Good morning respected staff members and my dear friends.

The topic of today’s seminar is DENTAL WAXES.

I shall be discussing it under the following headings:

Few procedures in restorative dentistry can be completed without the use

of wax in one of its many forms. Forming an inlay pattern, boxing an
impression before it is poured in dental stone, and making a baseplate
for a removable denture each requires a specially formulated wax. Thus,
the specific use of dental wax determines the physical properties that are
most desirable for a successful application.

Coming to a few definitions

A dental wax is a low molecular weight ester of fatty acid derived from
natural and synthetic components such as petroleum derivatives that
soften to a plastic state at a relatively low temperature.

FATS:
They are substances similar to wax but characterized as being soft
and greasy to touch
GUMS:
Gums are various substances from plant or animal sources that
harden in air. Gums combine with water to form sticky, viscous liquids.

NATURAL RESINS:
They are mixtures of high molecular weight organic substances
obtained directly from plants or trees as exudates.

CLASSIFICATION OF WAXES

Historically, waxes have been classified according to their origin as

natural and synthetic waxes. Under natural waxes, we have waxes which
have mineral, plant, insect or animal origin.
They can also be classified according to their use and application as
pattern waxes, processing waxes and impression waxes.

NATURAL WAXES

1) The two principal groups of organic compounds contained in

waxes are hydrocarbons and esters, although some waxes contain
free alcohols and acids as well.
2) This brief description of the composition of natural waxes indicates
that they are complex combinations of organic compounds of
reasonably high molecular weights.

MINERAL WAXES
PARAFFIN WAXES
1) It is named paraffin because of its little chemical affinity to
other substances.
2) They are straight – chain hydrocarbons with 26 to 30 carbon
atoms obtained principally from high boiling fractions of
petroleum.
3) Paraffin waxes soften in the temperature range 37 to 55°C and
melt in the range 48 to 70°C. Lower the molecular weight,
lower will be the melting temperature.
4) During solidification and cooling, there is a volumetric
contraction that varies from 11 to 15%. This contraction is not
uniform throughout the temperature range from melting
temperature to room temperature, because the wax is a mixture
of hydrocarbons and the wax passes through transition points
accompanied by changes in physical properties.
5) Paraffin waxes used in dentistry are refined waxes and have less
than 0.5% oils.
6) Flow is 50% at 31.50 C
7) It is likely to flake when trimmed.
8) It does not present a smooth, glossy surface.
MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX
1) They are branched – chain hydrocarbons with 41-50 carbon
atoms.
2) They are similar to paraffin waxes, except that they are obtained
from the heavier oil fractions in the petroleum industry and, as a
result, have higher melting points in the range of 60 – 91°C.
3) These waxes are tougher and more flexible than paraffin waxes.
4) They have an affinity for oil, and their hardness and tackiness
may be altered by adding oil.
5) Microcrystalline waxes have less volumetric change during
solidification than paraffin waxes.
6) They are added to modify the softening and melting ranges of
wax blends.
7) They also serve to reduce the stresses that occur on cooling.

BARNSDAHL
1) Barnsdahl is a microcrystalline wax used to
 Increase the melting range
 Hardness
 Reduce the flow of paraffin waxes.
2) The melting range of Barnsdahl wax is 70 to 74°C

OZOKERITE
1) It is similar to microcrystalline wax.
2) It also has great affinity for oil.
3) In quantities of 5 to 15%, it greatly improves the physical
characteristics of paraffins in the melting range of 54°C.

CERESIN
1) Like microcrystalline waxes, they are straight and branched
chained paraffins, but have higher molecular weights and
greater hardness than hydrocarbon waxes distilled from the
crude products.
 2) These waxes may also increase the melting range of paraffin
waxes.
3) The melting range of these waxes is 85 to 95°C.

MONTAN
1) They are hard, brittle and lustrous; they blend well with other
waxes.
2) Therefore, they are often substituted for plant waxes to improve
the hardness and the melting range of paraffin waxes.

