Dental Waxes

Waxes have versatile role to play in dentistry, few procedures in restorative dentistry can be completed without the use of wax in one of its many forms. Dental waxes may be composed of natural and synthetic resins and waxes, gums, fats, oils, fatty acids and pigments of various types. The chemical components of waxes impart characteristic physical properties to the wax. Following table details the components of Dental waxes. Components of Dental Waxes. Natural Waxes Mineral " #araffin $icrocrystalline &arnsdahl %'o(erite Ceresin Plant " Carnauba Candehlla -apan Wax Coca butter Insect " &ees wax Animal " permaceti ynthetic Waxes !crawax !erosol ot Castor wax Flexo wax c )polene N " +, !lbacer !ldo .. Dura wax +,./ !dditives tearic acid %ils Turpentine Natural resins *osin copal Dammar hellac Colorants #olyethylene #olystyrene

Classification of Dental Waxes 0istorical classification of wax1 &asically as +. /. !ccording to origin classified as. !2 $ineral &2 #lant C2 3nsect D2 !nimal Classification of dental waxes1 *Pattern 3nlay Casting heet *eady hapes Wax " up tic(y 4Processing &oxing 5tility &ite 4Impression Corrective Natural waxes ynthetic waxes

Base plate #attern Waxes " are used to form the general pre determined si'e and contour of an artificial dental restoration, which is to be contructed of a more durable material such as cast gold alloys, cobalt " chromium " nic(el, acrylic resin etc. #rocessing waxes 6 used primarily as auxillary in constructing a variety of restoration and appliances either clinically or in lab. 3mpression waxes " used for bite registration and impression purposes, but due to property of distortion owing to high flow and ductility ,very limited role to play. Inlay Pattern Wax 7old inlays, crowns, bridges etc are formed by a casting process that uses the lost wax techni8ue .3nlay wax provides the wax pattern used in this techni8ue and thus accounts for one of the most widely used and important dental waxes. Composition " #rincipal waxes used are paraffin, microrystalline wax, ceresin, carnauba, candelilla and bees wax. One formulation is #araffin " 9,: Carnauba " /;: Ceresin 6 +,: &eeswax " ;: *ole of components 1 !2 &2 #araffin " $a<or constituent, can be derived of any desired melting point ,li(ely to fla(e on trimming and doesn=t present a smooth glossy surface, so modifying agents re8uired. Carnauba Wax " %ccurs as fine powder on leaves of urban tropical plants. Contributes in " decreasing flow at mouth temp, agreeable odour imparts glossiness Candelilla is an alternative to canauba wax. C2 D2 )2 7um dammar " is a natural resin, added to paraffin to improve smoothness in molding also enhances smoothness > luster. Ceresin " may be added to replace part of paraffin to modify toughness and carving characteristics. &eeswax improves handling characteristics.

!lterations in properties occur due to change in percentage of ma<or constituents. e.g. flow can be reduced by adding more carnauba wax or by selecting higher melting point paraffin wax and vice " versa. Mode of Supply " These are usually supplied in deep blue, green or purple rods or stic(s.
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?ength " @.; cm Diameter " ,.9A cm !lso may be supplied as small pellets or cones or in small metal ointment <ars. Types1 *evised !N 3B!D! specification No. A C3 % +;9+2 categories inlay pattern waxes basically of two types. Type 3 " C oft inlay wax2 Type 33 " C0ard inlay wax2 Type 3 is utili'ed as an indirect techni8ue wax. Type 33 is utili'ed for forming direct wax patterns in mouth where lower flow rate at .@ oC minimi'e distortion on removal. Desirable #roperties1 +. hould be uniform when softened i.e. ingredients should blend with each other. of margins. /. Colour should contrast with die natural or prepared tooth for proper finishing A. Carvability should be there. ;. )limination should be complete and burnout should not leave any residues on surface to cause deleterious effects to castings C!D! specification A " when vapori'ed at ;,, oC shall leave no solid residue in excess of ,.+,: of original wt.2 9. Dimensional stability and toughness. @. hould be easy to handle. tends to

.. There should be no surface roughness or chipping, fla(iness when moulded after softening or carved.

