Dental

Wax

Introduction:

ORIGINALLY
APPLIED
TO
NATURAL OCCURRING ESTERS OF
FATTY ACIDS & MONOHYDRIC
ALCOHOLS, THE TERM NOW IS
USED
FOR
BOTH
NATURALLY
OCCURRING & MANUFACTURED
PRODUCTS RESEMBLING ESTERS.
THEY HAVE

Dr. Marwa

A -

DULL LUSTER

SOAPY OR GREASY TEXTURE

SOFTEN
HEATING
LIQUID

GRADUALLY
ON
BEFORE FORMING A

Uses in Dentistry:

INL AY PATTERN

BOXING OF IMPRESSION

BASE PLATE

CASTING WAX

UTILITY WAX

STICKY WAX

CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION

BITE REGISTRATION

DENTAL WAXES ARE COMBINATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF NATURAL

& SYNTHETIC WAXES, GUMS, FATS, FATTY ACIDS, OILS, RESINS &
PIGMENTS
COMPOUNDED
TO
PROVIDE
DESIRED
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES.

Components of dental waxes:

Natural Waxes

Synthetic Waxes

MINERAL

FATS

a) Paraffin

a) Aerosol OT

b) Montaux

b) Castor wax

c) Barnsdhal.

c) Flexowax C

d) Ozokerite

d) Dura wax

e) Microcrystalline

Additives

Stearic acid

PLANT

NATURAL RESINS

a)

Carnauba

a)

Copal

b)

Ouricury

b)

Dammar

c)

Candelila

c)

Sandrac

d)

Japan wax

d)

Shellac

e)

Cocoa butter
INSECT
Bees wax

SYNTHETIC RESINS
a)

Polyethylene

b)

Polysterene

ANIMAL
Spermaciti

Natural Waxes

TWO MAIN GROUP OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN WAXES ARE-

HYDROCARBONS

ESTERS

SOME WAXES CONTAIN FREE ALCOHOLS AND ACIDS AS WELL.

Synthetic Waxes

COMPLEX
ORGANIC
COMPOSITION

COMPOUNDS

OF

USE IN DENTAL FORMULATIONS IS LIMITED

MORE REFINED THAN NATURAL WAXES

Types

POLYETHYLENE WAXES

POLYOXYETHYLENE GLYCOL WAXES

HALOGENATED HYDROCARBON WAXES

HYROGENATED WAXES

WAX ESTERS

Composition

VARIED

CHEMICAL

POLYOXYETHYLENE WAXES ARE POLYMERS OF ETHYLENE GLYCOLS.

THEY HAVE LIMITED COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER WAXES. THEY
HAVE MELTING TEMPERATURE. FROM 37 C TO 63C. BUT FUNCTION
AS PL ASTICIZERS AND TOUGHEN FILMS OF WAX. OTHERS ARE
PRODUCED BY REACTION WITH NATURAL WAXES.
PROPERTIES

MELTING RANGE

THERMAL EXPANSION

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

FLOW

RESIDUAL STRESS

DUCTILITY

Melting Range
HAVE A RANGE AS THEY CONTAIN SEVERAL TYPES OF MOLECULES,
EACH HAVING A RANGE OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT.

Thermal Expansion

LINEAR CO - EFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION CHANGE IN

LENGTH PER UNIT ORIGINAL LENGTH WITH 1 CHANGE IN TEMP.
WAXES HAVE THE LARGEST CO - EFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION
AMONG ALL DENTAL MATERIALS. WEAK SECONDARY VALANCE
FORCES ARE EASILY OVERCOME BY THERMAL ENERGY, MORE SO IN
MINERAL WAXES THAN PLANT WAXES. MANY WAXES EXHIBIT AT
LEAST 2 RATES OF THERMAL EXPANSION. CHANGE IN RATE OCCURS
AT TRANSITION POINTS. AT THESE POINTS THE INTERNAL
STRUCTURAL PARTS BECOMES BECOME FREER TO EXPAND.
BECAUSE THE INGREDIENT WAXES UNDERGO TRANSITION THAT DO
NOT COINCIDE WITH ONE ANOTHER, INL AY WAXES EXHIBIT MORE
THAN TWO CHANGES IN RATE OF EXPANSION.