PLANT WAXES

CARNAUBA AND OURICURY WAXES

1) Carnauba wax is obtained from leaves of palm copernica
cerifera.
2) They are characterized by
 High hardness
 Brittleness
 High melting temperatures.
3) Carnauba wax contributes to glossiness of the wax surface,
even more than dammar resin.
4) Both possess the outstanding quality of increasing the melting
range and hardness of paraffin waxes.
5) Melting range:
 Carnauba wax – 84 to 91°C.
 Ouricury – 79 to 84°C.

CANDELILLA
1) It is derived from Candelilla plant which grows in hot, dry
places.
2) They consist of 40 to 60% of paraffin hydrocarbons containing
29 to 33 carbon atoms.
3) Like Carnauba and Ouricury wax, they harden paraffin waxes
but are not so effective for increasing the melting range.
 4) It is added to paraffin to partially or entirely replace carnauba
wax.
5) Its melting point is lower, and it is not as hard as carnauba wax.
6) Their melting range is 68 to 75°C.

JAPAN WAX
1) Japan wax is not a true wax; they are chiefly fats.
2) It is tough, malleable, and sticky material that melts at about
51°C.
3) Japan wax may be mixed with paraffin to improve tackiness
and emulsifying ability.

COCOA BUTTER
1) Cocoa butter is not a true wax either.
2) It is brittle at room temperature.
3) It is used to protect against dehydration of soft tissues and to
protect glass ionomer products temporarily from moisture
during setting or from dehydrating after they set.

INSECT WAXES

BEESWAX
1) It is the primary insect wax used in dentistry.
2) It is derived from honeycombs and consists of partially
crystalline natural polyester and is often blended with paraffin
wax to modify the properties of the latter.
3) It varies in color from yellow to black.
4) Their melting range is 63 - 700C.
5) It is brittle at room temperature, but becomes plastic at body
temperature.
6) It is the main component of sticky wax.
7) The effect of adding bees wax to paraffin wax is
 To render the material less brittle.
  To reduce the extent to which it will flow under stress at
temperatures just below the melting point.

ANIMAL WAXES

SPERMACETI WAX
1) It is obtained from the sperm whale.
2) They are not used extensively in dentistry.
3) They are mainly ester waxes.
4) It is liquid at room temperature.
5) Spermaceti wax has been used as a coating in the manufacture
of dental floss.

I. SYNTHETIC WAXES

1) Synthetic waxes are complex organic compounds of varied

chemical compositions.
2) They differ from natural waxes in certain characteristics because of
their high degree of refinement, in contrast with the contamination
that is common in natural waxes.
3) Synthetic waxes include:
 Polyethylene waxes
 Polyoxyethylene waxes
 Halogenated waxes
 Hydrogenated waxes
 Wax esters

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF WAXES

Useful and important properties of waxes include

1) Melting range
2) Thermal expansion
3) Mechanical properties
 4) Flow
5) Residual stress
6) Ductility

Melting range

1) Because waxes contain several types of molecules, each having a

range of molecular weights, they have melting ranges rather than
melting points.
2) Mixing of waxes may change their melting range.
3) At the low end of the range, some but not all of the components
melt, which causes the wax, still solid, to flow much more.
4) As the temperature increases through the melting range, more of
the components melt, and the wax flows severely, and eventually
all components become a liquid.

Thermal expansion

1) Like other materials, waxes expand when subjected to a rise in

temperature and contract when the temperature is decreased.
2) In general, dental waxes and their components have the largest
coefficient of thermal expansion of any material used in
restorative dentistry.
3) Waxes are very poor thermal conductors and must be maintained
above the solid – solid transition temperature for long enough to
allow thorough softening to occur throughout the material before
molding is attempted.

