DIES AND WAX

PATTERNS

INTRODUCTION
The wax pattern is a precursor of the finished
cast restoration that will be placed on the
prepared tooth.
Careful handling and manipulation of the wax
pattern is required to obtain an accurate casting

DIE
It is the positive reproduction of the form of a
prepared tooth in any suitable substance

DEFINITIVE CAST
A replica of the tooth surfaces, residual ridge areas,
and/or other parts of the dental arch and/or facial
structures used to fabricate a dental restoration or
prosthesis

REQUIREMENTS OF A
DIE
Reproduce the preparation exactly
All surfaces should be adequately duplicated
Avoid voids in the margins
Adequate access to margin is imperative
Adequately rigid

DIE MATERIALS
Type IV (high strength) dental stone.
Type V (high strength and expansion)
dental stone
Resin strengthened gypsum products
Resin dies epoxy, polyurethane
Electroplated dies
Flexible die materials

SELECTION CRITERIA
Dimensionally accurate cast strong and
resistant to abrasion
Easy to section and trim
Compatible with separating agent
Accurate surface detail reproduction
Contrasting colour
Easily wettable by wax
Type of restoration needs to be considered

DIE MATERIALS

DIE SYSTEMS
1. REMOVABLE DIES
2. SOLID CAST WITH
INDIVIDUAL DIE
3. ALTERNATIVE DIE
SYSTEMS

REMOVABLE DIES
Advantages
Simple to fabricate a cast and die
Maintains fixed and immovable relationship between
the abutments
Easier to obtain physiologically harmonious restoration
contours when fabricating wax pattern.

Disadvantages
Wax pattern should be transferred from one to the
other.
Can be used only with elastomeric impressions

REQUIREMENTS OF
REMOVABLE DIE SYSTEM
Dies must return to their exact original positions.
Dies must remain stable, even inverted.
Cast containing the dies must be easy to mount

on an articulator.

METHODS OF
REPOSITIONING DIE
PREPOUR TECHNIQUE
Devices are oriented into the impression before
pouring the stone

POST POUR TECHNIQUE

Devices are oriented into the impression after
pouring the stone.

DOWEL PIN
A metal pin used in stone casts to
remove die sections and replace them
accurately in the original position

TYPES OF DOWEL PINS

Tapered, flat-sided brass
dowel pin
Flat-sided, stainless steel
dowel pin
Curved, single dowel pin
Single dowel
Double dowel
Two separate dowels
Horizontal contact tracks
and vertical ribs

STRAIGHT DOWEL PIN

Commonly used for many years.
Brass dowel pin is used
Advantages
Resists horizontal displacement
Removable die facilitates wax up and
ceramic build up
No special equipments required
Disadvantages
Technical skill is needed

CURVED DOWEL PIN

Incorporated into the impression before or
after the stone is poured.

SOLID CAST WITH

INDIVIDUAL DIE
(MULTIPLE POUR TECHNIQUE)
Impression obtained
Ist pour prepared teeth area;
set; separated ;trimmed into die
2nd pour entire arch mounted
on articulator (Definitive cast)
Wax pattern started on die
,transferred to articulated casts
refinement of axial contours
After completion pattern is
returned to die before investing

ADVANTAGES
Simple
Minimal trimming of definitive cast
Gingival tissue guide when contouring
restoration

DISADVANTAGES
Difficult to transfer complex wax patterns
Seating pattern on definitive cast 2nd pour larger
Only be used with elastomeric materials

CHOICE OF CAST AND

DIE SYSTEM
Operator preference
Solid cast technique simplifies cast and die
fabrication waxing and porcelain becomes
difficult
Dowel and removable die system less
manipulation of wax pattern; reduces chances of
breakage during transfer;
porcelain handling easier

Impression
removed
from mouth

Washed
under
running
water

Blow dried,
inspected

Disinfected

PRE POUR TECHNIQUE

Position dowels pre pour with bobby
pins and sticky wax
Measure proper proportions of stone
and water
Hand spatulation; vacuum mix
Small quantities prepared area in
increments
Rest of impression filled to a height
of atleast 5 mm beyond free gingival
margin

POST POUR
TECHNIQUE

SOLID CAST MULTIPLE

POUR
Stone mass
is built upto
height of 25
mm
First pour
has set; cast
is separated
and
repoured
First pour
sectioned
into
individual
dies

SECTIONING
REMOVABLE DIES
Trim buccal and lingual sulcal areas
adjacent to removable areas
Mark intended saw cuts in pencil
Saw cuts parallel or converge
Avoid undercuts
Carefully position saw blade
Not touch prepared tooth margin or
proximal contact
0.007 to 0.01

DIE PREPARATION

DITCHING THE DIE

Ditching or trimming the die
defines the position of the
margin and acts as a guide to
gingival contour when the
restoration is being waxed.