Mechanical Properties

EL ASTIC MODULUS

PROPORTIONAL LIMIT

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

ALL ARE LOW WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER MATERIALS

Elastic Modulus

EL ASTIC MODULI OF CARNAUBA WAX IS HIGHEST

BEES WAX LOWEST

DECREASES WITH INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE.

INL AY WAX (SIMUL ATES A MIXTURE OF 75% PARAFFIN & 25%

CARNAUBA WAX) 760 TO 48.2 MPA BETWEEN 23C & 40C

Proportional Limit/ Compressive Strength

DECREASE WITH INCREASE IN TEMP.

E.G. - P.L. FOR INL AY WAX DECREASED FROM 4.82 TO 0.21 FROM
23C TO 40C.
C.S. 82.7 TO 0.48 MPA

Flow

RESULT OF SLIPPAGE OF MOLECULES OVER EACH OTHER. IN LIQUID

STATE OF WAX IT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH VISCOSITY BELOW
MELTING TEMPERATURE. IT INDICATES THE DEGREE OF PLASTIC
DEFORMATION AT A GIVEN TEMP. FLOW DEPENDS UPON::
1.

TEMP OF WAX

2.

THE FORCE APPLIED

3.

TIME FOR WHICH THE FORCE IS APPLIED

4.

FLOW IS GREATLY INCREASED AS MELTING POINT IS APPROACHED

Residual Stress

RESIDUAL STRESSES ALWAYS EXIST IN A PREPARED WAX PATTERN

PRESENCE OF SUCH STRESSES CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY

COMPARISON OF THERMAL EXPANSION CURVES OF ANNEALED
WAXES WITH WAX COOLED UNDER COMPRESSION & EXPANSION

EXTENT OF CHANGE IN THERMAL EXPANSION DEPENDS UPON

1.

MAGNITUDE OF RESIDUAL STRESS

2.

TIME &

3.

TEMP OF STORAGE OF SPECIMEN

COMPRESSION

WHEN COOLED UNDER COMPRESSION, THE ATOMS & MOLECULES

ARE FORCED TOGETHER AS COMPARED TO WHEN THERE IS NO
EXTERNAL STRESS

AFTER COOLING & UPON LOAD REMOVAL, MOTION OF MOLECULES

IS RESTRICTED RESIDUAL INTERNAL STRESSES

ON HEATING THE RESIDUAL INTERNAL STRESSES IS ADDED TO

NORMAL THERMAL EXPANSION HENCE MORE EXPANSION.

TENSION

COOLING UNDER TENSION RESULTS IN MOLECULES MOVING AWAY

FROM ONE ANOTHER COMPARATIVELY

ON HEATING, RELEASE OF THESE INTERNAL STRESSES WORK IN A

DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THERMAL EXPANSION

L ARGE INTERNAL TENSILE STRESSES

CONTRACTION UPON HEATING

MAY

RESULT

EVEN

IN

Ductility

LIKE
FLOW,
DUCTILITY
TEMPERATURE OF WAXES

LOWER THE MELTING TEMPERATURE OF A WAX, MORE WILL BE THE

DUCTILITY

WAXES MADE OF COMPONENTS HAVING WIDE MELTING RANGES

HAVE MORE DUCTILITY

WITH WIDE RANGE OF MELTING POINT OF COMPONENTS, THE

SOFTENING POINT OF LOWEST IS APPROACHED FIRST ON HEATING

ON FURTHER HEATING THIS COMPONENT LIQUEFIES,

SOFTENING POINT OF NEXT IS APPROACHED & SO ON

ENTIRE WAX MASS IS PLASTICIZED & DUCTILITY INCREASES

INCREASES

WITH

INCREASE

IN

THE

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY :
IT IS LOW WHICH IMPLIES THAT THESE MATERIALS GAIN , AND LOSE
, HEAT VERY SLOWLY .

