CnA TER

4
Final
Impressions, Boxing and Pouring
Kenneth LD. Rudd,
Robert M. Morow, Earl E. Feldmann,
Sanjna Nayar, and Suchita Tella Bhalerao

UTLIN
Boxing lnmpressions
War Baxr Merhad 43Indexingthe Cast 59
Requirements for Inde xing
59
Paster of Pms and Pumace Bovng 59
Groove Indexing Method
Methad 59
50 Notch Indexing Method
Powrg Casts
61
Summary

Boxing an impression heenclosure ofan impression to produce adheres to this material readily. However, boxing a rub-
the desiedsize and torm ot the base of the cast and to
details. (GPT-S)
preserve ber base or silicone impression with wax is more difficult
desired
because it is almost impossible to make the wax stick
Once the final impression reaches the laboratory it to these materials. Another method of boxing makes it
should be analysed for all the anatomical landmarks, necessary to settle the impression into a mix of plaster

and an effort is made to preserve the same with the and, after setting, to trim the plaster to the desired bor-
help der outline, box the impression and pour it in artificial
ofbeading and boxing (Fig. 4.1A-B). stone. In a modification of this procedure, the addition

of pumice to the plaster mix weakens it, thereby facili-

tating retrieval of the cast from the boxed impression

BOXING IMPRESSiONS (Harris, 1960; 1968; Heartwell and Rahn, 1974;
Sowter,
Bolouri This method, which is excellent
et al, 1975).
final for boxing impressions made in elastomeric materials,
Boxing impressions before pouring preserves the
extension aswell as thethickness of theborder; controls serves equally well for zinc oxide paste impressions.
the form and thickness of the base ofthe cast; facilitates It is also possible to use
caulking compound forbox
placing remounting plates" in the cast and conserves ar- ing impressions.Beading the border of the impression
Air Force, with strips of caulking compound makes the border
tificial stone (Sowter, 1968;US 1959; Bolouri
et al, 1975). Several methods and a variety of materials of the cast the desired width. The beaded impression
for boxing impressions (USAir Force, 1959;
are available is then boxed with metal or wax boxing strips. Blank
Boucher,1964;Sowter, 1968). Thematerials are wax, met- (1961)describes the use of a 'paddle grip' wax tech-
alstrips,plaster of Paris alone ormodified by adding nique for boxing impressions. The impression is sealed
to wax on a
pumice and caulking compound. paddle, which is used as a handle for
Boxingwith wax isespeciallysuitable for impressiorns holding the boxed impression while pouring it on the
made in zinc oxide impression paste, since wax beading vibrator.

Split Remounting Plate Assembly Complete, Teledyne Dental Products Co., Hanau Division, Buffalo, New York.

43
 FIGURE 4.2
Beading wax available in round or square
various sizes. s
strips
of

Procedure
Place the
impression on the bench with impression
1.

surface up and use soft wax or modelling clay

FIGURE 4.1 (A-B) Final to align the impression so that the
impressions are checked for
completeness. ridge portion
is
approximately parallel to the bench top
(Fig. 4.3A-B).Adjust the height until a boxing
wax strip extends approximately
This chapter 13 above mm the
presents three methods of boxing im- highest pointonthe impression.
pressions and the technique for pouring and 2. Fill in the
tongue space of a mandibular
indexing
casts.
impression by adapting and sealing a sheet of
baseplatewax cut to the proper form. Use a
Wax Boxing Method wax spatula to seal the wax to the impression
(Fig. 4.4A-B).Seal it to the impression on both
Wax boxing is effective for sides Make the
waxed-in tongue area
zincoxide
paste impres- (Fig. 4.5).
sions and is usable also for rubber base or silicone smooth and seal it approximately
3-4 mm below
impressions, but only after the border of the
thoroughly drying them impression (Fig. 4.6). Lower
before adapting the
beading wax. This wax is avail- placement will compromise access to parts of the
able in round or square strips cast, such as when making
(Fig. 4.2). Orthodontic baseplates.
wax or utility wax is also used for beading an impres- 3. Adapt orthodontic tray wax or beading wax around
sion. Some orthodontic tray waxes, which are
espe- the
peripheryof the impression (Fig. 4.7). This wax
adapt to the impression easily. After should be approximately 4-mm wideand 3-4
cially flexible,
mm
is adapted and sealed, the impres- below the border of the impression (Fig. 4.8A-B).
the beading wax
is a wax strip and the cast is poured 4.
Adapt another short length of beading wax to
sion boxed with
(Flow chart 4.1). the heel region of the mandibular and
impression
 45
BOXING IMPRESSIONS

Mandibular master impression made with

green stick
and zinc Oxide eugenol
impression paste.

