Dental waxes

Question 1

what are the 3 classifications of waxes

Answer 1

1. pattern waxes
2. processing waxes
3. impression waxes

Question 2

what are pattern waxes

Answer 2

a) metal castings: inlay waxes, casting waxes

b) bases for dentures: baseplate wax

Question 3

what are inlay waxes

Answer 3

• used to produce patterns for metal casting using the lost wax technique
• supplied in: sticks, pellets and tins
• colours: dark blue or green
• used to create a pattern of the indirect restoration on a model

Question 4

what are casting waxes

Answer 4

• used to construct the metal framework of partial and complete dentures
• supplied in: sheets and preformed shapes
• colours: dark blue or green
• makeup is paraffin, ceresin, beeswax, and resins
• supplied in sheets of various thicknesses

Question 5

what are baseplate wax

Answer 5

• made from paraffin or ceresin with beeswax and carnauba wax
• hard and brittle at room temperature

Question 6

what are processing waxes

Answer 6

• aid in dental procedures both clinically and in the lab

Question 7

what is boxing wax

Answer 7

• used to form the base portion of a gypsum model
• is slightly tacky at room temp
• use easily manipulated at room temp
• supplied in: 1.5 inch wide strips
• colour = red

Question 8

what is utility wax

Answer 8

• aka periphery wax
• uses: extend the borders of an impression; cover brackets in orthodontic treatment
• is easily manipulated at room temp
• supplied in: ropes
• colour: pink, white, and red

Question 9

what is sticky wax

Answer 9

• used to adhere components of metal, gypsum, or resin together temporarily during fabrication and repair
• supplied in: sticks or blocks
• colour: orange
• is brittle at room temperature which alerts the operator to distortion if it occurs during manipulation
• main ingredients are beeswax and rosin
• very brittle wax but when heated, it becomes very tacky

Question 10

what are impression waxes

Answer 10

• are used to obtain impressions of the oral structures

Question 11

what is corrective impression wax

Answer 11

• used within another impression material to correct undercuts when taking an impression of an edentulous area

Question 12

what is bite registration wax and what is it supplied in

Answer 12

• used to produce wax bite registration for articulation of models
• performed horseshoe shapes – sometimes reinforced with metal particles to provide stability
• soft and very similar to casting waxes
• softened under warm water
• patient is instructed to bite down and the wax will form an imprint of the teeth

Question 13

how can we avoid distortion of waxes

Answer 13

• they should be stored at or slightly below room temp

Question 14

what is the lost wax technique process

Answer 14

• take impression of preparation
• pour high strength die stone to form a die
• a wax pattern of the restoration is done on the die
• a wax pattern of the restoration is done on the die
• a was sprue is attached to the pattern to form the channel into which the molten metal is forced
• encased in an investment ring into which investment gypsum is poured
• once hardened, it is heated in a burnout oven at high temps, wax and sprue vaporize (lost wax) leaving an impression in an empty space
• the molten metal is forced through the empty channel formed by the sprue and into the empty wax pattern space