Introduction The waxes used in dentistry normally 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 required properties for a specific application. Waxes are thermoplastic materials which are normally solids at room temperature but melt, without decomposition, to form mobile liquids. They are, essentially, soft substances with poor mechanical properties.The use of wax in dentistry is an established phenomenon. Whether it is formation of inlay patterns, boxing of impressions, taking bite registrations or making bite rims all require the waxes with specific properties. The specific use of the dental wax determines the physical properties that are most desirable for a successful application. Waxes, gums, fat and resins Dental waxes may be composed of natural and synthetic waxes, gums, fats, fatty acids, oils, natural and synthetic resins, and pigments of various types. The desired waxes working characteristics are achieved by a blend of appropriate natural and synthetic waxes, resins and other additives. Historically, waxes have been classified according to their origin: (1) mineral, (2) plant, (3) insect, and (4) animal; however, a better classification is based on their chemical composition. The two principal groups of organic compounds contained in waxes are hydrocarbons and esters, although some waxes contain free alcohols and acids as well Natural Waxes Mineral- Paraffin Microcrystalline Barnsdahl Ozokerite Ceresin Montan Plant Carnauba Synthetic waxes Acrawax C Aerosol OT Castor wax Flexo wax Epolene N 10 Albacer Aldo 33 Additives Stearic acid Glyceryl tristearate Oils-turpentine, colour Natural resins Rosin copal, dammer Sandarac, mastic Shellac, kauri
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Ouricury Candelilla Japan wax Cocoa butter Insect- Beeswax Animal- Spermaceti

Durawax 1032

Synthetic resins Polyethylene,polystyrene

NATURAL WAXES These are classified according to their origin into Mineral Plant Insect Animal They may also be classified based on the chemical composition - Hydrocarbons - Esters - Some do contain free alcohol and acids as well. The natural waxes are complex combinations of organic compounds of reasonably high molecular weight. The composition varies depending on the source and the time of collection; therefore the dental manufacturers must blend the particular batches of wax to obtain the properties desired for a particular application. MINERAL WAXES Paraffin waxes;- Obtained principally from high boiling point fractions of petroleum. - Mixtures of chiefly straight chain saturated hydrocarbons containing 26 to 30 carbon atoms. - Melting range 40 C to 71 C .melting temperature increases with the increase in molecular weight, but decreases if oil is present in the wax. - Paraffin wax used in dentistry is refined and has less than 0.5 percentage oil. - During solidification and cooling, a volumetric contraction occurs that varies from 11% to 15%. - Crystallization is in the form of plates predominantly.
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 Microcrystalline waxes;- Obtained from heavier oil fractions in the petroleum industry. - Higher melting points ranging from 60 to 91 C -

They crystallize in small plates and are more flexible and tougher.

- They are branched chain hydrocarbons and have higher molecular weight 41 to 50 carbon atoms.
- Less Volumetric contraction compared to paraffin waxes.

Barnsdahl ;- Microcrystalline wax with boiling point 70C to 74C used for increasing melting range and hardness and reducing flow of paraffin waxes. Ozokerite;- An earth wax found near petroleum deposits. - Melting temperature about 65C consisting of microcrystalline structure of needles or short plates. - Usually added to paraffin wax to improve its physical properties. Ceresin;- Obtained from natural mineral petroleum refining or lignite refining. - Straight and branched chain hydrocarbons. - High molecular weight and hardness. - Used to increase melting range of paraffin wax. Montan wax;- Obtained by extracting various lignites. - Melting temperature ranges from 72C to 92C. - Mixture of long chain esters of 40 to 58 C- atoms accompanied by free high molecular weight alcohols and acids and varying amounts of resins. - They are hard, brittle, lustrous, and blend well with other waxes. PLANT WAXES Carnauba and Ouricury waxes;- Composed of straight chain esters, alcohols, acids and hydrocarbons. - They have high hardness, brittleness, and high melting temperatures. Carnauba - 84 C to 91 C
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Ouricury - 79 C to 84 C. - They have outstanding quality of increasing melting range and hardness of paraffin wax. Candelilla wax;- Consists of 40% to 60% hydrocarbons containing 29 to 33 carbon atoms, accompanied by free alcohols, acids, esters and lactones. - Melting temperature 68C to 75. - Hardens paraffin wax. Japan wax and cocoa butter;These are not true waxes but are fats. Japan wax is mixed with paraffin wax to improve tackiness and emulsifying ability. Cocoa butter is used in dentistry as a protector against dehydration of soft tissues and to protect silicate products temporarily from moisture during setting or to protect them from dehydrating after they set. INSECT WAX Beeswax: - Complex mix of esters, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and high molecular weight organic acids. - Melting temperature 63C to 70C - It is brittle at room temperature but plastic at body temperature. - Mainly used in sticky wax. ANIMAL WAX Spermaceti wax: - Used as a coating on dental floss. SYNTHETIC WAX: Synthetic waxes are sparingly used in dentistry. They are highly refined with very little contamination and have a limited compatibility with other waxes. They function as plasticizers and tend to toughen films of wax. FATS

