By

Dr. S. Janani
PG, Department Of Prosthodontics And Crown And Bridge.

WAXES
Contents

 Introduction

 History of dental waxes

 Desirable Properties.

 Waxes
 Natural waxes

 Synthetic waxes

 Characteristic properties of waxes

 Dental waxes
 Inlay pattern wax

 Casting wax

 Resin modeling material

 Baseplate wax

 Boxing wax

 Utility wax

 Sticky wax

 Corrective impression wax

 Bite registration wax

 References
Introduction

 Waxes - organic polymers consisting of hydrocarbons

and their derivatives ( eg ester and alcohol ).
 Average molecular weight – 400 t0 4000 µm
 Low compared to acrylic polymers.
Introduction

 Dental waxes composed

 Natural and synthetic waxes
 Gums
 Fats
 Fatty acids
 Oils
 Natural and synthetic resin and
 Pigments.
Introduction

Wax
Wax

Natural Synthetic
Natural Synthetic

Naturally occurring Combination of various chemicals

Naturally occurring Combination of various chemicals
Introduction
Blending
Blending
to natural
to natural
and
and
synthetic
synthetic
wax
wax

Working
Working
characteristics
characteristics
of
of each
each wax
wax

Addi
Addi
tives
tives
History Of Dental Waxes

 1700- Matthaeus Gottfried Purmann - first mentioned Wax models.

 The wax was carved to the desired shape after which it was

reproduced in bone or ivory by a crafts man.

 1756.-Philip Pfaff -first used plaster models prepared from sectional

wax impressions of the mouth

 1866 Austin’ resorbed ridges wax; or gutta-percha is preferable.
History Of Dental Waxes

 1866 –Franklin -first corrected impression. He used wax for the

preliminary seat followed by a plaster wash for more accuracy

and to prevent expansion of the plaster when used in bulk.

  
 1930- Iowa wax was developed by Dr Smith at the University of

Iowa and Korecta wax no 4 was developed by Drs O.C and S.G

Applegate at the University of Michigan and Detroit, respectively.

Components Of Dental Waxes
Natural wax Synthetic wax Additives

Mineral Acrawax Straric acid

-Paraffin Aerosol OT Gyceryl triesterate

-- Microcrystalline Castrowax Oils

-- Barnsdahl Flexo-wax C Turpentine

--Ceresin Epolene N-10 Colorants

--Montan Albacer Natural resins

Plant Aldo 33 Rosin

- Carnauba Durawax 1032 --Copal

-Ouricury --Dammar

-- Candellia -- Sandarac

-- Japan wax , cocoa butter -- Mastic

 Components Of Dental Waxes

Natural wax Synthetic wax Additives

Insect wax Synthetic resin

-- Bees wax -Elvax

Animal wax -Polyethylene

-- Spermaceti - Polystyrene
Desirable Properties
 Softened uniformly- ingredients blend with one another – no grainy areas, no hot
spots.
 Definite contrast color with die and prepared tooth- facilitates proper finishing of
margins.
 No flakiness or surface roughness while blending and molding.
 Should not chip when carved in thin layers- precision can’t be obtained.
 Burn out completely forming carbon- eliminated by oxidation to volatile gases.
 ANSI / ADA Specification No 4 - 500 ° C residue < 0.10 % original weight .
 Rigid and dimensionally stable
WAXES
Natural waxes

 Historically waxes have been classified according to their origin

 Mineral wax
 Plant wax
 Insect wax
 Animal wax
 The two principal groups - hydrocarbons and esters.
 Free acids and alcohols as well.
Mineral wax

 The chief constituents - hydrocarbons ranging from 17 to

more than 44 carbon atoms
 CH3-(CH2)-CH3 15 – 42
Plant wax

 Saturated alkanes with 19 to 31 carbon atoms

 Dental waxes contain molecules having a range of molecular

weights that affect the melting and flow properties of the waxes.
Plant and animal waxes

 Plant and animal waxes - esters and carnauba contains 85 % alkyl

esters of various kinds

 Bees wax - myricyl palmitate

 Contains acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and resins

Montan wax( an earth wax) - large amounts of esters, the main

compound being

  C15H31-C-O-C30H61
Plant and animal waxes

 Esters composed of C20-C29 acids and C20-C30 alcohols .

 Complex combinations of organic compounds of reasonably high

molecular weights.

 The composition - time and source of collection.

 Waxes
characteristics
Characteristics Of Various Waxes
Melting Characteristics in
Wax Type range mixtures with paraffin
(° C ) wax

Straight chain hydrocarbons 20

Paraffin 40 – 70 No value
to 30 carbon atoms

Micro- Branched chain hydrocarbons Less volumetric change

60 – 91
crystalline 41 – 50 carbon atoms during solidification.

Increase melting range and

Barnsdahl Microcrystalline wax 70 – 74
hardness, reduce flow

Microcrystalline wax, straight ,

Ozokerite branched chain, closed chain 65 No value
hydro carbons.
Characteristics Of Various Waxes
Melting Characteristics in
Wax Type range mixtures with paraffin
(° C ) wax

Higher molecular weight,

Ceresin Straight and branched chain No value higher hardness, increase
melting range

Long chain esters with 40 – 58 Improves hardness and

Montan 72 – 92
carbon atoms, alcohols, acids, melting range.