Mechanical properties

1) The elastic modulus, proportional limit, and compressive

strength of waxes are low compared with those of other
materials, and these properties depend strongly on temperature.
2) The elastic moduli of various waxes between 23 and 40°C are
shown in fig with carnauba wax having the highest values and
beeswax the lowest.
 3) The proportional limits and compressive strengths of the waxes
shown in fig exhibit the same trends as their elastic moduli.
4) Hence the inlay casting wax would be considered a brittle
material, although it possesses flow or viscous properties at
stresses below its proportional limit.
Flow

1) The property of flow results from slippage of molecules over each

other.
2) A measure of flow in the liquid state of wax would be synonymous
with viscosity.
3) Below the melting point of wax, however, a measure of flow
would actually be a measure of the degree of permanent
deformation of the material at a given temperature.
4) Flow is decidedly dependant on
 The temperature of the wax
 The time the force is applied
5) Flow greatly increases as the melting point of the wax is
approached.
6) The flow of dental waxes is influenced by the presence of solid –
solid and melting transformations that occur in the component
waxes.

Residual stress

1) Residual stress is stress remaining in a wax as a result of

manipulation during heating, cooling, bending, carving, or other
manipulation.
2) Manipulation of wax puts molecules of the wax into positions that
they do not like but cannot change because of their solid state.
3) These stresses that are present in wax generally are released as the
temperature of the wax increases, and the wax molecules can move
more freely.

Ductility
 1) Like flow, ductility increases as the temperature of a wax specimen
is increased.
2) In general, waxes with lower melting temperatures have a greater
ductility at any given temperature than those with higher melting
temperatures.
3) A blended wax with components that have wide melting ranges
generally has greater ductility than blended waxes that have a
narrow range.
4) Generally, highly refined waxes are quite brittle.

Now coming to pattern waxes

1. Pattern waxes are used to create a model of a dental restoration

such as a crown, or partial denture that eventually is cast using the
lost wax technique.
2. The examples are inlay wax, casting wax and baseplate wax.

INLAY WAX

1) Inlay wax is a specialized dental wax that can be applied to dies to

form direct or indirect patterns for the lost wax technique used for
casting metal or hot pressing of ceramics.
2) They are available in a variety of colors, including deep blue,
green or purple rods or sticks about 7.5 cm long and 0.64 cm in
diameter. They are also available as small pellets and cones or in
small, ointment jars or even in bulk.

CLASSIFICATION

The American National Standards Institute/ American Dental

Association Specification No. 4 for Dental Inlay Casting Wax cover two
types of inlay wax:
TYPE I – A medium wax employed in direct techniques
TYPE II – a soft wax used in indirect techniques.

Revised American Dental Association Specification No. 4

In year 1975, the revision of ADA specification no. 4 for dental inlay
casting wax was approved by the Council on Dental Materials and
Devices of the American Dental Association. Major differences from the
previous specifications were
1) Inclusion of synthetic waxes
2) Change to three types and classes, of inlay waxes
3) Change in flow requirement.

Inlay casting wax covered by this specification shall be of the

following types and classes:-

TYPE A – TYPE B – TYPE C –

HARD MEDIUM SOFT
CLASS 1 – CLASS 1 – CLASS 1 –
Sticks Sticks Sticks
CLASS 2 – CLASS 2 – CLASS 2 –
Cones Cones Cones
CLASS 3 – CLASS 3 – CLASS 3 –
Cones Cones Cones

Following table shows the outlines for flow requirement

DESIRABLE PROPERTIES

1) When softened, the wax should be uniform.

2) The color should be such that it contrasts with the die material or
prepared tooth.
3) There should be no flakiness or similar surface roughening when
the wax is bent and molded after softening.
4) During carving, wax should not pull away with carving instrument
or should not chip as it is carved.
5) ANSI/ADA Specification No. 4 requires that the melted wax,
when vaporized at 500°C (932°F), leave no solid residue in excess
of 0.10% of the original weight of the specimen.
6) The wax pattern should be completely rigid and dimensionally
stable at all times until is eliminated.

COMPOSITION

 PARAFFIN
1) It is the main ingredient of inlay waxes.
2) Concentration: - 40 to 60%
3) It is likely to flake when it is trimmed
4) It does not present a smooth, glossy surface; hence other waxes
and natural resins are added as modifying agents.
5) Paraffin can be produced with a wide range of melting points.
Paraffin used for Type I wax is required to have a higher
melting point than does paraffin used for Type II waxes.