They are similar to wax in that they are colourless, odourless, tasteless, in pure form, however waxes are harder and have higher melting points. Fats are basically esters of fatty acids. Hydrocarbon oils are used to soften wax. Silicone oils aid in ease of polishing of the waxes. RESINS These are complex, amorphous mixtures of organic substances. They exhibit specific behaviour rather than definite chemical composition. Most are obtained from plants. Shellac however is an insect product. They are blended with waxes for dental use. Resins Dammar and Kauri are added to harden the wax. CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF WAXES MELTING RANGE THERMAL EXPANSION MECHANICAL PROPERTIES FLOW RESIDUAL STRESS DUCTILITY Melting range Waxes have a melting range and not a definite melting point. Different components in the dental wax affect the melting range. The melting of a mix of paraffin with high melting waxes results in paraffin melting near its usual temperature, but the entire wax does not appear melted because the matrix of the higher melting wax does not melt until a higher temperature is reached. 2.5% carnauba wax has little effect on the melting range. > 10 % carnauba wax increases the melting range rapidly.

Thermal Expansion Waxes expand when temperature rises and contract on decrease of temperature. Blending of waxes can to some extent control this property. Waxes have the highest coefficient of thermal expansion compared to other materials used in dentistry. Mineral waxes have greater thermal expansion than plant waxes due to weaker secondary valence forces. Many waxes exhibit two ranges of expansion between 22 and 55C. These changes occur at transition points and are attributed to internal structural parts being freer to move. Certain inlay waxes have more than 2 changes in rate of expansion because the transition points of the ingredients do not coincide. Clinical significance:Possible distortion to patterns due to temperature changes leading to inaccurate castings. Mechanical properties The moduli of elasticity, proportional limit, compressive strength, are low for waxes and depend on temperature strongly. Modulus of inlay waxes are important in hygroscopic casting procedures in which the wax pattern is subjected to stresses of expansion of the investment during setting. This is controlled by using waxes of different modulus in different areas. E.g. the lateral walls of the crown are
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prepared using inlay wax and occlusal surface using soft green casting wax. The ratio of modulus being 7:1 Inlay: Casting wax which is approximately the ratio needed for most patterns to obtain uniform expansion in the occlusal compared to the margin areas. Flow Flow is generally associated with fluids or plastic substances and is visualized as slippage of molecules over each other. In the case of waxes in liquid state flow is synonymous with viscosity or internal friction. Below the melting point it is a measure of the degree of plastic deformation at the given temperature. Flow is dependent on temperature, force and duration of force. It greatly increases as the melting point is approached. Depending on the application the flow may be useful and in other cases harmful. E.g. direct inlay wax should have good flow few degrees above room temperature but essentially no flow at room temperature. Mineral waxes flow upto 50% at 20C below their melting point due to weak secondary valence forces. Plant waxes flow 50% only few degrees below their melting point. The exception to this is Montan mineral wax which has ester groups like plant waxes. Residual stresses Residual stresses are incorporated invariably in the wax pattern regardless of the techniques. When we consider the thermal expansion curves of annealed wax with wax that has been cooled under compression or tension, the annealed wax follows the same curve on cooling or heating. In the case of specimens prepared by holding under compression during cooling, the residual stresses cause the molecules to move closer and subsequent heating results in greater expansion than routine due to the relaxation of the stress. Similarly when the specimen is prepared by subjecting it to tensile stress, the curve will be lower than that of annealed specimen and may even lead to contraction when the residual tensile stresses are released. Ductility Ductility increases with temperature. Waxes with lower melting point have greater ductility than waxes with higher melting point. A blended wax with
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components having wide melting range will show greater ductility then those with narrow melting range. DENTAL WAXES Classification based on use and application. Pattern Inlay Casting - sheet - ready shapes - wax-up Base plate Sticky Processing Boxing Utility Impression Corrective Bite