FLOW: %ne of the desirable properties of Type 3 inlay wax is that it exhibits a mar(ed plasticity or flow at temperatures slightly above that of mouth. 3nlay waxes do not solidity with a space lattice as does a metal, the structure is more li(ely a combination of crystalline and amorphous materials. The flow of Type 33 wax is no more than +: at body temperature and that of Type 3 is D:. ?ow flow at this temperature tends to minimi'e distortion of well caved pattern to be withdrawn from the prepared cavity. !ermal Properties: *ate of expansion of Type 3 wax is greatest at <ust above A;oC. Enowing the amount of wax expansion or contraction , allows one to <udge the compensation necessary to produce an accurate casting. The inlay wax has a high coefficient of thermal expansion average linear coeff. being .;, F +, 9BoC. ! decrease of +/oC " +.oC temp from mouth temperature to room temp ,of about /AoC causes a linear contraction ,.A: or about ,.,A: Change per degree change in temp.

"Wax Distortion# #robably the most serious problem one can experience when forming or removing patterns. $esults from %Thermal changes and release of stresses arising from contraction, occluded air, carving and time and temp during storage. 3nlay waxes tend to return to their original shape after manipulation depicting Gelastic memory=. This can be depicted by opening of a horse " shoe shape molded inlay wax (ept in water after manipulation. o to counteract the property of distortion, the pattern should be invested immediately on removal so as for best fitting of the casting. Manipulation of Inlay Wax Dry heat is generally preferred to use of water bath as latter can induce incorporation of water droplets that could splatter on flaming, smear the wax surface during polishing and distort the pattern during thermal changes. The stic( should be twirled over flame till shiny for softening and care to be ta(en not to overheat the wax. The plastic wax is (neaded and pressure is applied by finger or biting to be adapted to the cavity. The pattern is then cooled gradually at mouth temperature and not by cold water. The pattern is then carved properly, and removed by use of pins or hoo(ed by end of explores. $%D preparations are best removed by use of staples luted to the pattern. !void touching with finger ,after removal of pattern. Waxes oxidise on heating > on prolonged heating evaporate, dar(ening > gummy deposits can be precipitated, so care should be ta(en not to overheat. For indirect fabrication, the die is lubricated and melted wax is gradually filled in the prepared cavity or painted with brush on layers, overfilled carved properly and then removed. Base Plate Wax: 3t derives its name from its use on the baseplate tray to establish vertical dimension, plane of occlusion > 3nitial arch form in techni8ue for complete denture fabrication. $ay also be used to form all or portion of tray too. #atterns for orthodontic appliances and prosthesis other than complete dentures. To chec( various articulating relation in mouth > transfer them to articulators. &omposition: @,6H,: paraffin based waxes or ceresin , +/: beeswax , /.;: carnauba, .: natural or synthetic resins, /.;: $icrocrystalline or synthetic Waxes Types1 Type +1 Type /1 Type .1 oft wax used for building contours and veneers 0ard wax used for patterns to be tried in mouth in Temperate weather. )xtra hard wax for patterns to be tried in mouth in tropical weather.
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$e'uirement of Base plate (ax: hould be easily trimmed with sharp instrument at /.o c. hould yield a smooth surface after gentle flaming. hould not leave any residue on plastic or porcelain teeth > colouring agents should not separate or impregnate the mould. oftened sheets should cohere readily without becoming fla(y or adhering to fingers.