Excessive trimming does not

give the correct emergence
profile and may lead to an overcontoured or bulky crown.

DITCH BELOW MARGIN

LINE THE MARGIN

APPLY DIE HARDENER ABOVE AND BELOW MARGIN LINE

FIRST RELIEF COAT

ADDITIONAL RELIEF COATS

BLOCK OUT WAX

Thickness of die hardener are:

Cyanoacrylates: 1.0 to 2.5um

Acrylic lacquers: 4.0 to 10um

DIE SPACER
Applied to die to increase cement space between

axial walls of prepared tooth and restoration

Formulated to maintain constant thickness
Should not coat entire preparation
1 mm space from the margin must be maintained
Available as a paint on or pen type application

 Die spacer is needed to provide space for the luting agent

(cement) during cementation of the finished crown.
When applying the die spacer over the preparation leave
the area 1mm above the margin line free of spacer.
Close adaptation of the crown and cement (or luting
agent)
No disintegration and dissolution of the luting agent at
the margin.

LUTING AGENT SPACE

The ideal space for the cement is suggested at
20 - 40m for each wall. So the internal
diameter of the crown may be 40 - 80 m larger
than the prepared tooth.
There needs to be space otherwise the
restoration will not seat properly. Each dentist
and laboratory have their own standard
thickness within this specified range.

METAL

INCREASED
THERMAL
AND
POLYMERISA
TION
SHRINKAGE

REMOVAL

SOLID
CAST WITH
INDIVIDUA
L DIES

FROM
FITTING
SURFACE

INCREAS
ING
LUTING
SPACE

INCREASED
EXPANSION
OF
INVESTME
NT MOLD

INTERNAL
LAYER OF
SOFT WAX
IN WAX
PATTERN
DIE
SPACERS

MARKING MARGINS
Precise marking of preparation margin is crucial
Color used for marking should contrast wax
Ordinary lead pencil not recommended
Marked margin can be coated with

cyanoacrylate; blown dry

Side of colored pencil used to keep line width

minimal

ALTERNATIVE DIE
SYSTEMS
DVA
MODEL
SYSTEM

PINDEX
SYSTEM

DI-LOK
SYSTEM

ACCUTRA
C
(VENEER
S)

DIVESTM
ENT
TECHNIQ
UE

ZEISER
SYSTEM

PINDEX SYSTEM
Post-pour technique is used
Reverse drill press is used to
create a master cast
The machine accurately drills
parallel holes from the under
side of the trimmed cast
Dual pin, tri plus pin

DI LOK TECHNIQUE
A snap-apart plastic segmented trays with
internal orienting grooves and notches is used

Impression is poured;
di-lok tray filled
Cast trimmed to horse
shoe configuration
Tray filled with second
mix and cast seated
Die stone set- locking
and curved arms of the
tray are removed
Saw cuts made 3/4ths
through stone; resulting
die is trimmed
Cast and die
reassembled in tray;
mounted on articulator

ACCUTRAC
Used in laminate
veneers
Removable die system
Modification of a plastic
tray with internal
orientation grooves and
notches

DIVESTMENT
TECHNIQUE

Investment material itself is used for making a die.

Die is directly incorporated into the investment with the pattern.
This technique is mainly used for patterns that are not
removable from the die

Disadvantages
Master cast may not articulate with the opposing cast properly
(because of high setting expansion).
Seating the cast for interocclusal records can be a problem.
Needs another cast and die for finishing and polishing purposes
because the die is destroyed while casting.

DIESTONE+INVESTMEN
T
DIVESTMENT

A commercial gypsum bonded material that contains die

material and the investment medium in comparable
composition
Commercially available as Divestment

It is mixed with a colloidal silicate liquid.