Esters, alcohols, acids, Increases melting range

Carnauba 84 – 91
hydrocarbons. and hardness.

Esters, alcohols, acids, Increases melting range

Ouricury 79-84
hydrocarbons. and hardness.
Characteristics Of Various Waxes
Melting Characteristics in
Wax Type range mixtures with paraffin
(° C ) wax

Hydrocarbons with 29 – 33
Candelilla carbon atoms, alcohols, acids, 68-75 Increases hardness
esters, lactones.

Fats- glycerides of palmitic and Improves tackiness and

Japan Wax 51
stearic acids. emulsifying ability

Fats- glycerides of palmitic, Improves tackiness and

Cocca Butter No value
oliec, lauric and stearic acids. emulsifying ability

Esters – myricyl palmitate, Modifies properties of

Bees wax 63- 70
hydrocarbons, organic acids. paraffin wax.
Waxes
Types
  Obtained -high boiling point fractions of
petroleum.
  Molecular weights.  Melting temperatures
 Oils  melting temperature,
 Paraffin waxes < 0.5 % oil.
 11% - 15% volumetric contraction during
solidification and cooling.
 Contraction not uniform from melting
temperature to room temperature.

Paraffin Wax
  Obtained – heavier oil fractions in
petroleum industry-have higher melting
point.
 Tougher, more flexible than paraffin wax.
 High affinity for oil
 Oil-alters tackiness and hardness.
 Less volumetric change than paraffin
wax

Microcrystalline Wax
Ozokerite Wax

 Found near petroleum deposits in central Europe

 Greater affinity to oil.
 In quantities of 5 % to 15 % improves physical characteristics of
paraffin in the melting range of 54° C
Ceresin Wax

 Distillates from natural-mineral petroleum refining or lignite

refining.
 It increases the melting range of paraffin wax
Montan Wax

 Similar to plant wax in composition

 Extracted from various lignites
 Hard, brittle, lustrous
 Blend with other waxes
 Substitute for plant wax
 Improves hardness and melting range of paraffin wax
Carnauba Wax And Ouricury Wax

 High hardness, brittleness, high melting point.

 Increases melting point and hardness of paraffin wax.
 10 % carnauba wax 20°C increase melting point to 46 °C
 Ouricury wax same effect but less effective.
Candelilla Wax

 40 % to 60 % paraffin hydrocarbons containing 29 to 33

carbon atoms.
 Hardens paraffin wax
 No effective increase in melting point
Japan Wax And Cocca Butter
 Not true waxes
Japan wax Cocca butter
Glycerides of palmetic Fat, glycerides of stearic,
Composition and stearic acid and higher palmetic, oleic, lauric, and
molecular weight acids. lower fatty acids
Physical
Tough, malleable, sticky Brittle
properties
Melting
51 degree
point
With Improves tackiness, Protects against
paraffin emulsifying ability dehydration
 Bees Wax

 Primary insect wax

 Complex mixture of esters plus saturated
and unsaturated hydrocarbons and high-
molecular weight organic acids.
 Room temperature – brittle material
 Body temperature – plastic
 Main component in sticky wax.
Animal Wax

 Spermaceti wax
 Obtained from sperm whale
 Mainly esters
 Coating in dental floss.
Synthetic Wax

 Complex organic compounds with vairied composition.

 Melting point, hardness similar to natural wax

 Higher degree of refinement than natural wax.

Synthetic Wax

 Include
 Polyethylene waxes
 Polyoxyethylene glycol waxes
 Halogenated hydrocarbon waxes
 Hydrogenated waxes
 Wax esters from the reaction of fatty alchols and acids.
Synthetic Wax

Wax Molecular weight Melting point

Polyethylene wax 2000 to 4000 100 ° to 105° C
High molecular
Polyoxyethylene wax 37° to 63° C
weight

Function – plasticizer , toughen films of wax

Gums

 Obtained from plants and animals

Complicated substances.
 Containing largely carbohydrates.
 With water- either dissolve or form sticky viscous liquid
 Gumarabic and Tragacanth – do not resemble waxes in
properties or composition.
Fats

 Waxes -Harder, higher melting point

 Tasteless, odorless, and colorless in pure form.
 Feel greasy.
 Esters of fatty acids with glycerol – glycerides.
 Glyceryl tristerate- chief ingredient of beef tallow melting point
43°C
 Lustrous appearance , resembles waxes.
Fats

 Increase melting point and hardness of impression

compound.
 Oils pronounced effect on waxes
 Hydrocarbon oils- soften mixtures of waxes
 Silicone oil- improves ease of polishing.
Resins

 Natural resin resembles waxes in appearance and

properties.
 Natural resin – dammar, rosin, sandarac.
 Insoluble in water.
 Complex, amorphous mixtures of organic substances
with specific physical behavior
Resin

 Natural resin
 Dammar and kauri compatible with waxes- produce harder products.
 Synthetic resin
 Polyethylene and vinyl resin- improves toughness, film forming
characteristics and melting range of paraffin wax.
 Natural and synthetic resin – organic solvents, produce film
forming materials- cavity liners- copal and polystyrene
Resin
Copal resin

Shellac resin

Shellac resin

Mastic resin
Dammar resin

Dammar resin
Kauri resin
 Waxes
Characteristic Properties
Waxes-
several molecules- have
melting range than melting
points.

