DENTAL WAXES

CLASSIFICATION
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

mineral,
Plant,
insect,
Animal.

Based on their chemical composition:

two Principle groups of organic compounds contained in
waxes are hydrocarbons and esters, although some
waxes contain free alcohols and acids as well.

 Mineral-

paraffin, microcrystalline wax or

ceresin.
Plant- carnauba, candelilla, cocoa butter,
japan wax.
Insect- beeswax.
Animal-spermaceti.
Synthetic- acrawax, aerosol OT, epolene
N 10, Durawax 1032.

COMPOSITION
Natural

waxes
Hydrocarbons of Paraffin, carnauba
wax, candelilla wax and resins.
Synthetic waxes
Chemically

synthesized analogs of natural

wax molecules.

Coloring

agents
Modifiers

Paraffin wax
Main

ingredient
Concentration 40-60%
Derived from high boiling fractions of
Petroleum.
Composed of complex mixture of
Hydrocarbons of Methane series.
Likely to flake, does not present a smooth ,
glossy surface, which is overcome with
modifiers.

MODIFIERS-GUM DAMMAR
OR
DAMMAR
RESIN

Added to paraffin to improve smoothness

in molding and to render it more resistant
to cracking and flaking.
Increases toughness of the wax and
enhances the smoothness and luster of
the wax.

CARNUBA WAX
Fine

powder present on the leaves of tropical

palms.
Quite hard, Relatively high melting point.
When combined with paraffin decreases the flow
at mouth temperature.
Has agreeable odor.
CW imparts glossiness more than Dammar resin

CANDELILLA WAX:
Added to paraffin to replace Carnauba wax
Has general properties like CW
Melting Point lower
Not hard as Cw
CERESIN :
May replace parts of paraffin to modify the
toughness and carving characteristics of wax.

 In

modern inlay wax Carnuba wax is often

replaced with certain Synthetic waxes
which are compatible with paraffin wax.
Synthetic wax preferred to natural wax
because of greater uniformity.

BEESWAX
the

primary insect wax used in dentistry.

The wax has a melting temperature of 63
to 70 C. It is a brittle material at room
temperature but becomes plastic at body
temperature.
used to modify the properties of paraffin
waxes, and it is the main component in
sticky wax.

ANIMAL WAX
Animal

wax such as spermaceti has been

used as a coating in the manufacture of
dental floss.

SYNTHETIC WAXES

are complex organic compounds of varied chemical

compositions. Although they differ chemically from
natural waxes, they possess certain physical
properties, such as melting temperature or hardness,
that are akin to those of the natural waxes.

(1)

polyethylene waxes,
polyoxyethylene glycol waxes,
halogenated hydrocarbon waxes,
hydrogenated waxes,
wax esters from the reaction of fatty alcohols and acids.

(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
OF WAXES
Melting range:
waxes consist of similar
types of molecules of
different molecular weights
and molecules each having a
range a unique molecular
weights, they have melting
ranges rather than melting
points.

THERMAL PROPERTIES
The

thermal conductivity is low and time is

required both to heat them uniformly
throughout and cool them.
Wax may expand as much as 0.7% with an
increase in temperature of 20oC or it may
contract 0.35% when it cools from 37oC to
25 oC.
Hence the average linear coefficient of
thermal expansion over such a
temperature range is 350 x 10-6/oC

Physical Properties Thermal

Expansion

wa
x

1.0

0.8

Bee
s

Paraffi

EXPANSION (%)

KERR
HARD
WAX

250
ppm/C

1.2

0.6

0.4

uba
n
r
Ca

0.2

0
0

25

30

35

40

45

50

TEMPERATURE (C)
Graph source: Steve Bayne, University of Michigan, 2008

DISTORTION
Due

to thermal changes and stress

relaxation.
A freshly made wax pattern tends to
change its shape and size over a period
of time upon cooling it contracts and after
it attains equilibrium the pattern reaches
a state of dimensional stability.
Hence it is advised to retain the pattern
on the die to avoid distortion.

 The

molecules of the hydrocarbon

content are deformed during
manipulation either by force or thermal
changes.
At the lower end of the plastic range, the
molecular deformation is greatest.
At elevated temperatures the molecules
tend to reorient themselves , and as a
result warpage occurs.

 Waxes

like other thermoplastic material

tend to return to its original shape and
size after manipulation this is called as
Elastic memory.

GLASS TRANSITION
TEMPERATURE

The thermal dimensional

change may be affected by
previous treatment of the
wax.
Curve A represents the
thermal expansion of an inlay
wax which has cooled under
pressure.
The expansion rate
increases abruptly above
approximately 35oC.
The temperature at which
this change in rate occurs is
called the glass transition
temperature.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
The

elastic modulus, proportional limit,

and compressive strength of waxes are
low compared with those of other
materials, and these properties depend
strongly on the temperature.

