Dental

waxes

OVERVIEW OF DENTAL WAXES

1. Definition of dental wax = thermoplastic molding
material that is solid at room temperature.
2. General Composition of Waxes:
a. BASE Wax:
(1)
Hydrocarbon [eg, PARAFFIN, saturated
alkanes] or ester types [eg, myricyl palmitate];
(2)

Alcohol + Fatty Acids Ester + Water

High or low MW

b. MODIFIER Waxes:
(1) Hydrocarbon or ester types;
(2) High or low MW
c. COLORANT:

Dental waxes
Waxes have several applications in
dentistry.

Components of dental waxes

Natural
waxes

Synthetic
waxes

Additives

Mineral
Plant
Insect
Animal

Acrawax C
Aerosol O T
Castorwax
Aldo

Stearic acid
Oils
Colorants
Resins

Natural waxes
Complex combination of organic
compounds of high molecular weights.
Its the primary components of dental wax.
The dental manufacturers must blend the
particular batches of waxes to obtain the
properties desired for a particular
application.

Natural waxes
Mineral waxes
Paraffin

Natural waxes
Mineral waxes

Paraffin
Microcrystalline
Barnsdahl
Ozokerite
Ceresin
Montan

Synthetic waxes
High degree of refinement,no
contamination.

Polyethylene waxes
Polyoxyethylene glycol waxes
Halogenated hydrocarbon waxes
Hydrogenated waxes
Waxes ester (fatty alcohol + acid)

Fats
Increase the melting range and the
hardness of compound waxes.
Hydrocarbon oils - soften mixture of
waxes.
Silicone oils - improve the ease of
polishing with waxes.

Resins
Most natural resins are obtained from
trees and plants.
Insoluble in water
Improve toughness, hardness,
melting range of waxes

Properties
of
waxes

Melting range
Waxes consist of similar type of
molecules of different of molecular
weight.
They may contain several types of
molecules
They have melting range rather than
melting point.

Thermal expansion
Expand when temp. is risen
Contract when temp. is decreased
Dental waxes have the largest
coefficient of thermal expansion.
Temp. change in wax patterns may be
a major contributing factor in inaccuracy
of the finished restoration.

Mechanical properties
The elastic modulus, proportional limit
and compressive strength of waxes
are low compare with those of other
materials and these properties depend
strongly on the temperature.

Flow
Flow is decidedly dependent on the
temp. of the waxes.
Flow is greatly increase as the melting
point of the wax is approached.

Ductility
Ductility increase as the temp of a wax
is increase
Waxes with lower melting temp. have
a greater ductility.
The ductility of a blended waxes
wide melting range narrow melting
range
The highly refined waxes is quite brittle

Dental wax - Classification

Pattern waxes
Processing waxes
Impression waxes

Pattern wax
Used to form the general
predetermined size and contour of
artificial dental restoration , which is
to be constructed of a more durable
material.

Pattern waxes
1.Inlay waxes

2.Casting waxes

3.Baseplate waxes

Gauge Scale
GAUGE is a

Gauge No.

Inches

Millimiters

measure of
thickness, the term

10

0.1019

2.59

12

0.0808

2.05

14

0.0641

1.63

diameters of

16

0.0508

1.29

18

0.0403

1.02

20

0.0320

0.81

22

0.0253

0.64

24

0.0201

0.51

26

0.0159

0.40

28

0.0126

0.32

30

0.0100

0.25

32

0.0080

0.20

applied to the

metal wires & wax

forms having circular
& semicircular cross
section.
also used in sheet
metal & sheet wax
thickness

Processing wax
Used primarily as auxillary aids in
the construction a variety of
restorations and appliances either
clinically or in the laboratory

Processing waxes
1.Boxing waxes
2.Utility waxes
3.Sticky waxes
4.Blockout waxes
5.Bees waxes

Impression waxes
Used for taking impression within
the mouth.
Bite registration waxes
Corrective waxes
Alu wax

Korecta wax

Low Fusing Impression Wax

Flow under controlled pressure
Melt in a water bath
Painted on the tissue surface
Final impression
Complete denture
Removable partial denture

Easily distorted
Rinsed with room temperature of
water

Inlay pattern wax

Inlay pattern wax

A pattern of the wax is first constructed
that duplicates the shape and contour of
the desired casting .