Melting Range
Thermal expansion

Contraction Wax Expansion

Have the largest coefficient of thermal expansion.

The linear thermal expansion properties
1. Secondary valence forces and
2. the transition points.
Thermal expansion

 Two rates of expansion between 220 and 520

 Changes in rate of expansion occur at transition point.
 Different waxes may have different rates and amounts
of thermal expansion.
 Carnauba wax, Montan wax- same melting range 22 0
and 520 but different thermal expansion.
Thermal expansion
Thermal expansion

 Coefficient of thermal expansion of inlay wax great.

 Temperature changes in wax pattern direct relation
with inaccuracy in the finished restoration.
Mechanical Properties

 Have low elastic modulus, proportional limit,

compressive strength, and strongly depends on
temperature.
 Elastic modulus
 Carnauba wax highest
 Bees wax lowest
Mechanical Properties – elastic modulus

Wax 23 degrees 37 degrees

Carnauba wax 1790 MPa 760 MPa
Paraffin wax 310 MPa 28 MPa
Inlay wax
75 % paraffin wax 760 MPa 48 MPa
25 % carnauba wax

Elastic modulus – important in hygroscopic expansion

of casting investments
Mechanical Properties – elastic modulus
Mechanical Properties – elastic modulus

 Non uniform deformation of wax patterns minimized by using different

moduli for particular pattern.
 Crown lateral wall- inlay wax-
 Occlusal surfaces – soft green casting wax.
 Elastic modulus
 Inlays : Soft green wax ; 7 : 1
 Ratio needed for uniform expansion in the occlusal, compared to
marginal area.
Mechanical Properties –proportional limit

Wax 23 degrees 37 degrees

Carnauba wax 11 MPa 5.5 MPa

Inlay wax 4.8 MPa 0.2 MPa – 40 degrees

Mechanical Properties – Flow

 Slippage of molecules over each other.

 Flow is dependent on

 the temperature of the wax

 the force bringing about the deformation

 the time the force is applied.

 Flow gently increases as the melting point of wax is approached.

Mechanical Properties – Flow

 High percentage of flow at given temperature be required for a

specific wax

 Mouth temperature – inlay used for direct wax pattern - no flow

to minimize the possibility of distortion during removal.

Mechanical Properties – Flow

 Yellow bees wax does not flow extensively until it reaches 38⁰ C, and at
40⁰ C it flows about 7%.
 Many mineral waxes have about a 10⁰ C range between 1% and 70% flow,
which indicates that they soften gradually over a broad temperature range.
 Some mineral waxes – paraffin, litene, barnsdahl, and ceresin flow 50%
approximately 20⁰ C below their melting range.
 Montan wax another mineral wax, requires a temperature of 71⁰ C or 8⁰ C
below its melting range to flow 50%.
Mechanical Properties – Flow
  
Mechanical Properties – Flow


 Flow curves at various

temperatures for Kerr hard
wax

 The flow of dental waxes is

influenced by
 the presence of solid-solid and

 melting transformations that

occur in the component waxes.

Regardless of the
method used to
prepare a wax pattern,
residual stress exists in
the completed pattern.

Residual Stress
Ductility

 Temperature  ---- Ductility 

 Waxes with lower melting temperature – greater ductility
 Blended wax- depends upon melting temperature of
component waxes.
 Wider range of melting point – greater ductility.
 Narrow range of melting point- lesser ductility.
Ductility

 Whenever a wide range of melting temperatures is present, the

softening point of the lowest component is approached first.
 A further temperature rise begins to liquefy this component and
approach still closer to the softening points of the higher
softening point components.
 This tends to plasticize the entire wax mass thereby enhancing
ductility.
Properties

 Generally highly refined waxes are quite brittle.

 The lower melting point, microcrystalline mineral
waxes- occlude oil, are moderately soft and exhibit a
high degree of plasticity or ductility, even with their
comparatively high melting temperatures.
 Waxes
Dental Waxes
Dental Wax

 A variety of natural waxes and resins have been

used in dentistry for specific and well defined
applications.
Dental Waxes
Classification
Classification Of Dental Waxes:

Dental waxes

Pattern
Pattern wax
wax Processing
Processing wax
wax Impression
Impression wax
wax
Dental Waxes
Types
Dental waxes

 Pattern waxes- contour of an artificial dental restoration

 Two major qualities, thermal change in dimension and tendency to warp or

distort on standing which creates serious problems in their use whether an inlay

pattern, crown or complete denture is being constructed.