 GUM DAMMAR/ DAMMAR RESIN

1) Concentration: - less than 1%
2) It is a natural resin added to paraffin to improve its smoothness
in molding and to render it more resistant to cracking and
flaking.
3) Dammar resin also increases the toughness of the wax and
enhances the luster of the surface.

 CARNAUBA WAX
1) Concentration: - 25%
2) It is quite hard, and it has relatively high melting point.
3) It is combined with paraffin to decrease the flow at mouth
temperature.
4) Carnauba wax has an agreeable odor, and it contributes to the
glossiness of the wax surface even more than does dammar
resin.

 CANDELILLA WAX
1) Candelilla wax can also be added to paraffin wax to partially or
entirely replace the carnauba wax.
 2) It provides the same general qualities as the carnauba wax, but
its melting point is lower, and it is not as hard as carnauba wax.

 CERESIN
1) Concentration: - 10%
2) Ceresin may replace part of the paraffin to modify the toughness
and carving characteristics of the wax.

 BEESWAX
1) Concentration :- 5%
2) It improves plasticity and cohesiveness.
3) It makes the wax easier to mold.

 SYNTHETIC WAXES
1) Carnauba wax is often replaced in part with certain synthetic
waxes that are compatible with paraffin wax.
2) One is a complex nitrogen derivative of the higher fatty acids;
the other is composed of esters of acids derived from Montan
wax, a petroleum derivative.
3) Because of high melting point of the synthetic waxes, more
paraffin can be incorporated to improve the general working
qualities of the product.

MANIPULATION

1) Dry heat is generally preferred to the use of a water bath. The latter
can result in the inclusion of water droplets, which could splatter
on flaming, smear the wax surface during polishing, and distort the
pattern during thermal changes.
2) When the stick is softened over a flame, care should be taken not
to overheat it.
3) The wax should be cooled gradually at the mouth temperature and
not by cold water and then removed carefully
4) After removal, avoid touching the wax pattern with the fingers as
much as possible to prevent any temperature changes.
 INDIRECT WAX PATTERN

5) For fabrication of indirect wax patterns, the die should be

lubricated, preferably with a lubricant containing a wetting agent
6) The melted wax may be added in layers
7) The prepared cavity is overfilled, and the wax is then carved to the
proper contour.
8) A silk or other fine cloth may be used for a final polishing of the
pattern, rubbing towards the margins.
9) Laboratories sometimes use “dipping” waxes that are kept molten
for constant usage.
10)Although standard types of inlay waxes may be used, the trend has
included newer types of waxes that are more “rubbery”, tending
toward a more amorphous rather than crystalline nature.
11)Wax pots that can be set to different temperatures are also used.
The properties of these dipping waxes have not been characterized,
nor do they fall into any present specification.

PROPERTIES

 FLOW
1) When forming a wax pattern in the mouth, the wax must be
heated to a temperature at which it has sufficient flow under
compression to reproduce the prepared cavity walls in great
detail.
2) Insufficient flow of the wax caused by insufficient heating
results in the lack of cavity detail and introduces excess stress
within the pattern.
3) An overabundant amount of flow resulting from excessive
heating makes compression of the wax difficult because of a
lack of “body” in the material.
4) Type I inlay wax should exhibit a marked plasticity, or flow, at
a temperature slightly above that of the mouth
5) The wax begins to harden at approximately 58°C (136°F), the
point at which the curve first departs from a straight line, and it
 is solid below approximately 40°C (104°F), when it cools again
at a constant rate.
6) ANSI/ADA Specification no.4 provides certain requirements for
the flow properties of inlay waxes at specific temperatures, as
indicated in the following table.
7) The maximum flow permitted for Type I waxes at 37°C is 1%.
The low flow at this temperature permits carving and removal of
the pattern from the prepared cavity at oral temperature without
distortion.
8) Type I wax shows greater flow than Type II wax at
temperatures both below and above mouth temperature.
9) In addition, both Type I and Type II waxes must have a minimal
flow of 70% and a maximum flow of 90% at 45°C.