Sheet of
baseplate wax is warmed and
pressed
against lingual border of mandibular
block out the impression to
tongue area.

Baseplate wax blocking out tongue area of

mandibular impression is sealed carefully to
impression
approximately
3-4mm below border of
impression.

Wax is also
sealed under the impression to make
strong junction that will not
separate during pouring
(B)

Beading wax is adapted around periphery

of impression approximately 3-4 mm below
border of impression.

Wax beading should be approximately 4-mm wide

to make border of cast proper width.

Heel area of mandibular impression is widened by

applying another short length of beading wax.

FIGURE4.3 Soft wax or modelling clay used to support impres

Beading wax is sealed to impression carefull sion so that ridges are approximately parallel to bench top. Height
of impression should be controlled. (A)
Mandibular impression.
(B) Maxillary impression oriented to make residual ridges parallel to
bench top.
Boxing wax strip is folded around beaded impression
to form base of cast and sealed.

across the posterior edge of the waxed-in tongue

Artificial stone
proportionedby weight and
is area to make the border wider in these areas
mixed with recommended volume of water in (Fig. 4.9A-B).
vacuum spatulator and the cast is poured. 5. Seal the beading wax to
the impression with a wax

spatula
Handle the hot spatula carefully
(Fig. 4.10).
to avoid damaging the impression or allowing the

The set cast is place in warm water bath to soften the wax to flow onto the border of the impression.
6. Check the width of the
impression material and retrieve thecast. beading bylooking down
on theimpression from directly above to determine
whether
a border of acceptablewidth is visible
The cast is trimmed and around the entire impression (Fig. 4.11).
polished.
7. the impression on the bench top, warma
Set strip
of boxing wax over a Bunsen burner until flexible
FLOW CHART 4.1 Sequence of steps for boxing by wax
and carefully fold it around the impression wax
(Fig. 4.12). Take care to avoid distorting and
 6
HNAL IMIRSBIONE, ANDOUHG
BOKNG

thinning the beading Wax while

boxing strlp ndapting,the
8. Seal the ends of he
boxing strip to the
layer of WAx (ig.4,13) under.
Seal the
beadingwAX to the
the boKing,strip on hoat
impresslon side and the undersi
it to
watertight (ig.4.14), maks
Handle the hot
to avoid spatul.
carefully
perforating the boxing Wa
dripping wax into the impression,
10. Check the boxed
the border, impression for adequate
sealing and height before
widti.

stone (Fig, 4.15). Fill the pourine

impression with col
to check for leaks. Pour the
impression in vae
spatulated artificlal stone (ig,4.16A
D),
m

FIGURE 4.4 (A) Sheet of wax warmed and

baseplate
against lingual border of mandibular pressed FIGURE 4.6 out of tongue area
Block
Baseplate wax is re-
impression. and wax
moved and indentations to lingual border of Wax is completed sealed
produced by border of
impression are used as below border of
impresslon. sealed approximately 3-4 m
guides in trimming wax. (B) Trimmed wax impression to
preserve thicknes of border
adapted to lingual area of rication of denture.
mandibular during fab
impression.

A
FIGURE
lar
4.5 Baseplate wax blocking out tongue area of mandibu-
impression sealed carefully to impression
below border of impression.
approximately 3-4 mm
Wax is also sealed on underside of im-
pression to make strong junction that will not separate during pouring
FIGURE
sion. Beading
impression.
4.7 Beading wax adapted around periphery of impre
wax is placed approximately 3-4 mm below border
df
 BOXING IMPRESSIONS 47
(A)

FIGURE 4.10 Beading wax sealed to impression carefully

(B)

FIGURE 4.8 (A) Wax beading be FIGURE 4.11 outwith wax

should 4-mm with tongue area blocked
approximately Impression
wide to make border of cast width.
proper (B) Position of beading wax and beading wax in position. Note that uniform width of beading
3-4 mm below border of
impression is verified. around border of entire impression must be preserved when boxing
strip is adapted.