 Processing waxes – auxiliary aids-construction of various restorations and

appliances
 Simplify operations – denture construction, soldering.
 Impressions in mouth – oldest method.
Inlay Pattern Wax

 Gold inlays, crowns and bridge units -lost wax pattern

technique.
 Procedure
 Carved wax pattern, embedded in gypsum silica investment, with
sprue.
 Wax eliminated by heating
 Mould conditioned to receive molten gold by controlled heating in a
furnace.
Inlay Pattern Wax- Composition.
No Wax Percentage Function
1 Paraffin wax 60 %
2 Carnauba wax 25 % Reduces flow
3 Ceresin Wax 10 % Increased hardness
4 Bees Wax 5% Modifies properties
5 Resins 1% Affects flow

Inlay Wax

Hard Medium Soft

Flow reduced by adding carnauba wax or by selecting a higher

melting point paraffin wax
Inlay Pattern Wax.

 Inlay waxes - in deep blue, green or purple rods or sticks about 7.5

cm long and 0.64 cm in diameter.

 Some manufacturers - small pellets or cones or in small metal

ointment jars.
Inlay Pattern Wax- Properties.

 Accuracy and ultimate usefulness of gold casting-depends

upon accuracy and fine details of the wax pattern.

Wax temperature
30⁰C 37⁰C 40⁰C 40⁰C 45⁰C 45⁰ C
maximum maximum minimum maximum minimum maximum
Type 1 1.0 - 50 - 70 90
soft
Type 2 - 1.0 - 20 70 90
hard
Inlay Pattern Wax- Properties.

 No excessive residue- remain in the mold because of

incomplete burnout.

 Excess residue - incomplete casting of inlay margins.

 Specification -non-volatile residue of these waxes - maximum

of 0.1% at an ignition temperature of 700⁰ C

Inlay Pattern Wax.
Consistenc
Waxes Uses Flow
y

Type 1
Soft wax Indirect technique wax Greater ease for carving
wax

Direct wax pattern in

Type 2
Hard wax mouth, lower flow at 37⁰. Lower flow
wax
Less distortion on removal

Both types should soften without becoming flaky and when

trimmed to a fine margin during the pattern carving operation, they
should not chip or flake.
Inlay Pattern Wax - Flow.

 Forming wax pattern directly in mouth-heated to sufficient

temperature – sufficient flow under compression to reproduce the

prepared cavity walls in great detail.

 Insufficient heating- insufficient flow- lack of cavity details-

excessive stress within the pattern.

 Excessive heating-overabundant flow- difficulty in compression-

lack of body of material.

A decrease of 12⁰ C- 13⁰ C

from mouth temperature to

room temperature causes 0.4%
linear contraction of the wax,
or about 0.04% change for
each degree change in
temperature.

Inlay Pattern Wax –

Thermal Coefficient of Expansion.
Inlay Pattern Wax –Warpage Of Wax Pattern

 High coefficient of thermal expansion -tends to warp or distort

when allowed to stand unrestrained.
 Temperature --distortion 
 Storage time -- distortion 
 Quality of wax patterns-Release of residual stresses
 Present in all waxes- troublesome in inlay wax-critical
dimensional relation with finished restoration.
Inlay Pattern Wax –Warpage Of Wax Pattern

 Pattern adapted at higher temperature- less tendency for distortion.

 Forces necessary to shape the wax originally

 Residual stresses minimized by –

 Uniform heating at 50° for atleast 15 minutes.
 Using warmed carving instrument
 Warmed die
 Adding wax to the die in small amounts.
Inlay Pattern Wax –Warpage Of Wax Pattern

 Storage temperature- direct relation- warpage

 High storage temperature- greater warpage.
 Lower storage temperature- reduced warpage.
 Distortion reduced – solid wax sprue or a hollow metal
sprue filled with sticky wax.
 Margins should be readapted.
Crown And Bridge Wax
Casting Wax – ANSI / ADA No 4
 Pattern – metallic framework of partial denture
 28 and 30 gauge ( 0.40 and 0.32 mm ) thickness, ready made shapes and in bulk.
 Round, half-round, and half-pear-shaped rods or wires- 10cm length.
 Used –
 Establish minimum thickness in certain areas in partial denture framework, palatal and
lingual bar.
 Postdamming of complete maxillary denture impression.
 Checking high points of articulation
 Wax bites for articulations.
Cast Modelling Wax
Standard/ Transparent
Hard/ Opaque

Special Wax For Model Casting

Casting Wax –Physical Characteristics

 Slight degree of tackiness- maintain position during assembly.

 Desirable characteristics
 Certain degree of tackiness and strength
 True gauge dimension
 Minimal dimensional change with change in temperature
 Vaporize completely from investment molds.
Flow – 10% at 35⁰ C , 60% at 38⁰C.
 Wax Wire
Lingual Bars
For Forming Edges Or
For Forming Lower Jaw Bars
Individual Retainers
Drop Shape

Wax Bar, Rods.

