DENTAL WAXES

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Learning objectives

1. Describe the difference between pattern waxes and

processing waxes.
2. Define the properties of dental waxes and cite the clinical
relevance of these properties.
3. Describe the composition and important physical properties
of the various processing and pattern waxes used in
dentistry.

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Dental Waxes Thermoplastic materials that are
composed of a mixture of
components from natural and
synthetic sources
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Composition of dental waxes
Primary components:
1. Synthetic waxes
– Chemically synthesized from natural wax molecules
– More homogeneous than pure natural waxes.
2. Natural waxes
– Derived from mineral, vegetable/plant, and animal
origins
– Gum dammar, Carnauba wax, Candelilla wax, Paraffin
wax, Ceresin wax, Beeswax
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Paraffin wax

■ 40% - 60%
■ Derived from high-boiling fractions of petroleum
■ Paraffin wax is likely to flake when it is trimmed, and
it does not produce a smooth, glossy surface.

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Gum dammar / dammar resin

■ Natural resin
■ Added to the paraffin to improve the smoothness
and luster, increases toughness and resistance to
cracking and flaking.

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Carnauba wax

■ Derived from the fronds of carnauba palm trees

■ Very hard and it has a relatively high melting point
■ Combined with the paraffin to decrease flow at
mouth temperature
■ Contributes greater glossiness to the wax surface
than dammar resin

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Candelilla wax

■ Added partially or entirely replace carnauba wax

■ Provides the same general qualities as carnauba
wax but its melting point is lower and it is not as
hard as carnauba wax

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Ceresin

■ White wax extracted from ozokerite mineral

(colorless or white when pure, but it has a somewhat
unpleasant odor)
■ May replace part of the paraffin to modify the
toughness and carving characteristics of the wax.

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Beeswax

■ Derived from secretions that bees use to build

honeycombs
■ Reduces brittleness

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Gums, fats, resins
■ Gums
– Harden in air and form sticky, viscous liquid with water
■ Fats
– Tasteless, odorless and colorless.
– Increase melting range and hardness
■ Oils –
– Soften
– Improve polishability
■ Natural resin – Rosin (tree/plant exudates), Shellac (produce
by insects)
– Harden natural waxes

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Use of the wax will determine properties that
are desirable for its application

Know the desirable properties

Know proper manipulation of material

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 Important Properties of Waxes
(M.F.E.T.)

■ Melting Range
■ Flow
■ Excess Residue
■ Thermal Expansion
Operator must consider these properties when selecting a wax as well as
during manipulation of the wax

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 Melting Range
àRange of temperatures at which each component of wax will
start to soften and then flow

vUsually, the operator does not want the wax to flow but only
to soften
v Wax is unstable à operator must be careful to prevent its
distortion
v Prevent distortion à melting range must be higher than the
temperature of the environment (especially in hot climates)
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 FLOW
vMovement of wax as molecules slip over each other
vDependent on temperature and time

v Temperature increases, the viscosity of the wax

decreases until wax becomes a liquid à flow

v Wax capable of flowing at room temperature à difficult

to control
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Control of the FLOW and MELTING
RANGE are the two (2) most
important factors in wax
manipulation

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 EXCESS RESIDUE

vIt is important that all wax be removed from the

object into which it is melted

vIf excess residue remains after wax is removed, this

may result in inaccuracies in the object being
produced

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THERMAL EXPANSION

Ø Waxes expand when heated and contract when cooled

Ø The thermal expansion and contraction of waxes is

greater than that of any other dental material

Ø If heated above melting range or heated unevenly à

expansion above acceptable standards will result

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Desirable qualities of wax
1. The wax should be uniform
when softened.
2. The color should contrast
with die materials or
prepared teeth.
3. The wax should not
fragment into flakes or
similar surface particles
when it is molded after
softening.
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Desirable qualities of wax

4. The wax must be carved to a very thin

layer.
• The wax must not be pulled away by
the carving instrument or chip as it is
carved or precision on the original
tooth anatomy cannot be achieved.
5. For lost-wax casting of metals, the wax
must be eliminated from the mold.