 THERMAL PROPERTIES
I. Thermal conductivity
1) The thermal conductivity of these waxes is low.
2) Time is required both to heat them uniformly throughout
and to cool them to body or room temperature.
II. Coefficient of thermal expansion
1) The coefficient of thermal expansion of waxes is high
when compared to other dental materials.
2) As shown in the figure, the wax may expand as much as
0.7% with an increase in temperature of 20°C, or it may
contract as much as 0.35% when it is cooled from 37°C to
25°C.
3) The average linear coefficient of thermal expansion over
such a temperature range is 350 x 10-6/°C.
4) This is one of the inherent disadvantages of waxes when
they are used in the direct technique.
5) This property is less significant when the wax is used in the
indirect technique because the pattern is not subjected to
change from mouth to room temperature.

 NON – VOLATILE RESIDUE

 1) Because the wax patterns are to be melted and vaporized from
the investment mold, it is essential that no excessive residue
remain in the mold because of incomplete wax burnout.
2) Excess residue may result in the incomplete casting of the inlay
margins.
3) The specification therefore limits the non – volatile residue of
these waxes to a maximum of 0.10% or within ±20% of the
manufacturer’s stated amount at an ignition temperature of
700°C.

 WARPAGE OF WAX PATTERNS

1) This distortion results from thermal changes and the relaxation
of stresses that are caused by
 Contraction on cooling.
 Occluded air.
 Molding.
 Carving.
 Removal.
 Time and temperature of storage.
2) A freshly made wax pattern tends to change its shape and size
over period of time.
3) Upon cooling it contracts, and after it attains equilibrium, the
pattern reaches a state of dimensional stability.
4) It is imperative that the wax pattern be retained on the die for
several hours to avoid distortion and to ensure that equilibrium
conditions are established.
5) Waxes, like other thermoplastics, tend to return partially to their
original shape after manipulation. The property responsible for
this phenomenon is commonly known as elastic memory. A
stick of inlay wax can be softened over a Bunsen burner, bent
into a horseshoe shape, and is chilled in this position. If it is
then floated in room temperature water for a number of hours,
the horseshoe will open.
 6) This tendency is more critical in inlay waxes than other
impression materials, because the resulting metallic or hot –
pressed ceramic restorations made from the wax must fit onto
unyielding, hard tooth tissue.
7) Factors causing distortion under the control of the operator
cannot be completely eliminated. Distortion of wax can occur:
 If wax is not at a uniform temperature when inserted in the
cavity. Some parts of the wax pattern may thermally
contract more than others when stresses are introduced.
 If the wax is not held under uniform pressure during
cooling.
 If the wax is melted and added in an area of deficiency, the
added wax will introduce stresses during cooling.
 During carving some molecules of wax will be disturbed
and stresses will result.
8) To avoid distortion:
 Minimal carving and change in temperature.
 Minimal storage of pattern. Invest immediately.
 Use warm instruments for carving.
 Inlay wax pattern if allowed to stand longer than 30 min,
should be kept in a refrigerator; the distortion will be less
as compared to room temperature.
 Some relaxation and distortion of pattern occurs regardless
of the method used. It cannot be totally eliminated. It can
be only reduced to a point which is not of clinical
importance.

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS

The following products have been evaluated and certified by the Council
on Dental Materials, Instruments and equipment under ANSI/ADA
Specification No. 4 for Dental Inlay Casting Wax:-
MDL Company manufactures 4 types of inlay wax, green, blue, red and
violet. These waxes differ in their hardness.

CASTING WAX

1) The patterns for the metallic framework of removable partial

dentures and other similar structures are fabricated using casting
waxes.
2) Although casting waxes serve the same basic purpose as inlay
waxes in the formation of patterns for metallic castings, their
physical properties differ slightly.