Casting Wax –Physical Characteristics

 Federal specification requirements

 Bend double on itself without fracture at temperature of 23⁰C
 Pliable and readily adaptable at 40 ⁰C to 45 ⁰C.
 Heating over flame- compression to adapt – readily affects
thickness and contour- high ductility and flow.
 500 ⁰C vaporize with out residue.
 Replaced by preformed plastic pattern.
MODEL CASTING WAX
Casting Wax –Physical Characteristics
Flow
Gaug Breaking
Types Color Working properties
e Max Min point

Casting wax

Class A 28 Pink Pliable and readily

adaptable at 40⁰C to
45⁰C . Copies accurately
No
35 ⁰C 38⁰C surface against which is
fracture at
Class B 30 Green 10% 60% pressed. Not be brittle on
23 ±1⁰C
cooling.
500⁰C no residue other
than carbon

Class C Blue Ready made shape

Casting Wax –Class III
Resin Modelling Wax
 Light-cure wax, light and high viscosity
paste or as liquid
 Fabrication for cast metal or ceramic
inlays, crown and bridge, and precision
attachments.
 Modeling pastes- diurethane
dimethacrylate oligomer with 40% to 55%
polyurethane dimethacrylate or poly
( methly methacrylate ) fillers
 Liquid – urethane dimethacrylate
 Activator - camphorquinone
Resin Modelling Wax- characteristics

 Lower heat of polzmerization

 Shrinkage less than acrylic
 Higher strength and resistance to flow than waxes.
 Good dimensional stability
 Burnout with out residue
 Dimethacrylate resin do not result in cracked investment from
heating during burnout which occurs in acrylic pattern.
Resin Modelling Wax-Procedure

 Gypsum and resin dies – undercuts blocked- Separating medium

applied.
 Applied in 3 to 5 mm thick layers.
 Cured separately- high intensity light-curing chamber, 90 seconds.
 Light curing unit 20 to 40 seconds per area of irradiation.
 670 ⁰C to 690 ⁰C to 45 minutes- complete elimination of
modelling resin.
 Av e r a g e m a r g i n a l d i s c r e p a n c i e s ( μ m )
measure 1 hour and 24 hours after forming
No Pattern wax Full crown inlay

1 Inlay wax ( Type II ) 11 15

2 Light-cure resin A 10 8

3 Light-cure resin B 12 9

4 Self cure acrylic 15 7

M. Krane, Dds,a A. Patyk, BS, DDS, Phd,b And L. W. R. Kobes, Prof Drc
Study On The Surface Of Resins That Burn Without Residues In The Lost-
wax
Procedure(J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:389-92.)

 In this study, the surface structure of the residue-free

 resins examined were in a range acceptable for the dental
 casting technique.
 An increased application of
 residue-free resins in dental casting technique is therefore
 recommendable.
 These resins could not only
 complement waxes or wax/resin compositions, but could
 even, in whole or in part, replace them.
Base Plate Wax

 Used on baseplate tray to establish Vertical Dimension,

occlusal plane, teeth setting.
 Pink - esthetics.
 Contour wax establishes the pattern for the final plastic
denture.
 Check – various articulating relations in mouth and to
transfer them to mechanical articulators.
Base Plate Wax- Composition.

No Wax Proportion

1 Ceresin 80%

2 Bees wax 12 %

3 Carnauba wax 2.5 %

4 Natural or synthetic wax 3%

5 Microcrystalline wax 2.5 %

Base Plate Wax- Physical Characteristics

 7.60*15.00*0.13 – red or pink color.

 ANSI / ADA Specification No- 24 ( ISO 15854 )
 Three types
 Type I – soft wax, building contour, veneer
 Type II – hard wax patterns in mouth temperature temperate
climate.
 Type III- extra hard, patterns in mouth temperature tropical weather.
Requirements For Dental Baseplate Wax
Flow
Temp
Types Practical requirements
(⁰ C ) Min Max

23 - 1.0
Softened sheets cohere readily without
Type I 37 5.0 90.0
flaking and adhering to fingers
45 - 0.6

23 - 0.6
No irritation to oral tissues, trim easily
Type II 37 - 10.0
with sharp instruments at 23⁰C
45 50.0 90.0

23 - 0.2 Smooth, glossy surface on flaming, no

Type III 37 - 1.2 residue , vivid color, no adhesion to

45 5.0 50.0 separating paper

Base Plate Wax

 Should not leave any residue on porcelain or plastic teeth

 Color should not separate or impregnate the plastic mold.
 Residual stresses- differential cooling “pooling” the was with a hot spatula
 Time and temperature affects relief of residual stresses.
 Waxes properly articulated denture – not allowed to stand for long time-
especially in high temperature
 Distort the wax and move the teeth at high temperature.
 Waxed denture flasked- immediately – greater accuracy.
 Anatomically Shaped Bite Rims  Bite Rims Standard
 15 Mm Inter Alveolar Spacing  11 Mm Height
 Transfers Expansion –Tooth Width  Distal Sloping
 Time Saving

Bite Rims
Base Wax Pink Modelling Wax
High Strenth Easily Shaped Even In Cold State
Stable At Body Temperature Good For Modelling
High Precision And Shape Stability Economical

Set Up For Full And Partial Denture

Set Up Wax
Stable Wax For Teeth Setting Rope Wax
Easily Adaptable Bordering Wax
Easier To Use Base Wax Strips For Bordering The
Functional Areas On Impression Trays.
Time Saving

Ready-made Aids
Boxing Wax

 Uses- to box the impression- form plaster or stone cast.