Die is made from this and then wax pattern constructed

on it, then assembly is invested in a mixture of
divestment and water, this eliminates possibility of
distortion of pattern.
Setting expansion: 0.9%

Box in the
impression on
the tray carrier
for pin
paralleling

Survey the required pin

position and drill the

Place tray carrier with

impression onto the
slider with solid ZEISER
base plate underneath

Push table down gently to

definite stop position. Drill two

Z
E
I
S
E
R
S
Y
S
T
E
M

Insert tapered pins

into drilled holes and
press down according
to friction required

Load base plate with stone

around pins. Invert plate;
seat onto impression.

Pour up the impression

with die stone

After approx. 20 minutes

(stone) or 8 hrs (BLUESTAR)
remove the impression from the
tray carrier and separate the

Trim the arch, clean, blow dry

and reposition back onto
base plate.

Precision die saw

DIE SYSTEMS

WAX
PATTERNS

WAX PATTERN
A wax form that is the positive likeness
of an object to be fabricated

METHODS OF FABRICATING A
WAX PATTERN

DIRECT
TECHNIQ
UE

Pattern is waxed on the

INDIRECT
TECHNIQ
UE

Pattern is waxed on a
stone cast made from an
accurate impression of the
prepared tooth
Most popular method

prepared tooth in the

patients mouth

ADVANTAGES OF
INDIRECT TECHNIQUE
Less chair-side time
Better visualization of the restoration
Ready access to waxing margins

INLAY WAX
Inlay casting wax is used for all wax patterns.

Inlay wax consists of:

Paraffin (40% to 60%).
Dammar resin to reduce flaking
Carnauba resin, ceresin, candelilla wax to raise the
melting temperature.
Dyes to provide color contrasts

TYPE I
WAX

TYPE II
WAX

Formulated for making intraoral wax

patterns
Medium hardness wax
Resist flow at mouth temperature

Formulated for fabrication of wax

patterns extra-orally
Softer wax; Have a slightly lower
melting point
Resist flow at room temperature

REQUIREMENTS OF
GOOD INLAY WAX
1. Flow readily when heated, without
chipping , flaking or loosing its smoothness
2. When cooled, it must be rigid
3. It must be capable of being carved precisely
without chipping, distorting or smearing.
4. Wax should be of some colour that will
contrast with and easily
distinguishable from the stone die

 Stresses heating and manipulation

Wax thermoplastic material relaxes as these
stresses are released distortion
Distortion poor fit
To minimize distortion patterns should never
be left off the die, and they should be
invested as soon after fabrication

WAX PATTERN
FABRICATION

ARMAMENTARIUM
PKT Waxing instruments( No.1,2,3,4,5)
Wax spatula
No.2 pencil
Laboratory knife
Bunsen burner
Inlay casting wax
Die lubricant
Electric heating instruments(precise
temperature control)

P
K
T
#1,2: Wax addition
instruments
#3 : Burnisher for
refining
occlusal
anatomy
#4,5: Wax carvers

I
N
S
T
R
U
M
E
N
T
S

 Heat the instrument in Bunsen

flame
Touch it in wax and quickly
reheat its shank in flame
Wax spatula used
for adding large amounts
of wax

INTERN
AL
SURFAC
E
WAX PATTERN
REMOVAL AND
EVALUATION

PROXIM
AL
SURFAC
ES
AXIAL
SURFAC
ES
OCCLUS
AL
SURFAC
ES
MARGI
N
FINISHI
NG

P
O
S
T
E
R
I
O
R
T
E
E
T
H
W
A
X
I
N
G

INTERNAL SURFACE
Die lubricant
Flow wax onto die from well heated large waxing
instrument
Initial layer wax is fully molten; wax memory
distortion
Sufficient wax coping without breakage
Proximal areas extra bulk grip and prevent
distortion

WAX PATTERN
REMOVAL

PROXIMAL SURFACES
Flat or slightly concave from
contact area to CEJ
Overcontouring periodontal
problems
Undercontouring flossing
ineffective

CONTACT AREAS
Posterior contact areas occlusal third
Maxillary 1st and 2nd molar middle

third
Contact between mandibular teeth and

maxillary molars central

Lingual embrasures larger than buccal
Gingival embrasures - symmetric

AXIAL SURFACES
Location of height of contour is particularly important
Gingival third; mandibular molars in middle third
Emergence profile: tooth surface gingival to its height
of contour immediately adjacent to gingival soft tissues
Flat or concave
Periodontal disease- axial contour modified to improve
access for plaque removal