FLOW
is

visualized as resulting from the

slippage of molecules.
A measure of flow in the liquid state
-would be synonymous with viscosity or
the internal friction of the molecules
during movement.
Below the melting point -a measure of the
degree of plastic deformation of the
material at a given temperature.

22

RESIDUAL STRESS
Regardless

of the method used to prepare

a wax pattern, residual stress exists in the
completed pattern.

DENTAL WAXES

DENTAL WAXES
PATTERN
INLAY
TYPE I
TYPE II
RESIN
CASTING
BASE PLATE

PROCESSING
BOXING
STICKY
BLOCKOUT
UTILITY

IMPRESSION
CORRECTIVE
BITE
REGISTRATION

INLAY PATTERN WAX

COMPOSITION.
Paraffin - 60%
Microcrystalline wax
Ceresin- 10%
Carnauba- 25%
Candelilla
Beeswax - 5%
hard.regular,or soft----flow

ANSI/ADA Specification No.4

Type

I wax is a hard wax

that is prescribed for
forming direct patterns in
the mouth, where lower
flow values at 37 C tend
to minimize any tendency
for distortion of the
pattern on its removal
from the cavity
preparation.

Type II wax is a softer wax that is used as an

indirect technique wax.
Type II wax show greater flow than Type I wax
at temperatures below and above mouth
temperature.
The greater ease of carving.

 Inlay

WARPAGE OF WAX
PATTERNS

pattern wax shows not only a high

coefficient of expansion also a tendency to warp
or distort when allowed to stand unrestrained.

This

characteristic of stress release and

warpage is present in all dental waxes but is
particularly troublesome in inlay patterns
because of the critical dimensional relations that
must be maintained in inlay castings.

 The

incorporation of residual stress can

be minimized by softening a wax uniformly
by heating at 50 C for at least 15 minutes
before use.

MANIPULATION
Dry heat is preferred to the use of water
bath..
The wax should be twirled until it becomes
shiny and then removed from the flame.
Pressure should be applied by the clinicians
finger or by the patient biting on the wax.
Softer waxes produce larger castings than
the harder waxes, because they expand
more as the investment warms during
setting and also they offer less resistance to
the expanding investment during setting.

CASTING WAX
The

pattern for the metallic framework of

removable partial dentures and other
similar structures is fabricated from the
casting waxes.
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.

PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS
easily

trimmed with a sharp instrument at

23 C
yield a smooth surface after gentle
flaming.
not leave any residue on porcelain or
plastic teeth,
coloring agents in the wax should not
separate or impregnate the plastic mold
during processing.

BASEPLATE WAX
ANSI/ADA SPECIFICATION
NO.24.

COMPOSITION
Baseplate

waxes contain
70% to 80% paraffin-base waxes or commercial
ceresin, with small quantities of other waxes
resins, and additives to develop the specific
quality desired in the wax.
A typical composition might include 80% ceresin,
12% beeswax, 2.5% carnauba 3% natural or
synthetic resins, and 2.5% microcrystalline or
synthetic waxes.

BOXING WAX
Boxing

wax: used to
form the base portion
of a gypsum model.
Easily manipulated at
room temperature.

BEADING WAX

 also

called periphery wax, comes in ropes,

and easily manipulated at room
temperature.
Used to adjust impression trays, used to
cover sharp brackets and wires in
orthodontic appliances, layered in sheets
for bite registration.

MODELLING WAX

 consists

of beeswax, petrolatum, and

other soft waxes in varying proportions.
USED IN
BITE RIMS
SPACERS
ARTICULATION

Composition:
70-80% paraffin base or commercial
resins.
A typical composition may include 80%
ceresin, 12% beeswax, 2.5% carnauba
wax, 3% natural or synthetic resins, 2.5%
microcrystalline or synthetic waxes.
Physical properties:
Supplied in sheets 7.60x15.00 x 0.13 cm
either pink or red color.

STICKY WAX

 Contains

rosin yellow beeswax, coloring

matter, and other natural resins such as
gum dammar.
comes in orange sticks that are hard and
brittle at room temperature. When heated,
become soft and sticky. Used to adhere
components of metal, gypsum, resin
during fabrication and repair.

CORRECTIVE IMPRESSION WAX

Objectives:
To obtain maximum extension of the
peripheral borders of the denture base
while not interfering with the function of
the movable soft tissue.
Materials used:
Iowa wax, korrecta wax no: 4 & 1
Orange X-Soft
Red Soft
Yellow Hard
Pink X-Hard

BITE REGISTRATION

 Used

to articulate accurately models of

opposing quadrants.
Made from 28 gauge casting wax
sheets or from hard baseplate
wax,certain bite waxes contain
aluminum or copper particles. Are
susceptible to distortion on removal
from the mouth.