STRESS RELIEF :
IN USING DENTAL WAX , APPLYING STRESS IS UNDESIRABLE .
WAXES TEND TO RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL SHAPE AFTER
MANIPUL ATION . STRESS-RELIEF WAX IS USUALLY THE RESULT OF
ADAPTATION AT TOO LOW A TEMPERATURE .THUS THE
DEFORMATION IS NOT CARRIED OUT WITH THE WAX TOTALLY FLUID
AND CONSEQUENTLY , A PARTIAL RECOVERY RESULTS IN
DIMENTIONAL INA ACURACY AND IS UNDESIRABLE .

CL ASSIFICATION OF DENTAL WAXES:

Pattern Wax

Processing Wax

Impression
Wax

1. Inlay Wax

1. Boxing Wax

2. Casting Wax

2. Utility Wax

3. Base plate Wax

1. Corrective Wax
2. Bite registration
Wax

3. Sticky Wax

PATTERN WAXES

USED TO FORM GENERAL PRE DETERMINED SIZE & CONTOUR OF

AN ARTIFICIAL RESTORATION

L ATER IT IS REPL ACED BY MORE DURABLE MATERIAL SUCH AS

CAST GOLD, COBALT- CHROME- NICKEL ALLOYS ETC

THEY EXHIBIT THERMAL CHANGE IN DIMENSION AND WARPAGE ON

STANDING

INLAY WAXES ADA 4

Are used to fabricate wax patterns for :

INL AYS, CROWNS & BRIDGE UNITS ARE FORMED BY A CASTING

PROCESS THAT USES LOST WAX PATTERN TECHNIQUE

A PATTERN OF WAX IS CONSTRUCTED THAT DUPLICATES SHAPE

AND CONTOUR OF CASTING

AFTER INVESTING & SPRUING THE WAX IS ELIMINATED BY HEATING

Typical Composition

PARAFFIN- 60%
CARNAUBA- 25%
CERESIN- 10%
BEES WAX- 5%

TYPES
BY FLOW
1.

HARD

2.

REGULAR

3.

SOFT

Dipping Wax

THE HOTTY LED IS A WAX DIPPING POT WHICH PERMITS

CONTROLLED TEMPERATURE SETTING AND DISPLAYS THE SET AND
THE ACTUAL VALUE

Advantages

HIGH PRECISION VIA LOW SHRINKAGE

OPTIMUM VISCOSITY AT 8991C (192196F)

PRECISE-FITTING COPINGS WITH AN EVEN L AYER THICKNESS

HIGH STABILITY AND ELASTICITY

CONTAINS NO ACRYLIC ADDITIVES

EASY TO CUT OFF THE PREPARATION BORDER

Casting Wax

USED FOR METALLIC FRAMEWORK OF RPDS

AVAIL ABLE AS SHEETS (28

READYMADE SHAPES & BULK

SERVE SAME PURPOSE

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

AS

30

INL AY

GAGE;
WAX,

0.4

DIFFER

0.32

MM),

SLIGHTLY

IN

INGREDIENTS SIMILAR TO INLAY WAXES

SHEETS USED TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM THICKNESS IN SOME AREAS