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CLASSIFICATION OF
WAXES

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Waxes are grouped as follows:

1. Pattern waxes

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 I. PATTERN WAXES

àPattern waxes are used to create a model of a dental

restoration such as a crown or partial denture that eventually
is cast using the lost-wax technique
à Important properties: low thermal expansion, complete
removal of excess residue and appropriate melting ranges

1. Inlay Wax
2. Casting Wax
3. Baseplate Wax
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I. PATTERN WAXES

1. INLAY WAX
àUsed to produce patterns for metal casting
through the lost wax technique
àLabeled hard, medium and soft (melting range)
àRed, yellow, blue, green
à paraffin, carnauba, ceresin, beeswax

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 TYPE I TYPE II
§ Used directly in the • Melted onto a die
mouth outside the mouth in the
§ Placed onto the indirect technique
prepared tooth in the • Most often used
direct waxing technique
§ Lower melting range for
patient’s comfort and
accuracy of wax removal
§ Difficult to do

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 I. PATTERN WAXES
2. CASTING WAX
àUsed to construct the metal
framework of partial and complete
dentures
àPhysical properties similar to inlay
waxes with the exception of melting
range because not softened in the
mouth
(Lab procedures only)
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REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE

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I. PATTERN WAXES

3. BASEPLATE WAX
àSheets of wax that are generally pink in
color
à7.5 cm wide x 15 cm long
àUsually layered to produce the contours of
the denture and hold the position on which
denture teeth are set
àWax must not distort at mouth
temperatures 29
 I. PATTERN WAXES

3. BASEPLATE WAX
àType I - soft at room temperature and is
used for contouring dentures.
àType II - medium wax to be used for patterns that will be
placed into the mouth in a temperate climate.
àType III - waxes are hardest and are for mouth use in
tropical climates.

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Waxes are grouped as follows:

1. Pattern waxes
2. Processing waxes

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 II. PROCESSING WAXES

àUsed primarily to aid in dental procedures both

clinically and in the laboratory

1. Boxing wax
2. Utility wax
3. Sticky wax

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 II. PROCESSING WAXES

1. BOXING WAX
àUsed to form the base portion of a gypsum model
à4-5cm wide red strip of boxing wax is wrapped around an
impression to produce a form into which gypsum is
poured
àEasily manipulated at room temperature

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 II. PROCESSING WAXES
2. UTILITY WAX
à Periphery wax
à Comes in long ropes that are easily manipulated at room
temperature
à Used to adapt the periphery of the impression tray to customize
the tray and aid in patient comfort
à Given to orthodontic patients to cover sharp brackets and wires

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 II. PROCESSING WAXES

3. STICKY WAX
àComes in orange sticks that at room temperature are
hard and brittle, but when heated under flame become
soft and sticky
àUsed to adhere components of metal, gypsum or resin
together temporarily during fabrication and repair
àSlightest torque will fracture the wax

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Waxes are grouped as follows:

1. Pattern waxes
2. Processing waxes
3. Impression waxes

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 III. IMPRESSION WAXES

àThermoplastic materials used to obtain impressions of the

oral structures

1. Corrective Impression Wax

2. Bite Registration Wax

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 CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION WAX

■ Used as a wax veneer over

an original impression to
register the detail of soft
tissues in a functional
state
■ Correct errors of
impression from lab

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BITE REGISTRATION WAX

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BITE REGISTRATION
Elastomeric Impression Material

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 MANIPULATION OF WAXES

Ø Softened evenly in dry heat, with warm hands, warm

water bath or by flame

Ø FLAME à rotated above the flame so that it evenly

softens or flows

Ø Stored at or slightly below room temperature to avoid

distortion of waxes
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