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Dental WaxesDA 122 Dental Materials

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Wax Groups

• Pattern

• Processing

• Impression

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Pattern Waxes

• Hard wax• Inlay casting wax: used in crown and bridge– Dark-colored sticks of wax– Melted and applied to die, creates wax pattern

used in making crowns and bridges

• Baseplate wax: used in construction of denture base– Wax sheets heated and formed over models

when making• Custom trays• Denture bases

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Pattern Waxes

Inlay Wax Baseplate Wax

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Processing Waxes

• Boxing:– Soft, pliable– Forms a wax box wall around impression when

pouring a gypsum model, to create base

• Sticky Wax:– Brittle until melted– Used to adhere fractured gypsum, metal, and porcelain pieces

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Processing Waxes (cont’d)

• Utility Wax:– Soft wax that is adhesive and pliable– Does not require heating– Used to “bead” around impression trays to

extend them to fit– Used in orthodontics to brackets and bands until

patient gets used to them– Ropes or strips, in various colors

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Processing Waxes

• Sticky Wax

• Boxing Wax

• Utility Wax

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Impression Waxes

• Bite registration waxes-used to obtain patient’s bite

• Usually contain aluminum or copper particles

• Supplied in horseshoe shapes, to conform to maxillary/mandibular biting surfaces