Waxes

Many different waxes are used in dentistry. The composition, form, and color of each wax are designed to facilitate its use and to produce the best possible results.

Applications

o    Making impressions
o    Registering of tooth or soft tissue positions
o    Creating restorative patterns for lab fabrication
o    Aiding in laboratory procedures

Classification

a. Pattern waxes-inlay, casting, and baseplate waxes
b. Impression waxes-corrective and biteplate waxes
c. Processing waxes-boxing, utility, and sticky waxes

Types

1) Inlay wax-used to create a pattern for inlay, onlay or crown for subsequent investing and casting in a metal alloy.
2) Casting wax-used to create a pattern for metallic framework for a removable partial denture
3) Baseplate wax-used to establish the vertical dimension. plane of occlusion. and  initial arch form of a complete denture
4) Corrective impression wax-used to form a registry pattern of soft tissues on an impression
5) Bite registration wax-used to form a registry pattern for the occlusion of opposing models or casts
6) Boxing wax-used to form a box around an impression before pouring a  model or cast
7) Utility wax -soft pliable adhesive wax for modifying appliances, such as alginate impression trays
8) Sticky  wax-sticky when melted and used to temporarily adhere pieces of metal or resin in laboratory procedures

Components

a. Base waxes-hydrocarbon (paraffin) ester waxes    
b. Modifier waxes-carnauba, ceresin, bees wax, rosin, gum dammar, or microcrystalline waxes
c. Additives-colorants

Reaction-waxes are thermoplastic

Properties

Physical

a. High coefficients of thermal expansion and contraction
b. Insulators and so, cool unevenly; should be waxed in increments to allow heat dissipation

Chemical

a. Degrade prematurely if overheated
b. Designed to degrade into CO2and H2Oduring burnout

Mechanical-stiffness, hardness, and strength depend on modifier waxes used
 

ACRYLIC RESINS

Use. Acrylic (unfilled) resins are used as temporary crown material. Temporary crowns are placed to protect the crown preparation and provide patient comfort during the time the permanent crown is being constructed

Manipulation

Mixture of powder and liquid is painted onto working cast to create shape for acrylic appliance à  After curing of mixture, the shape and fit are adjusted by grinding with burrs and stones with a slow-speed handpiece .Acrylic dust is irritating to epithelial tissues of nasopharynx and skin and may produce allergic dermatitis or other reactions.  Grinding may heat polymer to temperatures that depolymerize and release monomer vapor. which may be an irritant

Finishing and Polishing

Remove oxygen-inhibited layer .Use stones or carbide burs for gross reduction.Use highly fluted carbide burs or special diamonds for fine reduction.Use aluminum oxide strips or disks for finishing. Use fine aluminum oxide finishing pastes. Microfills develop smoothest finish because of small size of filler particles
 

Classification of Dental amalgam

1. By powder particle shape .

• Irregular (comminuted, filing, or lathecut)
• Spherical (spherodized)
• Blends (e.g., irregular-irregular, irregularspherical, or spherical-spherical)

2. By total amount of copper

• Low-copper alloys (e.g., conventional, traditional); <5% copper
• High-copper alloys (e,g.  corrosion resistant); 12% to 28% copper

3.By presence of zinc

Examples

• Low-copper, irregular-particle alloy-silver (70%)-tin (26%)-copper (4%)
• High-copper, blended-particles alloy-irregular particles, silver (70%) –tin (26%) -Copper (4%); spherical particles, silver (72%)-copper (28%)
• High-copper, spherical-particles alloy-silver (60%) - tin (27%)-copper (13%)

Zinc Phoshate Cement

Uses. Zinc phosphate cement is used both as an intermediate base and as a cementing medium. 

(1) Intermediate base. A thick mix  is used under permanent metallic restoration. This layer of cement protects the pulp from sudden temperature changes that may be transmitted by the metallic restoration. 

(2) Cementing medium. Zinc phosphate cement is used to permanently cement crowns, inlays, and fixed partial dentures upon the remaining tooth structure. A creamy mix of cement is used to seat the restoration or appliance completely into place. The cementing medium does not cement two objects together. Instead, the cement holds the objects together by mechanical interlocking, filling the space between the irregularities of the tooth preparation and the cemented restoration

c. Chemical Composition. 

(1) Powder. primary ingredients - zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. 
(2) Liquid. Phosphoric acid and water in the ratio of two parts acid to one part water. The solution may also contain aluminum phosphate and zinc phosphate Liquids exposed in open bottles will absorb moisture from the air in high humidity. The liquids will lose moisture if humidity is low. Water gain hastens setting; water loss lengthens setting time.
 
PROPERTIES OF ZINC PHOSPHATE CEMENT

a. Advantages. Some advantages of zinc phosphate cement as a cementing medium are:

o    Inconspicuous appearance. 
o    Speed and ease of usage. 
o    Sufficient flow to form a thin layer for the cementing of closely adapted crowns, fixed partial dentures, and inlays. 
o    Low thermal conductivity beneath a metallic restoration.

b. Disadvantages. Some disadvantages of zinc phosphate cement as a cementing medium are:

o    Low crushing strength that varies between 12,000 and 19,000 psi. 
o    Slight solubility in mouth fluids. 
o    Opaque material not suitable for visible surfaces. 

c. Strength. The ratio of powder to liquid increases the strength of phosphate cements to a certain point. For this reason, the dental specialist must use as thick a mix as practical for the work being performed. 

SETTING REACTIONS OF ZINC PHOSPHATE CEMENT 

a. Chemical Reaction. The chemical reaction that takes place between the powder and liquid of setting phosphate cement produces heat. The amount of heat produced depends upon the rate of reaction, the size of the mix, and the amount of heat extracted by the mixing slab. 

b. Powder to Liquid Ratio. The less powder used in ratio to the liquid, the longer the cement will take to harden. Good technique minimizes the rise in temperature and acidity of the setting cement that can injure the pulp. Generally, for increased strength, decreased shrinkage, and resistance to solubility, it is advisable to blend as much powder as possible to reach the desired consistencies. 

c. Setting Time. The setting time of zinc phosphate cement is normally between 5 and 9 minutes. 
 Lower the temperature of the glass mixing slab to between 65° and 75° F (18° to 24° C), if the glass mixing slab is not already cooled below the temperature at which moisture will condense on it. → Blend the powder slowly. →  Mix the powder over a large area of the cool slab. →  Use a longer mixing time, within optimum limits. 
 
Precautions. The following precautions should be observed. 

o    Prevent loss or gain of moisture in liquid cement by keeping bottles tightly stoppered. 
o    Dispense drops only when ready to mix. 
o    Use a cool, dry glass slab (65° to 75° F). 
o    Use the same brand of powder and liquid. 
o    Add increments of powder slowly. 
o    Use the maximum amount of powder to obtain the desired consistency. 

(To incorporate the most powder, the material should be mixed with a moderate circular motion over a large area of the slab, turning the spatula often.)