SUPPLIED AS

These waxes are available

1) In the form of sheets, usually of 28 and 30 gauge (0.40 AND 0.32
mm) thickness,
2) Ready – made shapes: round, half – round and half pear shaped
rods and wires of various gauges approximately 10 cm lengths.
3) Bulk

COMPOSITION

Little is known of the exact composition of these sheet and shaped

waxes, but they include ingredients similar to inlay waxes with various
combination and proportions of

1) Paraffin
2) Ceresin
3) Beeswax
4) Resins and other waxes

TYPES
1) Class A – 28 Gauge – Pink in color.
2) Class B – 30 Gauge – Green in color.
3) Class C – Ready shape – Blue in color.
PROPERTIES

1) The casting sheets and ready – made shapes of certain types of

casting waxes may possess a slight degree of tackiness, which
helps to maintain their position on the cast and on each other
during assembly of the pattern.
2) There is no ADA specification, but properties are discussed under
Federal Specification no. U-W-140. Recently, casting waxes and
baseplate waxes are included under ADA Specification no. 122
3) Because the pattern for the removable partial denture framework is
constructed on and sealed to an investment cast, there is little need
for the casting wax to exhibit flow at body temperature.
4) The flow characteristics of the casting wax shows a maximum of
10% flow at 35°C and a minimum of 60% flow at 38°C.
5) The requirement for ductility of the casting waxes is high. The
federal specification requires that the casting wax be bent double
on itself without fracture at a temperature of 23°C and that the
waxes be pliable and readily adaptable at 40 to 45°C.
6) They must vaporize at about 500°C, with no residue other than
carbon.

BASEPLATE WAX

1) Baseplate wax derives its name from its use on the baseplate tray
to establish the vertical dimension, plane of occlusion, and initial
arch form in the technique for the complete denture restoration.
2) It is also referred to as modeling wax.

They are supplied as sheets, 1 to 2 mm thick, which are either pink or

red in color.

COMPOSITION
Baseplate wax may contain
1) Paraffin based waxes or commercial ceresin.
 2) Small quantities of other waxes, resins and other additives to
develop specific qualities desired in the wax.
A typical composition may include:
1) Ceresin – 80%
2) Beeswax- 12%
3) Carnauba- 2.5%
4) Natural or synthetic resins- 3%
5) Microcrystalline waxes- 2.5%

USES
1) They are used to make occlusion rims.
2) Baseplate wax is the material used to produce the desired contour
of the denture after the teeth are set in position. As a result, the
contour wax establishes the pattern for the final plastic denture.
3) Patterns for orthodontic appliances and prostheses other than
complete dentures, which are to be constructed of plastics, also are
made of baseplate wax.
4) It has also been widely used in many phases of dentistry to check
the various articulating relations in the mouth and to transfer them
to the articulator.

TYPES
Three types of waxes are included in ANSI/ADA Specification no. 24
for baseplate wax:
1) Type 1 – Soft wax for building contours and veneers
2) Type 2 – Hard wax for patterns to be tried in the mouth in
temperate climate
3) Type 3 – Extra hard wax for patterns to be tried in the mouth
in tropical climate

PROPERTIES

 FLOW
1) The maximum flow allowed at room temperature decreases
rapidly from Type 1 to Type 3.
 2) The harder the wax, the less the flow at a given temperature.

 DIMENSIONAL CHANGES
1) The linear thermal expansion from 26°C to 40°C should be less
than 0.8%.

 OTHER PROPERTIES
1) Baseplate waxes should be easily trimmed with a sharp instrument
at 23°C and should yield a smooth surface after gentle flaming.
2) These waxes should not leave any residue on porcelain or plastic
teeth
3) They should not adhere to other sheets of wax or separating paper
on storage.
4) There is residual stress within the baseplate wax that holds and
surrounds the teeth of a wax denture pattern. This stress results
from differential cooling, “pooling” the wax with a hot spatula,
and physically manipulating the wax below its most desirable
working temperature.
5) The waxed denture should be flasked soon after completion to
maintain the greatest accuracy of tooth relations.
6) During dewaxing procedure, to ensure complete elimination of the
modeling wax, soap solution is added to the hot water. This
reduces the surface tension of the wax, a process known as
“emulsification”, which helps in complete elimination

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS

The following products have been evaluated and certified by the Council
on Dental Materials, Instruments and equipment under ANSI/ADA
Specification No. 24 for Dental Inlay Casting Wax:-

RESIN MODELING MATERIAL

COMPOSITION
 1) The modeling pastes are based on diurethane dimethacrylate
oligomers with 40% to 55% polyurethane dimethacrylate or poly
(methyl methacryalte) fillers.
2) The liquid consistency is mostly urethane dimethacrylate.
3) These resins have a camphorquinone activator.