No irritation to oral tissues. No adhesion to other sheets of wax or storing paper on storage. Bite $egistration Wax1 5se 6 5sed to accurately articulate certain moulds of opposing 8uadrants Composition1 &eeswax or hydrocarbon waxes such as paraffin or ceresin. Certain bite waxes contain aluminium or copper particles. Flow of /.;: to //: at .@,c has been suggested indicating these waxes are susceptible to distortion on removal from mouth. pecial considerations to be given not to use them in undercut areas thus. Boxing Wax 5se1 5sed for forming a plaster or stone cast from an inpression of the edentulous arch into which freshly mixed plastic or stone is poured and vibrated. The names carding wax > boxing wax have been used interchangeably but boxing wax is more acceptable. $%D) of supply1 upplied as green or blac( strips or stic(s. Boxing Procedure1 First a long, narrow stic( or strip of wax is adapted around the impression below its peripheral height, followed by a wide strip of wax, producing form around entire impression. 3deal re8uirements1 !cc to federal specification no. 56W6+.H 3t should be readily adaptable to impression. at room temp, as increase in temp might distort viscoelastic impression materials. hould be slightly tac(y > have sufficient strength > roughness for convenient manipulation.

#liable at /+, c , retains shape at .;, c DI$)& mouth. 3ndications1

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mooth, glossy surface on flaming. eals easily to plaster with hot spatula W*+ )&,-I./) " !s name suggests is the techni8ue of wax pattern fabricated directly in

 Tooth accessible in the oral cavity to wor( on. Cavity preparations with minimal proximal extensions 7ood deal of supporting tooth structure to stabili'e pattern during carving Cavity preparations where walls are flat, internal line angles are sharp > gingival level is definite Met!od1 The inlay stic( is heated on flame until shiny throughout > completely softened. 3t should be (ept moving. The wax can then be flattened by using vaseline applied finger so as to expose more area for thorough softening. This softened wax is pushed into the prepared cavity and finger pressure is maintained. The wax is allowed to cool gradually, excess wax is then removed and carving of the pattern is done with help of plastic instruments. The pattern is lifted by use of narrow strip of copper ribbon bent is 5 or I shape, heated and inserted as a staple on marginal ridge area, can be fabricated with or without matrix band application. *d0antages: Direct preparation on tooth and not on a replica that may be altered. less lab wor( re8uired, time saving procedure. Disad0antages: Techni8ue sensitive > great s(ill re8uired ,fabrication in indirect vision difficult, gingival discrepancies difficult to <udge before withdrawal ,chairside time is increased ,if casting fails patient has to be recalled. Indirect (ax tec!ni'ue1 This type of fabrication done in lab on a replicated die. 3ndications1 When access to tooth is hampered, Chairside time has to be reduced. )xtensive preparations $ore pressure is re8uired. Method1 !fter fabrication of die, a lubricant is applied to facilitate withdrawl of pattern, e.g. castor oil, cocoa butter, machine oil etc C ome author suggest disuse of lubricants as they can change dimensions2. For larger castings die spacer may be used. The blue inlay wax is softened, molded and pushed into the cavity as in direct techni8ue. The pattern is allowed to cool, properly carved, and removed in same manner as with the direct techni8ue. %cclusal ad<ustments can also be done precisely. prue former should be added till the pattern is in tooth only as less distortion occurs. !dvantages1 $ore precise patterns. ?ess chairside time !d<ustments can be done *epeated castings can be done from single die. Disadvantages1 Though less chairside time more lab wor( is re8uested, The replica may be of altered dimensions.

Stic1y (ax 5ses1 5sed to assemble metallic or resin pieces on a fixed temporary position 5sed primarily on dental stones > plasters for sealing purposes etc. Composition1 *osin, yellow beeswax, 7um dammar, colouring agents *e8uirements1 !cc to Federal specification N% 56W6,,+AD a CD !6D$2 3t should have a dar( or vivid colour to be readily distinguished from light gypsum materials To be stic(y when melted !dheres closely No more than ,./ : residue or burnout No more shrin(age than ,.; : from A.o C to /H, C $ax flow at .,, C " ; : $in flow at A., C " D, : hould be firm, free from tac(iness > brittle at room temp. hould fracture rather than flow if deformed during repair procedures.