The harder varieties are suitable for use in warm climates but tend to crack and flake at low temperatures. The softer series are suitable for use at low temperatures but may flow excessively at very high temperatures.Base plate Waxes are the relevant products for use in the dental laboratory.
Each manufacturer decides which categories their waxes conform to. This process ensures that they can supply waxes that meet the relevant industry standard, while maintaining different ranges in performance. Baseplate Wax Class 1 and 2 are the only relevant products for use in the dental laboratory.
Baseplate wax is a durable (usually pink) substance used mainly to fabricate occlusion rims for dental construction into which denture teeth are arranged (IE. holding artificial teeth to baseplates) before laboratory processing and during fabrication of the denture. Baseplate wax must be capable of holding porcelain or acrylic teeth in position both at normal room temperature and at mouth temperature.
Among its many functions, we find inlay patterning, boxing of impression, casting, establishing the arch form, establishing the level of occlusal plane, recording the maxillary mandibular relation, corrective impression, and bite registration. All this for the initial modeling of, and later the fitting of trial dentures (try-ins) before the finished product is perfected.