 Carding wax
 Federal Specification No U-W-138.
 Pliable at 21⁰C retains shape 35⁰C.
 Slightly tacky, sufficient strength and toughness for convenient
manipulation.
Boxing Wax
Requirements Of Federal Specifications
Flow
Wax Color Working properties
Min Max

Smooth, glossy surface on flaming.

Pliable at 21⁰C retains shape 35⁰C.
Boxing - - Green , black
scals easily to plaster with hot
spatula.

65%- Pliable at 21⁰C to 24⁰C, tacky at

Utility 80% Orange, dark red
37.5⁰C 21⁰C to 24⁰C sufficient to build up

Sticky when melted, adheres closely

5%- 90%-
Sticky Dark, vivid > 2 % residue on burn out. > 0.5 %
30⁰C 43⁰C
shrinkage from 43⁰C to 28⁰C
Undercut Wax
Excellent Adhesion
Excellent Carving Properties
Utility Wax

 Composition-
 bees wax
 petroleum
 other soft wax.
 Easily workable, adhesive wax.
 Uses
 Tray -easily brought – desirable contour.
 Prevent sag and distortion of impression material.
Utility Wax

 Supplied- sticks and sheets.- dark red or orange.

 Federal Specification No U-W-156- highest ductility and
flow. Flow- not less than 65 % or more than 80% at
37.5⁰C.
 Pliable at 21⁰ to 24⁰ C
Sticky Wax

 Mixture of waxes
 Yellow bees wax
 rosin
 coloring material
 natural resin – gum dammar and other additives

 Sticky when melted and adheres closely to surface when applied.

 Room temperature – firm, free from tackiness, and brittle.

Sticky Wax

 Uses- assemble metallic or resin pieces in a fixed temporary

position.

 Federal Specification No U-W-00149 ( DSA – DM )have vivid

color- to easily distinguishable.

 Shrinkage 0.5 % - between 43 ⁰ and 28 ⁰.

Corrective Impression Wax
 Wax veneer over original impression to contact and register soft tissue details.
 Records mucous membrane and underlying tissue in functional state.
 Formulated from hydrocarbons-
 Paraffin
 ceresin
 bees wax
 metal particles.
 ANSI / ADA flow 37 °C by penetration 100%
 Subjected to distortion during removal form mouth.
Impression Wax

 Iowa wax and the Korecta wax

 The Iowa wax - recording the functional or supporting form of an
edentulous ridge.
 They flow sufficiently in the mouth to prevent displacement of
tissue.
 They have the ability to flow as long as they are in the mouth and
thereby permit equalization of pressure and prevent displacement.
Impression Wax

 Advantage - given sufficient time they permit a rebound of tissue

 Correct the borders of impressions made of more rigid materials,
thereby establishing optimum contact at the border of the denture
and they include the correct width of the denture border.
 Correctable
 Designed primarily for impression techniques that attempt to
record the tissue under an occlusal load.
Impression Wax

 Arrangement of artificial teeth is completed first.

 Mouth temperature wax - tissue side of the denture base and the final
impression is made under functional loading.
 Open-mouth impression techniques
 Iowa wax will not distort after removal from the mouth at ordinary
room temperatures, but the more resin waxes must be stored at much
lower temperature to prevent flow when they are out of the mouth.
Fluid Wax Functional Impression

 To make reline impression for an existing partial denture or to

correct the distal extension edentulous ridge portion of the original
master cast.
Fluid Wax Functional Impression – objectives

 To obtain maximum extension of the peripheral borders without

interfering with the function of the moveable border tissues.

 To record the stress bearing areas of the ridge in the functional Korecta

wax No 4 is slightly more fluid than Iowa wax.

 The key to the use of fluid wax lies in the space and time.

 Relief between the tray and the ridge of 1-2 mm is the desired amount.

 The tray must remain in place for 5-7 minutes.

Fluid Wax Functional Impression

 Water bath must be maintained at 51- 54⁰ C into which a container of wax is

placed.
 The wax is painted on the tissue surface of the impression tray with the brush.
 The tissue movement are made by the patient and the peripheral extensions are

developed.
 When the impression evidences complete contact and when the anatomy of the

limiting border structures is evident the impression should be replaced in the

mouth for a final time for 12 minutes.

Korecta Wax Series
 No 1 tissue pink -very hard

 Temporary base

 No 2 yellow

 Lining for a temporary base

 No3 red- more flow than yellow wax
 Correction of an area in the temporary base

 No 4 orange- high flow at body temperature

 Record the supporting form of subjacent tissues


Fluid Wax Technique For Postdamming

 Zinc oxide eugenol or plaster are preferred.

 Iowa wax or correcta wax or H.L physiologic paste,
yellow white or Adaptol green wax
 Melted wax- painted onto impression surface
 Held in the mouth with gentle pressure for 4-6 minutes
 Reinserted and held for 3-5 minutes
Fluid Wax Technique For Postdamming
  Used to accurately articulate models with
opposing quadrants.
 28 gauge casting wax or hard base plate
wax
 Formulated from bees wax or hydrocarbon
waxes- paraffin , ceresin.
 Contain aluminum or copper particles.
 ANSI / ADA – flow at 37° C range from 2.5
% to 22 % .

