Electric waxers????

[ColdFish]

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When I was touring dental schools I saw a lot of flame burners in the sim labs. Do any schools use electric waxers? I have spent some time in a dental lab and it is way easier and faster with an electric waxer. I could probably get a used one, do schools go for that or is there some reason they are still using ancient techniques?

 

[harjay]

Unfortunately, I can't remember which school it was that had them, but at least one of the California schools that I interviewed at had them.

 

[ColdFish]

Was it at USC??

 

[armorshell]

Pacific and UCSF both use electric waxers

 

[jackbauer!]

Maryland has induction heaters, which I'm assuming is the same thing as an "electric waxer."

There really isn't any advantage to using the induction heater IMO. I actually prefer the burner, and used that on all my waxing practicals. It heats the instrument and wax much faster.

jb!🙂

 

[bluejellybelly]

Maryland has induction heaters, which I'm assuming is the same thing as an "electric waxer."

There really isn't any advantage to using the induction heater IMO. I actually prefer the burner, and used that on all my waxing practicals. It heats the instrument and wax much faster.

jb!🙂

I agree with JB. I work in a dental lab where I had to do a lot of wax work for pressable porcelain and the ol' fashion burner and spatula combo works faster for those of you who know what you're dealing with. Electric takes a while to heat up and they also SMOKE up pretty badly at the tip. I have always been using the "electric" one though, and it adds very gradually but that's good for the addition of wax. However, sealing margins and such will favor the burner method and spatula. Of course, I don't know what type of practicals they give you at dental school because I have yet to attend, but that's just my $0.02 on which burner I would use.

 

[bluejellybelly]

ancient techniques?

Um, most of the prosthetics done these days that require wax work for casting or such are very commonly done with burners. It's not an ancient technique, if someone is highly skilled in wax work, they will almost always prefer the flame. It takes a pro to really use it well, and quite frankly I WISH I was trained using the burner.