PROPERTIES

1) Modeling resins are characterized by

 Lower heat of polymerization shrinkage than acrylics
 Higher strength and resistance to flow than waxes
 Good dimensional stability
 Burnout without residue.
2) Dimethacrylate resin patterns do not result in cracked investment
from heating during burnout, which can occur with acrylic
patterns.

PROCESSING WAXES

These are those waxes used mainly as accessory aids in the

construction of a variety of restorations and appliances, either clinically
or in the laboratory.

BOXING WAX

1) They are used to build up vertical walls around the impression, in

order to pour the stone and make a cast
2) The dental literature occasionally refers to carding wax for use in
the boxing operation.
3) The terms carding wax and boxing wax have been used
interchangeably, although boxing wax is more appropriate.

PROPERTIES
1) This wax should be pliable at 21°C and should retain its shape at
35°C.
 2) Because the impression may be made from a viscoelastic material
that is easily distorted, a boxing wax that is readily adaptable to
the impression at room temperature is desirable.
3) In general, boxing wax should be slightly tacky and have
sufficient strength and toughness for convenient manipulation.

UTILITY WAX

COMPOSITION
It mainly consists of beeswax, petroleum and other soft waxes in
varying proportions.The utility wax is usually supplied in both stick and
sheet form in dark red or orange

USES
1) It is used to adjust contour of perforated tray for use with
hydrocolloids
 To raise flange height
 To extend the tray posteriorly
 To raise palatal portion of the tray in cases of deep palate.

PROPERTIES
1) The ductility and flow of utility waxes are the highest of any of the
dental waxes.
2) The utility wax should be pliable at a temperature of 21°C to 24°C,
which makes it workable and easily adaptable at room temperature.
3) The flow of this wax should not be less than 65% or more than
80% at 37.5°C.
4) Because building one layer on top of another is often desirable, the
specification requires a sufficient adhesiveness at 21°C to 24°C.
 STICKY WAX

1) This material is sticky when melted and adheres closely to the

surface on which it is applied.
2) However, it is firm, free from tackiness and brittle at room
temperature.

COMPOSITION
1) Yellow bees wax – brittle in nature with intermediate melting
range and can flow better.
2) Rosin – gives stickiness to adhere to materials.
3) Natural resins like gum dammar – increase toughness, smoothness
and shine to wax.

USES
1) Sticky wax is used for joining or assembling metal parts before
soldering.
2) It is also used for joining fragments of broken dentures before
repair procedure.

PROPERTIES
1) Sticky wax should have a dark or vivid color so that it is readily
distinguishable from the light colored gypsum products.
2) The flow should be maximum 5% at 30°C and 90% at 43°C.
3) The shrinkage of sticky wax should be 0.5% at temperatures
between 43°C and 28°C
4) There should not be more than 0.2% residue after burnout.

IMPRESSION WAXES

Impression waxes, though rarely used to record complete impressions,

they can be effectively used to correct small imperfections in other
impressions, particularly those of zinc oxide eugenol types. They are
thermoplastic materials, which flow readily at mouth temperature and
are relatively soft even at room temperature.
TYPES
Impression waxes can be classified into two types:-
1) Corrective impression wax
2) Occlusal (Bite) registration wax.

CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION WAX

COMPOSITION
1) Impression waxes consist typically of a mixture of low melting
paraffin wax and base wax in ratio of about 3:1. This composition
ensures a very high degree of flow at mouth temperature.
2) In addition it may contain other wax like ceresin and also metal
particles e.g. aluminum or copper particles.

PROPERTIES

1) Impression waxes flow at mouth temperature under occlusal load.