Occlusal ( Bite ) Registration Wax

Bite Registration
 Carding wax
 For attaching parts and in some soldering techniques
 Made of a soft dental utility wax -95-98% volume of

 dust or fillings or similar particles of gold or high gold alloy.

White wax

For making patterns to simulate a veneer facing

Aluwax

Bite registration wax

Sophisticated composite material-powdered aluminium

To increase the integrity of the compound

To provide heat retention properties for efficient modelling

Wax Distortion
 Partly elastic in behaviour
 Tend to return to their original shape after deformation.
 Memory effect
 Thermal changes and release of stresses
Causes Of Distortion

 Manipulation – structural in homogeneity of the wax

involving localized variations in intermolecular distance.

 When uniform temperature and pressure are not

maintained.
To Minimize Distortion

 Wax – heated uniformly at 50⁰C for 15 minutes

 Pattern - be invested quickly

 Stored at a low temperature

 Storage in a refrigerator is preferred

 Gypsum bonded investments
 Type 1 – castings inlays or crowns- alloy casting
shrinkage compensation – principally by thermal
expansion of the investment
 Type 2- hygroscopic expansion
 Type 3 – construction of partial dentures with gold alloys
 Should not be heated above 700⁰ C- sulfur dioxide
 Silica – expansion of the investments
Normal Setting Expansion

 Modifiers – boric acid and sodium chloride- regulate setting expansion and

setting time and they prevent shrinkage of gypsum when heated above 300⁰ C.

 ADA specification no 2 for type 1 investment permits a maximal setting

expansion in air of only 0.5 %

 Setting expansion of an investment with a comparatively high gypsum content

is more effective.

 Lower water powder ratio – greater setting expansion

Hygroscopic Setting Expansion

 Six or more times the normal setting expansion

 ADA specification no 2
 Minimal setting expansion 1.2%
 Maximal setting expansion 2.2%
Magnitude- proportional to silica content of the investment
Greatest amount of expansion- if immersion takes place before
the initial set
Thermal Expansion

 Directly related to the amount of silica present

 ADA specification no 2 –0.0-0.6 % for type 2

investments

 Thermal expansion should be attained at a temperature

not greater than 700 degree Celsius.

Phosphate Bonded Investments

 Consists of refractory fillers and a binder

 Filler –silica- cristobalite, quartz or a mixture of two- 80

 Binder- magnesium oxide and a phosphate

 Carbon- to produce clean castings

Setting And Thermal Expansion

 Expansion increased by using colloidal silica solution

instead of water.

 Thermal shrinkage- decomposition of the binder,

magnesium ammonium phosphate, accompanied by

evolution of ammonia
Wax Pattern Thickness

 Nickel chromium- 0.4 mm

 Porcelain fused to metal- 0.5 mm

 Pressable ceramic – 0.8 mm

Thermal Shrinkage
 Direct wax pattern – 0.4 %
 Indirect wax pattern- 0.2 %
Restoration Expansion(%)

Thin three quarter crown 1.80

Classes 1 and 2, small MOD 1.85

Large MOD, three quarter crown. 1.90

Overlay, pin pontic 1.95

Bulky three quarter crown 2.00

Small class 5, full crown 2.10

Large class 5 2.40

Mold Expansion
Technique Setting Hygroscopic Thermal
expansion(%) expansion (%) expansion(%)

High heat- cristobalite 0.35 0.70 1.25- 700⁰ C

Hygroscopic expansion 0.30 1.50 0.55-480⁰ C

Hygroscopic water added 0.75 2.00 0.55-480⁰ C

Phosphate high heat 0.23-0.50 0.35-1.20 1.33-1.58

 Thermal expansion-650- 700 degree celsius

 Hygroscopic expansion- 482 and 510 degree celsius.

 Controlled water added technique- soft flexible rubber

ring
Wax Pattern Expansion

 Wax is heated above the temperature at which it was formed

 Invested wax pattern allowed to set under water at room temperature exhibit

slightly less expansion than that set in air at the same temperature.

 Invested patterns that set at 100⁰ F with out immersion in water expand as

much as those set under water at the same temperature

 Low temperature burn out technique employs the combination of wax

pattern expansion and thermal expansion of the mould.

Michio Ito Phd, Effect Of Selected Physical Properties On
Investments And Casting Shrinkage. J Prosthet Dent 1996; 75:211-
216.

 This study evaluated the relationship between flow

characteristics, bending strength and softening temperature of
paraffin and dental inlay waxes to casting shrinkage when patterns
were invested with a phosphate bonded investment.
 It was found that casting accuracy was closely related to and
significantly influenced by these measurements.
Michio Ito Phd, Effect Of Selected Physical Properties On
Investments And Casting Shrinkage. J Prosthet Dent 1996; 75:211-
216.

