Voksprotesen

Voksprotesen, or the wax prosthesis, is a provisional removable dental prosthesis made from modeling wax used in the fabrication of complete or partial dentures. It serves as a wax try-in that allows clinicians and patients to evaluate and refine the planned denture before final processing in acrylic resin.

The primary purpose of the wax prosthesis is to check and adjust form, function, and appearance. By using wax rims and a wax setup of artificial teeth, the dentist can establish the vertical dimension, centric relation, and occlusal scheme, while also assessing aesthetics and phonetics. Teeth and bite relations can be modified easily by adding or removing wax, enabling iterative refinements without committing to a permanent appliance.

Fabrication and use follow a staged process. After initial impressions, study casts, and bite registration, a diagnostic wax-up or wax rims are created on a laboratory articulator. The patient is invited to try the wax prosthesis in the mouth to evaluate fit, bite, speech, and appearance. Any necessary adjustments are made by the technician, and records for jaw relations and tooth position are confirmed. When the wax try-in is satisfactory, the wax is dewaxed and the denture base is processed in heat-cured acrylic resin or other final materials, producing the finished denture.

Materials and limitations: The wax prosthesis is made of modeling wax, which is relatively fragile and temperature-sensitive. It is intended for short-term use and provides a reversible, inexpensive means to plan a precise final denture.

See also: denture, wax try-in, denture fabrication.