OF RPD FRAMEWORK SUCH AS PALATAL & LINGUAL BAR

NO ADA SPECIFICATION BUT ONLY A FEDERAL SPECIFICATION FOR

ITS PROPERTIES

Flow

ARE TO BE USED ON A CAST & NOT IN MOUTH

THEY HAVE A HIGHER FLOW AS COMPARED TO INLAY WAXES AT
AROUND 35 37C

35C 10% MIN

37C 60% MAX

Working Properties

SLIGHTLY TACKY SO AS TO MAINTAIN POSITION ON CAST

PLIABLE & READILY ADAPTABLE AT 40 - 45C

COPY ACCURATELY AGAINST THE SURFACE WHICH IT IS PRESSED

SHALL NOT BE BRITTLE ON COOLING

MUST VAPORIZE AT 500C

BE BENT DOUBLE ON ITSELF WITHOUT FRACTURE AT 23C

Modeling Baseplate Wax

ADA 24

Is relatively hard , and slightly brittle at room temperature but

becomes soft , and pliable when heated .

THE BASIC USE IS TO FORM OCCLUSAL RIM ON BASEPL ATE TRAY

TO SET TEETH FOR DENTURE

ESTABLISH VD, CONTOUR OF THE DENTURE AFTER TEETH SETTING

ALSO USED FOR MFPS, PATTERNS FOR ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

CHECKING ARTICULATING RELATIONS IN MOUTH & TRANSFERRING

TO ARTICUL ATORS

SUPPLIED AS SHEETS 7.60 X 15 X 0.13 CM, RED, PINK OR ORANGE

IN COLOUR

THREE TYPES

TYPE I SOFT WAX FOR CONTOURS & VENEERS

TYPE II MEDIUM WAX FOR TEMPERATE CLIMATES

TYPE III HARD WAX FOR TROPICAL CLIMATES

MAINLY DIFFER IN FLOW WITH TYPE III HAVING LEAST

Requirements

LINEAR THERMAL EXPANSION FROM 25 TO 40C < 0.8%

SOFTENED SHEETS SHALL COHERE READILY WITHOUT BECOMING
FL AKY OR ADHERING TO FINGERS

NO IRRITATION TO ORAL TISSUES

PIGMENT NOT TO SEPARATE ON PROCESSING

NO ADHESION TO OTHER SHEETS OR SEPARATING PAPER ON

STORAGE

Applications of Dental Modeling Waxes :

1- CONSTRUCTION OF DENTURES
The modeling wax can be used as a base plate material because it is readily
moldable , economic , speed and reproduce the details of most groove in gypsum
cast

2 construction of orthodontic appliances :

Patterns for orthodontic appliances & prosthesis other than complete dentures ,
which are to be constructed of plastics are also made of base plate wax .
3 interocclusal records :
Base plate wax has been widely used in many phases of dentistry to check the
various articulating relations in mouth and transfer them to mechanical articulator .
4 construction of extraoral prosthesis
5 spacer in different uses :
Base plate wax is used to create a space over the cast before custom trays can be
made .
6- impression material :
Base plate wax can be used for taking an impression of teeth in construction of
fixed prosthodontic restoration .
7 duplicating material :
The modeling wax is used as a duplicating material in a procedure of duplication of
maxillary complete denture and concluded that the replicas made from modeling
wax .
8- block-out wax :
Another use of base plate wax is for block out undercuts on casts .

PROCESSING WAXES

Boxing Wax

AIDS IN FORMING
IMPRESSION

PLASTER

OR

STONE

CAST

FROM

AN

BOXING CONSISTS OF
ADAPTING A LONG NARROW STRIP OF
IMPRESSION BELOW PERIPHERAL HEIGHT

WAX

AROUND

THE

FOLLOWED BY A WIDE STRIP OF WAX TO FORM A WAX BOX

ALSO CALLED CARDING WAX: ORIGINALLY USED FOR PLACING
PORCELAIN TEETH IN PACKING

FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS:

SMOOTH GLOSSY SURFACE ON FLAMING

PLIABLE AT 21C; RETAINS SHAPE AT 35C

READILY ADAPT TO IMPRESSION AT ROOM TEMP.