 Wax gingival surface axially

smooth flat profile
Shape middle third of axial surface
adjacent teeth as guide
Add wax to join axial and proximal
surfaces and smooth them;
location and shape of mesial and
distal transitional line angles
Boley gauge

OCCLUSAL SURFACES
Nonfunctional cusps overlap vertically and
horizontally
Point contact between opposing teeth
Sequential wax addition technique

CONE PLACEMENT

CUSPAL RIDGES
SUPERIMPOSED

CONES, CUSPAL&TRIANGULAR
SECONDARY AND MARGINAL RIDGES
RIDGES

COMPLETED OCCLUSAL WAXING

CUSP HEIGHT AND

LOCATION
Position and height of cusps wax
cones
Mark central fossae of opposing
teeth
Position functional cusps occlude
buccolingual center
Mesiodistal location of
cones;occlusal scheme
Cusp height curve of spee

CUSP-MARGINAL RIDGE
ARRANGEMENT
Functional cusp contacts opposing
occlusal surfaces on the marginal
ridges or fossa of the opposing teeth.
One-tooth to two-teeth arrangement.
Commonly used occlusal relationship.

CUSP-FOSSA
ARRANGEMENT
Functional cusp nestled into
occlusal fossa of opposing teeth
Tooth-tooth arrangement
Rarely used
Centric cusp contact occlusal
fossa of opposing tooth at three
points
Developed by waxing two opposing
quadrants simultaneously

Indications
Prevent Food impaction
Centric relation closure forces near long axes of
teeth
improved
Improved stability results from tripod contact for
each functional cusp

Cusp fossa

Cusp marginal ridge

1. Location of occlusal
contact on opposing teeth

Occlusal fossae only

Marginal ridges and

occlusal fossae

2.Relation with opposing

tooth

Tooth-to-tooth

Tooth-to-two-teeth

3. Advantages

Occlusal forces are directed

parallel with long axis of the
tooth. These forces are near
the center of the tooth,
placing very little stress on
the tooth

Found in 95% of all adults.

Can be used for single tooth
restorations

4. Disadvantages

Rarely found in natural

teeth. Used when restoring
several contacting teeth and
teeth opposing them

Food impaction,
displacement of teeth if
functional cusps wedge into
lingual embrasure

5. Application.

Full mouth reconstruction

Most restorations in daily

practice

 Completion of axial contours

-Give each cusp a triangular ridge towards
center of occlusal
surface(apex-cusp tip)
-Secondary ridges : 2 to each triangular
ridge;convex with
grooves

MARGINAL FINISHING

w margins; well adapted 1 mm wide zone from

in to prepared surface

POLISHING OF WAX
PATTERN

ANTERIOR TEETH
Anatomic contour waxing metal ceramic
restorations
Lingual and incisal surfaces
- overall arch form and occlusal requirements
-concavity in lingual surfaces
- Maximum intercuspation anterior teeth
should be set just
out of contact
- Lingual surfaces non contacting
Labial surface
- Mesiolabial and distolabial line angles

WAX CUT BACK

If ceramic veneer is to be prepared,
once final contour of wax pattern is
completed, pattern is cutback over
an even thickness
Usually about 1 mm
Provide room for the porcelain fused
onto the cast metal substructure

WAXING CONNECTORS
Connectors that join separate
components created in wax just before
margins finalized
Whether cast or soldered; shaped in wax
for precise control
Optimal strength: connector large
Should not impinge and 1mm above crest
of interproximal soft tissue
Esthetic areas: connectors should be
hidden behind ceramic veneer; lingual
placement

REFERENCES
Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics
3rd edition Shillingburg
Contemporary fixed prosthodontics
4th edition Rosentiel Land Fujimoto
Tylmans theory and practice of fixed
prosthodontics
Phillips Science of Dental Materials

 Glossary of prosthodontic terms

Butta .R, Tredwin C j, et.al, Type IV gysum
compatibility with five adition-reaction
silicone impression materials
J Prosthet Dent 2005;93:540-4.
Reports of Councils and Bureaus (1977)
revised American Dental Association
specification No. 19 for non-aqueous,