQUID
LIQUID + SOLID
SOLID
Melting Onset (Solidus)
Melting Completion (Liquidus)

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INLAY WAX
Physical Properties – Thermal Expansion of Components
250
ppm/°°°°C
0 25 30 40 4535 50
0
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
TEMPERATURE (C)
EXPANSION(%)
KERR
HARD
WAX
INLAY WAX
Mechanical Properties & Chemical Properties
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:
1) Flow < 1%
2) Ductility = moderate
3) Residual Stress = none
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
1) Homogeneity = good
2) Contact Angle = low
3) Oxidation = complete

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PATTERN WAXES-CASTING WAXES
USED to construct the metal framework
of partial and complete dentures.
Comes in sheets & preformed shapes.
The physical properties are similar to
inlay wax except the melting range.
The melting range is only important for
laboratory procedures, because
these waxes are not softened in mouth.
PATTERN WAXES-BASEPLATE WAX
Also called Modelling wax.
They are sheets of wax generally pink in
color to simulate the color of the gingiva.
USES
1) Occlusal or bite rims *
2) Spacer in custom trays.
3) Pattern for plastic portion of dentures.

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PATTERN WAXES-BASEPLATE WAX
TYPES
Type 1 soft wax building contours & veneers.
Type 2 hard wax Used in Temperate climate.
Type 3 extra hard most commonly used ‘coz it is hard
at mouth temperature.
COMPOSITION
paraffin wax and bees wax
SOFTENED in Water bath to ensure even thickness of sheets.
PATTERN WAXES-BASEPLATE WAX
REQUIREMENTS
1) The wax must not distort at mouth
temperatures.*
2) Should be tough in order to
reduce the chances of
fracture/distortion during
removal from the stone model or
shallow undercuts.
3) They can easily be trimmed with
a sharp instrument without
tearing, chipping or flaking at
room temperature.

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2.PROCESSING WAXES
Used primarily to aid in dental procedures both
clinically & in laboratory.
TYPES
Boxing wax
Utility wax
Sticky wax
Alu wax
Carding wax
PROCESSING WAXES- BOXING WAX
USED to form the base portion of a gypsum
model.
The 1.5-inch-wide, red strip of boxing wax is
wrapped around the impression to produce a
form into which the gypsum is poured.
MANIPULATION
Easy
Slightly tacky at room temperature,
allowing it to adhere to itself to secure
the boxed form.

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PROCESSING WAXES-UTILITY WAX
Also called periphery wax
Comes in ropes and sheets that are
easily
manipulated at room temp.
Various colours of pink, white & red.
PROCESSING WAXES-UTILITY WAX
USES OF WAX ROPES:
1). To adapt the periphery of
the impression tray to customize the tray &
aid in patient comfort.
Provide a better fit into the vestibule &
control the movement of the
impression material.
2). To cover sharp brackets and wires in
orthodontic patients.
USE OF WAX SHEETS:
1) May be layered to form a horseshoe
shape & used for wax bite registrations

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PROCESSING WAXES-STICKY WAX
Used to adhere components of metal,
gypsum, or resin together temporarily
during fabrication & repair.
It comes in orange sticks that are hard &
brittle at room temp, but when heated
under flame become soft & sticky.
Because it is brittle, even the slightest
torque will fracture the wax.
(Important alert for the operator).
PROCESSING WAXES-ALU WAX
USED to get occlusal registration.
Contains aluminium particles and it is brittle.
Available in thin & thick sheets.

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PROCESSING WAXES-Carding wax
Used by manufacturers for
attaching denture teeth to
display sheets.
3.IMPRESSION WAXES
USED
To obtain impressions of the oral structures.
TYPES
1) Corrective Impression waxes
2) Bite-Registration waxes
Bite-wafers
Occlusal-indicator wax

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IMPRESSION WAXES-Corrective impression wax
USED to correct small imperfection (e.g. airblows) in other impressions,
especial zinc oxide impressions(edentulous imp).
Are thermoplastic materials, which flow at mouth temperature and are soft a
room temperature. They do not set by chemical reaction.
CONSIST OF paraffin wax and beeswax in a ratio of approximately 3:1 to
ensure the wax flows at mouth temperature.
DISADVANTAGE: Easily distorted so, A cast should be poured up
immediately after taking the impression . These materials are not commonly
used.
Replaced by ELASTOMERIC IMPRESSION MATERIALS.
IMPRESSION WAXES- BITE REGISTRATION WAX
1- BITE WAFERS:
It is used to produce wax bite
registrations for articulation of
models.
The preformed horseshoe shapes
are often reinforced with metal
particles to provide stability.
It is susceptible to distortion at
temp slightly higher than mouth
temp.

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IMPRESSION WAXES-BITE REGISTRATION WAX
2. OCCLUSAL INDICATOR WAX:
Used to detect areas of
premature occlusal contact.*
Supplied in scored strips & is dark
green, yellow or blue in colour.