Inlay pattern wax

The pattern then is embedded in a
gypsum-silica investment material to
form a mold with an ingate or sprue
leading from the outer surface of the
investment mold to the pattern.

Inlay pattern wax

The wax is subsequently eliminated by
heating & softening and the mold is
further conditioned to receive the
molten gold.

Inlay wax Composition

Paraffin (major portion)
Gum Dammar
Improves smoothness
More resistant to flaking & cracking

Carnauba
Control the softening point & hardness

Inlay waxes generally are

produced in deep blue green, or
purple rods or sticks.
The flow can be reduced by adding
more carnauba wax or by selecting
higher melting paraffin waxes.

Inlay Casting Wax

Requirement for Use

Good adaptation to dies

Thermal stability at low temperature
Complete pyrolysis at high temp
Highly accurate
Ease of carving
Workable in the mouth
Dimensionally stable
Strong in thin areas
Burnout cleanly

Inlay waxes : Properties

ANSI/ADA Specification No.
dental inlay casting wax.

for

Type I wax a hard wax that is

prescribed for forming direct patterns in
the mouth.
Type II wax a softer wax that is used
as an indirect technique wax.

Thermal
expansion

Flow
The working temperature for making
direct wax pattern must not to be so high
as to cause damage to the vital tooth
structure.
At mouth temp., direct inlay wax must
have essentially no flow to minimize the
possibility of distortion of the pattern
during removal from the tooth cavity.

Dental Waxes
Partial Denture Casting Waxes
Wax Forms
Round Cross Section
Half Round Cross Section

Dental Waxes
Partial Denture Casting Waxes
Wax Forms
Round Cross Section
Half Round Cross Section

Inlay Wax

Dental Waxes
Partial Denture Casting Waxes
Wax Forms
Round Cross Section
Half Round Cross Section

Inlay Wax
Sheet Casting Wax
Tough and pliable at room temperature
Supplied in several thickness
Gauge 24, 26, 28 and 30

Dental Waxes
Partial Denture Casting Waxes
Wax Forms
Round Cross Section
Half Round Cross Section

Inlay Wax
Sheet Casting Wax
Tough and pliable at room temperature
Supplied in several thickness
Gauge 24, 26, 28 and 30

Color
No standard color

Dental Waxes
Partial Denture Casting Waxes
Wax Forms
Round Cross Section
Half Round Cross Section

Inlay Wax
Sheet Casting Wax
Tough and pliable at room temperature
Supplied in several thickness
Gauge 24, 26, 28 and 30

Color
No standard color

Uses

Casting wax
The pattern for the metallic framework of
removable partial denture and other
similar structures is fabricated from the
casting waxes.

Casting wax : Composition

The ingredients are similar to
those found in inlay waxes.

Dental Waxes

contd

Casting wax
Makeup is paraffin, ceresin, beeswax,
and resins.
Supplied in sheets of various
thicknesses.
Used for single-tooth indirect
restorations, fixed bridges, and
casting metal portions of a partial
denture.

Dental Waxes

contd

Inlay casting wax

Hard brittle wax made from paraffin
wax, carnauba wax, resin, and
beeswax.
Used to create a pattern of the
indirect restoration on a model.
Classified according to how they flow:
1. Type A: Hard-inlay wax.
2. Type B: Medium-inlay wax.
3. Type C: Soft-inlay wax.

Working properties
Pliable and readily adaptable at
o
o
to
C
Copy accurately surface against
which it pressed
Shall not be brittle on cooling
o
Vaporize at
C, leaving no
film other than carbon

Dental Waxes
Ivory or White Wax
No pigments
For waxing acrylic jacket patterns
Does not leave a colored residue
Might discolor the resin

Baseplate wax
Baseplate wax derives its name
from its use on the baseplate tray
in the technique for complete
denture restoration.