SEAL EASILY TO PLASTER WITH HOT SPATULA

Utility Wax

AN EASILY WORKABLE, ADHESIVE WAX FOR MULTIPLE USE

SUCH AS-

IMPROVING THE
HYDROCOLLOIDS

TO STABILIZE A PONTIC FOR A TEMPORARY BRIDGE WHILE

INDEX IS BEING MADE

FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS:

CONTOUR

OF

PERFORATED

TRAY

FOR

PLIABLE AT 21 TO 24C; WORKABLE & EASILY ADAPTABLE AT

ROOM TEMP.

FLOW BE BETWEEN 65% & 80% AT 37.5 C

TACKY AT 21 TO 24C; ADHESION FOR BUILD UP

COLOUR- GREEN OR BLACK

Sticky Wax

FORMULATED FROM A MIXTURE OF WAXES, RESINS & OTHER

ADDITIVES

STICKY WHEN MELTED, ADHERES CLOSELY TO THE SURFACE

AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FIRM, FREE FROM TACKINESS & BRITTLE

SHOULD FRACTURE RATHER THAN FLOW WHEN DEFORMED

Uses

USED PRIMARILY ON DENTAL STONES AND PLASTERS

USED IN REPAIR FOR HOLDING THE METAL OR RESIN PARTS
TEMPORARILY

Federal Requirements

HAVE A DARK OR VIVID COLOUR TO DISTINGUISH FROM GYPSUM

PRODUCTS
SHRINKAGE - < 0.5 % FROM 43 TO 28C

IMPRESSION WAXES
Impression waxes, though rarely used to record complete impressions, they
can be effectively used to correct small imperfections in other impressions.

They are thermoplastic materials, which flow readily at mouth temperature

and are relatively soft even at room temperature.

Impression waxes are classified as:

1) Corrective impression wax
2) Bite registration wax.
There are no ADA federal specifications for impression waxes.

Composition
Impression waxes consist typically of a mixture of low melting paraffin wax
and bees wax in ratio of about 3:1. In addition it may contain other wax like
ceresin and also metal particles e.g. aluminum or copper particles.

Properties
Melting range
Since waxes have several types of molecules i.e. Crystalline or amorphous
of different molecular weights, they have melting ranges rather then a point.
Melting range of impression waxes is much lower due to additions like resin.
Impression waxes flow at mouth temperature under occlusal load. Heat of
fusion is the heat in calories required to convert 1gm of material from the
solid to liquid state at the melting temperature.
Melting temperature:
Beeswax is 62.8C.
Paraffin wax is 52C.

Melting

range:

Beeswax is 34-70 C.
Paraffin wax is 44- 60C.

Flow
The flow of corrective temperature wax and bite registration wax is
measured at 37C and is 100% and 2.5%-22% respectively, thus these waxes
are susceptible to distortion on removal from the mouth. Flow as tested by
compression of cylindrical specimens is 285% at 37C.

Mechanical Properties
The elastic modulus, proportionately limit and compressive strength is low as
compared with other materials and are dependent on temperature.

Thermal expansion
Impression waxes expand when subjected to a rise in temperature and
contract as the temperature decreased. Paraffin and beeswax, which are the
chief constituents of impression waxes, have different temperature range.
Because of the coefficient of thermal expansion is so great, the impressions
should be poured immediately to avoid distortion.
If the impression cannot be poured immediately, they should be stored at or
near 0C. Coefficient of linear thermal expansion is 350-700 x10-6/ C.

Advantages
1.

Impression wax can be used in thin layers to record the impression

surface of the ridge accurately.

2.

It is relatively easy to manipulate.

3.

It does not need advanced equipments.

Disadvantages
1.

Distortion of the impression wax can occur when the records are stored
due to the release of stresses.

2.

It is technique sensitive.

3.

It can be used only to record edentulous surfaces,

Other advantages include:

Low cost
Easy handling
No need for adhesive
Odorless
Clean material to work with
Absence of tissue reactions