Pattern waxes are used to replicate the restoration. Two important concerns are thermal change in dimension and tendency for distortion. Processing waxes act as auxillaries in various procedures. Impression waxes are seldom used now. INLAY DENTAL WAX Requirements of wax-pattern materials The major requirements of waxes used to construct wax patterns by either the direct or indirect technique are as follows. (1) The wax pattern must conform to the exact size, shape and contour of the appliance which is to be constructed. (2) No dimensional change should take place in the wax pattern once it has been formed. (3) After formation of the casting mould, it should be possible to remove the wax by boiling out or burning without leaving a residue. The ability to record detail depends on the flow of the material at the moulding temperature, which is just above mouth temperature for direct techniques and just above room temperature for indirect techniques. Accuracy and dimensional stability depend on dimensional changes which occur during solidifi cation and cooling of the wax. Distortions may also occur if thermal stresses are introduced. Composition:
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Paraffin Carnauba Ceresin Beeswax

60% 25% 10% 5%

Inlay waxes come under ADA specification no: 4 and 3 types are recognized. Types A, B and C. The non volatile residue should be a maximum of 0.1 % in all the types. Type A Type B Type C - Used in indirect techniques. It is hard wax and has little flow. - Medium wax used for making direct patterns in the mouth. Soft wax used in indirect techniques and has maximum flow.

Maximum linear thermal expansion permitted between 25& 30C is 0.20% and between 30& 37C is 0.60%. They should soften without flaking and during carving should not chip or flake. The flow of inlay wax can be decreased by adding carnauba wax or selection of high melting paraffin wax. Flow characteristics of inlay wax. FLOW % Minimum 1 50 70 Maximum 1 15 85 90 A 43 46 49 52 WAX TEMPERATURE C B 37 40 43 46 C 34 37 40 43

Thermal coefficient of expansion The rate of thermal expansion of type B wax is greatest from just below mouth temperature to just above 45 C. The knowledge of amount of expansion and contraction is imperative to obtain accurate castings.

Warpage Inlay wax patterns tend to warp on standing and this tendency to warp increases with temperature and prolonged storage time.
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Warpage can be minimized by

Softening wax uniformly by heating at 50C for at least 15 min before use. Using warm instruments. Using a warm die. Adding wax in small increments. Storing patterns in refrigerator if not being invested within 30 minutes. Investing the pattern at the earliest. Using solid wax sprue or hollow metal sprue filled with sticky wax during spruing will reduce distortion. Inlay waxes are generally produced in deep blue, green or purple rods or sticks about 7.5 cm long and 0.64 cm in diameter. CASTING WAX Used for the designing of patterns for RPD framework. They are available as Sheets of 28 to 30 gauge(.4 & .32 mm) Readymade shapes round, half round, half pear shaped rods & wires Bulk material Difference between inlay and casting wax is minimal and related to the physical properties. The composition is similar but the proportions are different. Casting wax sheets are used to establish minimum thickness in certain areas of the partial denture framework, such as the palatal and lingual bar. They are also used for post damming of complete maxillary denture impressions, for checking high points and for producing wax bites of cusp tips for articulation of stone casts. Physical characteristics Casting wax comes under federal specification No: u-w-140. It possesses a slight degree of tackiness which maintains their position on the cast. According to the federal specification they are put into 3 classes, however their properties like flow, breaking point, and working properties are similar for all the classes. The wax should be capable of bending double on itself without fracture at a temperature of 23C i.e. it should have good ductility. Most of the pattern waxes are being replaced by preformed plastic patterns.
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Type of casting wax Class A 28 gauge pink Class B 30 gauge green Class C Ready shapes blue

Flow

Breaking point

Working properties - Pliable & readily adaptable at 40-45C - Copy accurately the

35C-max 10% No fracture at 38C-min 60% 231C

surface on which it is adapted - Not be brittle on cooling - Vapourize at 500C leaving no film other than carbon.