A) (B)

FIGURE 4.9 (A) Heel area of mandibular impression widened by applying another short length
of
beading wax. Beadingwax is placed below
to permit land area of cast to be above impression surface of cast. (B) Note of wax in heel area of man-
mandibular impression position beading
dibular
impression.
48 4PINAL IMPRESSIONS, BOXINO AND PAJRINO

FIGURE 4.12 Boxing wax strip sealed with hot

spatula. FIGURE 4.14 Beading wax sealed to wax
boxing with
wax is sealed on underside also to make it watertioht

ho4.
Boxing Spabl,
vent separation of boxing wax from beading wax when pourino
pouring
stone cae

FIGURE4.13 Interior joint of boxing wax sealed with hot spatula. FIGURE 4.15 Boxed
impression is examined carefully to deter
mine whether border is of correct width and
beading wax is sealed
to
boxing wax properly,

Problem Areas too stiff, it may distort

and thin the borders. Care should
Problems with the wax boxing method when the be taken in
beading wax too near the border of
arise
placing
beading wax is of the wrong width and, consequently, the
impression. This can result in
inadequate preserva
the border is too narrow or too wide (Table tion of the border contour
4.1). It is easy (Fig. 4.18).
to correct a border that is too wide
by trimming it on the wax placed too low makes the border of the
Beading
cast, but it is difficult to correct a land area that is too nar cast
high and necessitates its trimming.
too A common
row (Fig. 4.17). Thinning the beading wax border error when
may boxing impressions is placing the beading
occur during adaptation of the boxing strip; if the is wax too high in the heel area of mandibular
strip
impressions
 BOXING IMPRESSIONS

in Stone mixed under

(A)Artificial stone proportioned by weight and mixed with
recommended volumeof water vacuum spatulator.and
FIGURE4.16 Boxed placed on vibrator, vacuum-mixed
in cast that is dense and free of bubbles and voids. (B) impression
should be done slowiy
to
reduced atmospheric pressure results Initial pouring
of and to flow over entire surface of impression.
at one cormer ine cast.
stone is added slowly impression permitted irom
with impression. (D) Impression being separated
of air and resultant voids in master cast. (C)Master cast
minimise entrapment

TABLE 4.1 Wax Boxing Method

Probable Solution
cause
Problem
or too wide Make beading wax 4 mm wide
narrow or too wide wax too narrow approximately
Borders of cast too Beading
Exercise care in adapting boxing wax
to avoid reducing
Cast overtrimmed on cast trimmer
cast
width of beading wax. Be careful when trimming
on cast trimmer

wax too high on Adapt beading wax; seal it 34 mm below border

Border of cast not high enough to preserve Beading placed
of impression
thickness of impression flanges impression

wax too low on Place beading wax 3-4 mm below border of impression
Border of cast too high Beading placed
Trim cast to reduce border height
impression

13 is not extended high Extend boxing strip approximately

13 mm above
Base of master cast too thin (less than Boxing strip
area on impression
mm in thinnest area) enough above impression highest

above Keep 13 mm above

Base of master cast too thick (more than 13 Boxing strip extended too high boxing strip approximately

impression and no higher

mm in thickest area) impression

one side and low not oriented properly

Position impression used to make ridges approximately
Cast lopsided (high on Impression
prior to boxing parallel to bench top; use soft wax or modelling clay
on other side)
to maintain position when boxing

wax wax wax not properly

luted to Exercise care to see that boxing strip is luted to beading
Boxing separated from beading Beading
strip
wax securely; use hot spatula to make watertight seal
of cast boxing
during pouring
 BNAL aPEOOKR AND POARIK

FIGURE 4.19 Beading wax placed tos high on impres

cast vwill be too low and may not preserve thickress of
ifnc B

FIGURE 4.17 Beading wax in posterior areas of is

narow and border of resultant cast will be impression to
too narrow. This error i1
difficult so cormect.

FiGURE 4.18 Beading wax has been placed too low on impres FIGURE
sion. 4.20 Beadingwax placed too high across posterior
Border of cast will be too high and is líkely to fracture on der of bo.
tion of separa- maxillary impression. in sorne instances, posterior border
impnession from cast. be below surface of impression may

(Fig 4.19) and across the posterior border of maxillary Occasionally, rough handling or excessive vibration
impressions (Fig 4.20). This error makes the casts too during the pouring procedure may cause separation of
low in these areas. When boxing an
impression,it is nec the boxíng wax from the beaded
impression and make
essary to fhink in reverse to determine the effect on the it
necessary to re-accomplish the procedure. In this
cast;for example when a section of beading wax on the case, the stone should be rinsed from the
impression
impression istoohigh,it willbetoo low on the cast. immediately.
The thickness of the base of the cast is controlled by
making the impression the proper height within the Plaster of Paris and Pumice Boxing Method
boxing wax; otherwise, the resultant cast may be too
thick or too thin. Although it is possible to reduce a The plaster of Paris and pumice boxing method
is
thick cast by trimming, the presence of a split-mount excellent for
boxing impressions of rubber base or sili
ing plate complicates the trimming. It is more difficult conematerialsbecause maintaining contact between the

to correct the error when a cast is too thin than when boxing material and the impression material no
presents
it is too thick, but it is best to avoid both sítuations. problem (Flow chart 4.2).