What is a Dental Diagnostic Wax Up and Why Do You Need It?

If you are considering a cosmetic or restorative dental procedure, such as veneers, crowns, bridges, implants, or dentures, you might have heard of a dental diagnostic wax up. But what is it exactly and why is it important for your dental treatment?

A dental diagnostic wax up is a wax or resin model of the desired form for a dental restoration, such as a denture, bridge, or implant¹. It is used to diagnose dental problems, plan treatment, and guide the clinical and laboratory procedures¹²³⁴. A dental diagnostic wax up is made by taking an impression of your mouth and using it to create a 3D mold². Then, the dental technician or the dentist applies wax or resin to the mold to create the proposed shape and size of the restoration²³.

A dental diagnostic wax up can help you and your dentist in several ways:

• It can help you visualize the outcome of the dental work and achieve the desired esthetics and function¹²³⁴. You can see how the restoration will look like in your mouth and how it will affect your smile, bite, speech, and facial appearance. You can also give feedback and request changes before the final restoration is made.
• It can help your dentist communicate effectively and efficiently with you and the dental laboratory technician about the treatment plan and specifications of the restoration¹²³⁴. The dental diagnostic wax up serves as a blueprint or a reference for the fabrication of the restoration. It also helps to avoid errors and discrepancies that may occur when using average values or arbitrary methods.
• It can help your dentist perform a comprehensive occlusal analysis and identify any functional problems or interferences that may affect the longevity and comfort of the restoration²⁴. The dental diagnostic wax up can be mounted on a virtual or physical articulator, which is a device that simulates the movements of the jaw in relation to the teeth. This allows for a realistic evaluation of occlusion, esthetics, and phonetics.

How is a Dental Diagnostic Wax Up Done?

The process of making a dental diagnostic wax up may vary depending on the type and complexity of the restoration, but generally, it involves the following steps²³⁴:

• Your dentist takes an impression of your mouth with a tray and a material that hardens around your teeth and gums. This impression is used to make a 3D mold or cast of your mouth.
• Your dentist takes photographs of your face and smile, and records your medical history, dental problems, and treatment goals. This information is used to plan the treatment and communicate with the dental laboratory technician.
• Your dentist sends the impression, the photographs, and the treatment plan to the dental laboratory technician, who creates a wax or resin model of the proposed restoration on the mold or cast. The technician uses wax or resin to add, modify, or remove tooth structure according to the treatment plan.
• Your dentist receives the wax or resin model from the dental laboratory technician and checks it for accuracy and quality. Your dentist may also make some adjustments or corrections to the model if needed.
• Your dentist shows you the wax or resin model and explains how it will look like in your mouth. You can see the shape, size, color, and position of the restoration and how it will affect your smile and facial appearance. You can also ask questions and request changes if you are not satisfied with the model.
• Your dentist makes a final impression of your mouth with the wax or resin model in place. This impression is used to make a final mold or cast of your mouth with the restoration. This mold or cast is then sent back to the dental laboratory technician, who fabricates the final restoration according to the wax or resin model.

Conclusion

A dental diagnostic wax up is a valuable tool for planning and executing cosmetic and restorative dental procedures. It helps you and your dentist visualize the outcome of the dental work and achieve optimal results. It also helps your dentist communicate effectively with you and the dental laboratory technician and perform a comprehensive occlusal analysis. A dental diagnostic wax up can improve the quality and outcome of your dental treatment by facilitating diagnosis, treatment planning, design, and fabrication.

References

: What is a wax-up. https://www.icoi.org/glossary/wax-up/

: A Guide to Pre-Prep Diagnostic Mock-Ups. https://www.speareducation.com/spear-review/2020/09/a-guide-to-pre-prep-diagnostic-mock-ups

: Dental Lab Wax Ups – A Blueprint for Your Mouth. https://www.treasuredental.com/dental-lab-diagnostic-wax-ups/

: Diagnostic casts and wax-up. https://www.for.org/en/treat/treatment-guidelines/single-tooth/diagnostics/prosthodontic-tools/diagnostic-casts-and-wax