2) The flow of corrective temperature wax is measured at 37°C and is
100%, thus these waxes are susceptible to distortion on removal
from the mouth.
3) The elastic modules, proportionately limit and compressive
strength is low
4) Because of the coefficient of thermal expansion is so great, the
impressions should be poured immediately to avoid distortion

USES

1) Corrective impression wax is used as wax veneer over an original

impression to contact and register the details of soft tissues
2) These waxes can also be used to produce a muco –
compressive impression of the edentulous saddles for a lower,
free-end saddle partial denture
3) They are used in small quantities to ‘fill in’ areas of impressions in
which insufficient material has been used or in which an ‘air blow’
has caused a defect.
 4) They are also used to record the posterior palatal seal in dentures.
5) Wax can be used to make functional wax patterns.

BITE REGISTRATION WAX

USES
It is used to articulate accurately certain models of opposing quadrants

COMPOSITION
1) They are composed of beeswax, or hydrocarbon waxes such as
paraffin or ceresin.
2) Some bite registration waxes also contain aluminum or copper
particles.

MODE OF SUPPLY
They are supplied as U – shaped rods on wafers. One side of the
wax is usually covered with foil. Used for checking occlusal
relationships.

Blockout Wax
1) It is bright red for high visibility
2) It has excellent carvability for smooth contouring on die
surfaces.
3) Its hardness holds carved edges and high fusing temperature
prevents adhesion to coping wax
4) It is mainly co posed of paraffins, micro waxes, natural polymer
carbonic acid resins of high molecular weight
5) It fills undercuts, covers sharp edges and corrects draw on dies
with non parallel walls

Occlusal Indicator Wax

1) They are used to define occlusal prematurities with a positive

reading of contacting surfaces

Esthetic wax
 1) It produces naturally esthetic diagnostic wax-ups, patterns for cast
crown inlays and onlay. 
2) Ivory Opaque Sculpturing Wax provides maximum visibility and
the characterizing colors create gingival dentinal tones, translucent
enamel, unique coloring and incisal effects.

RECENT ADVANCES

Primotec’s Metacon light cured wax system

1) This system is based on a completely new concept of converting

wax to acrylic.
2) The material is handled just like conventional modeling wax,
however after the wax – up is finished, it will be light cured in the
Metalight QX1 light curing unit using a special “suck down”
device. By light curing, the wax becomes acrylic.
3) This acrylic is strong enough not to distort or break, yet flexible
enough to break to lift a partial with clasps off the model without
any problems.
4) Due to flexibility and memory of the material, perfect precision
can be achieved.
5) Once primotec’s material is cured it can be trimmed before
investing, as this acrylic is easy to grind with carbide bur.
6) The material burns out cleanly and completely, and does not
expand in the casting ring during preheating.
7) This system completely eliminates the need for duplicating
material and refractory models when constructing partial dentures.

SUMMARY

Although waxes are not used as the final restoration in dentistry, they are
critical to the success of many dental restorations. The physical
properties of waxes are diverse, but all waxes share the properties of
having a melting range, the tendency to flow, the ability to harbor
stresses, and the largest thermal expansion of any dental material. The
proper manipulation of waxes is critical to ensure that these properties
do not interfere with the success of the final dental restoration.

Thank you very much for patient hearing!!

Korrecta wax is available in four grades, each with a different degree of

plastic deformation at mouth temperature. Each grade is designed for a
specific purpose.

1. Extra hard No.1 (pink): A reinforcing material used only on the

external surface to support -wax extensions beyond tray margins.

2. Hard No. 2 (yellow): Used in rebasing as a hard foundation for

Korecta waxes 3 and 4 when extensive absorption (alveolar resorption)
necessitates a bulk of material. Also, used to restore occlusion in a
partial denture or a removable partial denture, which has settled due to
severe tissue change.

3. Soft No. 3 (red): Used for minor tray correction and as an initial
lining to stabilize the tray.

4. Extra soft No. 4 (orange): Used to secure a completely adapted

impression under natural masticatory pressure. It leaves a finished
surface and registers fine tissue details.