The Art of Occlusal and Esthetic Waxing

Rowida Abdalla

• Publisher: Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9780867158120
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Dentistry

This book is a concise but comprehensive guide for understanding the basic principles of occlusion and esthetics that are necessary to perfect wax-ups on mounted casts. The author defines important occlusal terminology and describes tooth morphology with a focus on how these features affect function. The esthetic principles that affect smile design and are important for achieving harmony are also discussed. The second half of this book provides an overview of the waxing armamentarium and step-by-step waxing instructions for maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth in occlusion as well as esthetic wax-ups. With useful photographs and illustrations throughout, The Art of Occlusal and Esthetic Waxing has the practical information that will help readers perfect their wax-ups and understand the significance of morphologic features on proper function.

What Is an Esthetic Wax-Up?28

An esthetic wax-up is a process in which wax is applied to a model of the patient's teeth to simulate the procedure and results of planned reconstruction, repair, or enhancement of a smile. Esthetic wax-ups are indicated when anterior restorations are planned to restore caries lesions, fractures, wear (attrition/erosion/abrasion), diastemata, intrinsic discoloration, or microdontia that most commonly affect the lateral incisors (peg-shaped lateral) or to generally enhance a poor smile (Fig 6-1). Several factors should be considered before initiating the treatment, such as caries risk, periodontal health, existing restorations, alternative treatment options, and patient expectations.

Fig 6-1 Indications for veneers. (Redrawn from Malone et al.29)

Benefits of an Esthetic Wax-Up

An esthetic wax-up can have the following benefits:

• Aids in developing an overall personalized treatment plan for the restorative procedures

• Guides the dentist to determine the best result for the patient

• Visualizes the final esthetic and functional outcome to the dentist and the patient

• Facilitates communication with the patient and with the laboratory technician

• Motivates the patient when they see what the treatment will accomplish

• Provides a template for indirect mock-ups

An esthetic wax-up may be considered the greatest working tool in dentistry. Wax, unlike other materials, allows easy changes through addition and/or carving. The final tooth form can be shown to patients and modified to suit their needs and expectations, and patients become more motivated when they can visualize their custom-made complete treatment plan. The wax-up can be impressed with a silicone impression material to fabricate composite mock-ups that further enhance visualization of the expected outcome and allow for the fabrication of excellent provisional restorations. There are several types of anterior restorations: composite, glass-ionomer, ceramic, and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, as well as composite and ceramic veneers. Veneers are a very popular, conservative, and successful treatment for improving an unpleasant smile; tooth preparation for veneers involves facial surface reduction (between 0.6 to 1 mm) and may involve incisal edge reduction as well. Teeth nos. 6 to 11 on the mounted casts described in chapter 3 were prepared to receive ceramic veneers. This chapter will guide you to fabricate an esthetic wax-up on these teeth, restoring the missing tooth surfaces to an ideal, pleasant, and functional form.

Waxing Armamentarium

• Mounted casts with teeth nos. 6 to 11 prepped to receive ceramic veneers (Fig 6-2a).

• Lifelike presentation wax (Fig 6-2b) is used for esthetic wax-ups; its white color serves as a visual aid for the dentist and when presenting the case to the patient (Whip Mix no. 04359).

• Sticky wax (Dentsply Trubyte no. 77310).

• Golden proportion waxing guide 8 or 8.5 mm may be used to adjust the width of the teet...

Table of contents

• Cover
• About the Book
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• 2 Principles of Esthetics
• 3 The Dental Articulator
• 4 Waxing Mandibular Posterior Teeth in Occlusion
• 5 Waxing Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Occlusion
• 6 Esthetic Wax-Ups
• References
• About the Author
• Backcover