Lecture 4

DENTAL WAXES
Presented by
Dr. Shirin Faiz Hussein
BDS , MSc , MFD, GBOI
 Definition
 General classification of
waxes
 Properties
Definition:
Are thermoplastic materials that

are solids at room temperature
but melt without decomposition
to form liquids.
Classification of waxes
I. Natural waxes:
 Are found distributed in nature .
They originate from plants,
minerals, insects or animals. These
are complex organic compounds of
high molecular weights
(hydrocarbons and esters) .The
composition of these organic
compounds varies according to
source and time of collection.
 Types
A. Mineral waxes:
These are straight chain hydrocarbons
that form:
1. Paraffin wax:
- Is derived from petroleum.
-Softens between 37-55 degrees
centigrade and melts between 48-70
degrees centigrade.
-During solidification and cooling it
undergoes volumetric contraction.
-They are likely to flake when trimmed
and does not present a smooth glossy
surface.
 -Additives are blended to increase
hardness , raise melting range and
lower contraction.
 - examples include: Ceresin.
2. Microcrystalline Wax:
-Has a higher molecular weight and a
finer crystal structure than paraffin
waxes.
-Melts at 65-90 degrees centigrade.
-When added to paraffin the melting
point of the mixture is raised and the
softening point is lowered making it
flow more easily.
 B. Plant waxes:
- Contain considerable concentrations of
esters in-addition to acids ,alcohols,
resins and hydrocarbons.
-They include:
1. Carnauba and Oricury waxes:
-Characterized by high hardness ,
brittleness and high melting temperature
84-91 degrees centigrade for carnauba
and 79-84 degrees centigrade for oricury.
- Increase the hardness and melting
range when added to paraffin wax from
20 to 46 degrees centigrade.
2. Candelilla waxes:
- Have melting temperatures that
range between 68-75 degrees
centigrade.
- Can harden paraffin wax but does
not have the same effect on the
melting range as carnauba and
oricury.
C. Animal waxes:
1.Spermaceti wax:
- Obtained from whales.
- Not commonly used in dentistry.
2.Bees wax:
- Is the primary insect wax used in
dentistry.
- Has a melting temperature of 63-70
degrees centigrade.
-Is brittle at room temperature and
plastic at body temperature.
- Used as a main component of sticky
wax.
II. Synthetic waxes:
- Are entirely man-made, like
polyethylene or prepared by modifying
petroleum or other natural waxes such
as Montan.
- Characterized by great uniformity
and purity.
- They are blended with natural waxes
to modify their properties.
- Their use is limited in dental
formulations and natural waxes
continue to be the primary
components.
III. Gums:
-Are viscous amorphous exudates from
plants.
- Harden on exposure to air.
- Are carbohydrates that form sticky
IV. Fats:
May be used to increase the melting
range and hardness of compounded
wax.
V. Resins:
- Complex mixtures of organic
structures.
1. Natural resins:
- These are exudates produced by
some plants or insects(shellac).
- Can be blended with waxes to
increase hardness.
2. Synthetic resins:
- Vinyl and polyethylene are added to
paraffin to improve toughness and
melting ranges.
- Both natural and synthetic resins in

organic
solvents may be utilized to form
materials that can be used as liners
(e.g Copal).
Characteristic properties of
waxes
-Waxes possess properties of both
plastics and oils.
-When melted they become oils and
when cooled they become plastics.
- They are thermoplastic solids at
normal temperatures but soften and
flow with only a slight increase in
temperature and solidify on cooling.
-They show weak intermolecular
bonding which is very temperature –
dependent.
 1.Thermal Expansion :
-The coefficient of thermal expansion (how
the size of an object changes with a
change in temperature) of waxes is greater
than any other dental material.
- Inlay pattern wax expands as much as
0.7% with an increase of 20 degrees
centigrade or contracts by 0.35% when
cooled from 37 to 25 degrees centigrade.
2.Melting Range :
Due to the inhomogenesity of composition,
natural waxes have melting ranges rather
than melting points.
3. Flow :
Is a time-dependent deformation of a
material . It depends extremely upon
temperature. Waxes should be used
when they possess 80% flow or better.
To attain such a degree of flow
Carnauba wax is heated to 80 degrees
centigrade (high temperature) and
Paraffin wax to 35 degrees centigrade
(low temperature ) so mixture of the
two waxes is necessary.
4. Internal Stresses:
Transition points:
Stable crystal lattice form commences to
change to a hexagonal form below the
melting range of wax. It is during this phase
that waxes are able to be manipulated
without flaking or tearing.
-Usually stress remains in wax as a result of

manipulation during heating , cooling,
bending or carving.
- The release of stress at higher temperature

causes an irreversible deformation that can
destroy the fit of the wax pattern.
To prevent residual stresses:
1. Wax should not be carved at
temperature below their melting
range.
2. Carve with warm instrument.
3. Melted wax should be added in
small increments.
- When wax is at a temperature above

transition point ,it can easily be
molded as the molecules are having
sufficient heat energy to arrange
themselves in an unstressed relation
5.Mechanical properties :
Are extremely dependent on
temperature. Waxes should be of
sufficient strength to allow carving of
fine margins.

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DENTAL WAXES

Are thermoplastic materials that

- Both natural and synthetic resins in

-Usually stress remains in wax as a result of

- The release of stress at higher temperature

- When wax is at a temperature above

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