BASEPLATE WAX Base plate waxes are used for Establishing vertical dimension in complete denture construction Establishing the plane of occlusion Forming the initial arch form Forming the tray Serves to produce the desired contour after teeth setting Designing removable orthodontic appliances. Composition: Ceresin Beeswax Carnauba Resins 80% 12% 2.5% 3%

Microcrystalline or synthetic waxes 2.5% Physical properties: - This wax comes under ADA specification number 24. Three types of waxes are recognized. These are normally supplied in sheets of 7.6 X 15 X .13 cm. normally marketed in pink or red colours. Type I - Soft wax for building veneers.
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Type II Type III Type Type I soft

- Medium wax used for patterns to be tried in mouth in temperate climates. - Hard wax used in tropical climates. Temperature C 23 37 45 Flow % - 1 45 85 0.6 2.5 Practical requirements -Linear thermal expansion from 25-40C <0.8% -softened sheets should cohere readily without flaking or adhering to fingers.

Type II medium

23 37 45

- no tissue irritation -trim easily with sharp instrument at 23 C

50 90 5 0.2 1.2 50

-smooth surface after gentle flaming -no residue on porcelain or plastic teeth. -colouring should not separate or impregnate processing. -no adhering to other sheets or paper during storage. plaster during

Type III hard

23 37 45

BOXING WAX It comes under federal specification u-w-138. These are used to make box around the impression into which freshly mixed plaster or stone is poured and vibrated. In general it should be tacky and have strength and toughness sufficient for convenient manipulation. UTILITY WAX It comes under federal specification u-w-156. Utility wax is used when an easily workable, adhesive wax is desired (e.g. contouring perforated tray prior to alginate impressions). It is supplied in sticks and sheets. Colour ranges from dark
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red to orange. Ductility and flow are the highest amongst dental waxes. It is comprised of beeswax, petrolatum, and soft waxes. CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION WAX Used as a wax veneer over an original impression to contact and register the detail of the soft tissue. It records tissue in functional state. It is not covered under any specifications but flow is generally 100% at 37C. BASE PLATE WAX It is used for articulating accurately certain models of opposing quadrants. It is generally made from 28 gauge casting wax sheet or from hard Base plate wax. Certain bite waxes contain aluminium or copper particles. Flow ranges from 2.5% to 22% at 37 C and is susceptible to distortion on removal from the mouth. BITE REGISTRATION WAX It is covered by federal specification u-w- 00149a. It is formed by mixing waxes and resins. It is sticky when melted and adheres to the surface closely. It is firm and free from tackiness at room temperature and is brittle. Type of wax Flow Colour Working properties Smooth glossy surface on flaming, Boxing wax UW- 138 Green Black Pliable at 21 C, Retains shape at 35 C, Seals easily to plaster with hot spatula. Orange Dark red Pliable at 21-24 C Tacky at 21-24 C Sufficient adhesion to build up. Sticky when melted Adheres closely Not more than 2% residue on burnout.
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Utility wax UW- 156 Sticky wax UW- 00149a

At 37.5C 65-80% 30C 5% max 43C 90% min

Dark or vivid

Not more than 5% shrinkage from 43C to 28C

References

Kenneth Anusavice: Phillips Science of Dental Materials 10th Ed. W B Saunders & Co 1998. Robert Craig: Restorative Dental Materials 10th Ed. Mosby Year Book Inc 1997. Reese J A, Valega T M: Restorative Dental Materials: An Overview Volume one. Quintessence Publishing Co 1985. Craig R G, OBrien W J: Dental Materials, Properties and Manipulation 6th Ed. Mosby Inc 1996. John F. McCabe, Applied Dental Materials, Ninth Edition, Blackwell Publishing

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