 It was concluded that

 Casting shrinkage decreased when the flow of the wax pattern
increased.
 The flow of the wax pattern increased as exothermic reaction increased.
 A larger casting ring - for castings when a relatively thick wax pattern
or an inlay wax that has a high strength, softening temperature and low
flow percentage is used.
Randa Diwan, BDS, Yousef Talic, BDS, B Noura Omar, BDS, And Walid
Sadiq, BDS, Msc The Effect Of Storage Time Of Removable Partial Denture
Wax Pattern On The Accuracy Of Fit Of The Cast Framework J Prosthet Dent
1997;77:375-81,

 This study - effect of storage time of the wax pattern before

casting and the influence of the palatal major connector design

on the accuracy of its fit on the master casts.

 Two designs -24 hours, 1 week and 1 month

The storage time of wax patterns on the refractory cast had a

significant effect on the accuracy of fit of the connector.

Modified Palatal Plate And Anterior Posterior Palatal Strap Design
Conclusions

 Greatest Inaccuracies – 1 Month Storage Time

 Greatest Discrepancies- Modified Palatal Plate Major

Connector Design

 RPD wax pattern -invested as soon as possible -1 hour or less.


Eleni Kotsiomiti, DDS,” And Athanasios Kaloyannides, DDS Crown Pattern Waxes: A
Study Of Their Behaviour On Heating and Cooling(J Prosthet Dent 1994;71:511-6.)

 This investigation evaluated some of the physical properties

 of crown pattern waxes and compared them with
 those reported in previous studies.
 Table I. Crown pattern waxes tested
 Code Pattern wax Manufacturer
 1 Plastodent G (blue) Degussa AG, Germany
 2 Plastodent F W (green) Degussa AG, Germany
 3 Plastodent U (orange) Degussa AG, Germany
 4 Jelenko Green wax Jelenko, USA
 5 S-U Dental wax (green) Schuler Dental, Germany
 6 S-U D
Conclusions

 1. The increase in flow of pattern waxes caused by an

 increase in temperature occurs in the range of 37 to 47⁰
 C for the majority of materials tested.
 2. Most of the materials flow by 61% to 82 % at 47 to 52⁰
 C. This percentage seems to be adequate for easy handling.4
 The temperature increase provokes a linear expansion of
 more than 1% for most pattern waxes.
Conclusions

 3. The rate of expansion varies during an increase in

 temperature; the changes that occur at transition points
 are related to structural changes in the materials.
 4. The similarity of the arrest points in the materials
 tested is indicative of similar compositions and proportions
 of the major constituents.
Michio Ito, Phd,a Akihiro Kuroiwa, DDS, Phd, Effect Of Wax Melting Range
And Investment Liquid Concentration On TheAccuracy Of A Three-quarter
Crown Casting (J Prosthet Dent 2002;87:57-61.)

 It is important that the setting expansion not be

 obstructed by the wax.

 In this study, three-quarter crown wax patterns

 were fabricated with 4 waxes with different softening

 temperatures, and a dental gold alloy was cast.

Cont . . .

 The higher the softening temperature of the wax, the

greater the measured casting shrinkage.
 At gingival measurement sites, less casting shrinkage
was found when 100% special liquid
 investment was used
Conclusion

 From the early use of beeswax for making impressions

to current techniques such as dental casting: or
interocclusal records, waxes have always been among
the most popular and useful of dental materials.
 Dental waxes are easily manipulated, are low in cost and
may serve a variety of purposes.
Conclusions

 The use of dental waxes is associated

 with control of certain critical characteristics, that affect
their applicability, such as the effect of heating on flow
and thermal expansion, a better understanding of these
properties is required to produce accurate dental
castings.
References

 John M Powers, Ronald L. Sakaguchi. Craig’s

Restorative Dental Materials. Twelfth Edition. Chapter
14; 338-356.
 William J O’Brien. Dental Materials and Their Selection.
Third edition. Chapter- 20; 267-270.
 Kenneth J.Anusavice. Phillips’ Science of Dental
Materials. Eleventh Edition. Chapter 11; 283-295.
References
 Mc Cracken’s Removable Partial Prosthodontics,
Eleventh Edition, Chapter 15; 273.
 Stewart Rudd Kuebker, Clinical Removable Partial
Prosthodontics, Second edition, Chapter 13; 385-6.
 Michio Ito PhD, Effect of selected physical properties of
waxes on investments and casting shrinkage, J Prosthet
Dent 1996; 75:211-6.
 Randa Diwan, Pattern waxes and inaccuracies in fixed
and removable partial denture castings. J Prosthet Dent
1997;77: 553-5.
References
 Randa Diwan, BDS, Yousef Talic, BDS, B Noura Omar, BDS, And Walid
Sadiq, BDS, Msc The Effect Of Storage Time Of Removable Partial Denture
Wax Pattern On The Accuracy Of Fit Of The Cast Framework (J Prosthet Dent
1997;77:375-81)
 M. Krane, DDS,a A. Patyk, BS, DDS, Phd,b And L. W. R. Kobes, Prof Drc
Study On The Surface Of Resins That Burn Without Residues In The Lost-wax
Procedure(J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:389-92.)
 Oliver C Applegate, Essentials of removable partial denture prosthesis.
Thank You