Its normally pink color.

Baseplate wax
serves as the material to produce the
desired contour of the denture after the
teeth are set in position

Baseplate wax : Composition

- % paraffin or ceresin
small quantities of other waxes &
additives.
typical composition
% ceresin
- % beeswax
. % carnuaba
% natural or synthetic resins
. % microcrystalline or synthetic wax

Baseplate wax : Properties

ANSI/ADA Specification No.
Type I - Soft, building contours and
veneers
Type II - Medium, patterns in mouth,
temperate
Type III - Hard, patterns in mouth,
hot weather

Dental Waxes

contd

Baseplate wax
Made from paraffin or ceresin with beeswax
and carnauba wax.
Hard and brittle at room temperature.
Supplied in sheets.
Three types:
1. Type I, which is a softer wax used for denture
construction.
2. Type II, a medium-hardness wax used in
moderate climates.
3. Type III, a harder wax for use in tropical
climates.

Practical requirements
Linear thermal expansion from
o

Softened sheets shall cohere readily

without becoming flaky or adhering to
fingers
No irritation of oral tissue
Trim easily with a sharp instrument at
o
C

Practical requirements
Smooth surface after gentle flaming
No residue on porcelain or plastic teeth
Coloring shall not separate or
impregnate plaster during processing
No adhesion to other sheets of wax or
separating paper on storage

Dental Waxes
Boxing wax
Soft pliable wax with a smooth and
shiny appearance.
Supplied in long narrow strips
measuring 1 to 1 inches wide and
12 to 18 inches long.
Used to form a wall or box around a
preliminary impression when pouring
it up.

Boxing wax
Use to form a plaster or stone cast from
an impression of the edentulous arch

Boxing wax: Working properties

Smooth, glossy surface on flaming
o
o
Pliable at
C, retain shape at
C
Seals easily to plaster with hot spatula

Utility wax
Used in numerous instance
most likely consists of beeswax,
petrolatum and other soft waxes

Utility wax: Working properties

Pliable at
Tacky at
to build up

o
o

to
to

C
o
C sufficient adhesion

Dental Waxes

contd

Utility wax
Supplied in different forms depending
on its use.
Its makeup is beeswax, petrolatum,
and other soft waxes.
Uses:
1. Extend the borders of an impression
tray.
2. Cover brackets in orthodontic
treatment.

Sticky wax
It is sticky when melt and adheres closely
to the surface on which it is applied.
It is firm, free from tackiness and brittle
at room temp.
Rosin & yellow beeswax are the usual
major constituents.

Sticky wax : Working properties

Sticky when melt
Adhere closely
Not more than
Not more than
o
o
to
C

residue on burnout
shrinkage from

Dental Waxes

contd

Sticky wax
Supplied in sticks or blocks.
Main ingredients are beeswax and
rosin.
Very brittle wax, but when heated, it
becomes very tacky.
Useful when creating a wax pattern
or joining acrylic resin together.

Corrective impression wax

Used as a wax veneer over an original
impression to contact and register the
detail of the soft tissue .
Formulated from hydrocarbon waxes
such as paraffin,ceresin & beeswax and
may contain metal
particles
o
The flow at
C is

Corrective impression wax

Bite registration wax

Used to accurately articulate
certain models of opposing
quadrant
Formulated from beeswax or
hydrocarbon waxes such as
paraffin or ceresin and contain
alumina or copper particle

Bite registration wax

Alu wax

Bite registration wax

Occlusal indicator wax

Dental Waxes

contd

Bite registration waxes

Soft and very similar to casting
waxes.
Softened under warm water.
Patient is instructed to bite down, and
the wax will form an imprint of the
teeth.

Dental Waxes
Undercut (Blockout) Wax
for build up around an abutment
tooth
Easily carve with surveying tools
Compositions
Beeswax
Resin
kaolin

Supplied in
Small wide-mounted jars

Dental Waxes
Disclosing Wax
Low fusing range
Flows readily under pressure
Used to detect points of unequal
pressure
Melted on the tissue side of a casting

THANK YOU