review article

Die Materials and Techniques: Part II

Raghavendra Jayesh S1, Sanjna Nayar2, Bhuminathan S3

Abstract
Type IV gypsum product is the commonest die stone material, obtained from natural gypsum rock. It is workable,
economical and involves least equipment. Its advantages far outweigh its shortcomings. Hence is very widely used.

Key words: Dies stone, type – IV gypsum, non-metallic die material.

CLASSIFICATION

Ideal Requirements of Die Materials

1
Professor & Principal, 1. They must reproduce an impression
2
Professor & Head,
accurately.
3
Professor, CEO, Deputy Registrar,
Dept of Prosthodontics, 2. They should satisfactorily reproduce fine
Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital,
Bharath University, Pallikaranai, Chennai
details and have smooth but hard surface.
Corresponding Author: 3. They should remain dimensionally stable
Dr. Raghavendra Jayesh. S
Email : srjayesh@yahoo.co.in
under normal conditions of use and storage.

Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Dentistry, Vol. 4, Issue 3, May - July 2014 975
 review article

4. They should have minimum setting expansion, This material is capable of reproducing a 20µm-
good strength. wide line as prescribed by A.D.A specification
5. They must have good abrasion resistance. No.19. A hard surface is necessary for a die stone
because the preparation is filled with wax that is
6. They should be compatible with impression carved flush with the margins of the die (Figure
materials. 2).
7. They should have high compressive strength. A sharp instrument is used for this purpose;
8. They should have good color contrast with therefore the stone must be resistant to abrasion.
inlay wax to identify the margins of the wax Since the surface dries more rapidly, the surface
pattern.2 hardness increases more rapidly than does the
9. They should have good edge strength and compressive strength. This is advantageous as the
resistance to shearing forces. surface resists abrasion and the core of the die is
tough and less vulnerable to accidental breakage.1
10. They should not be toxic. Even though the surface of the type IV stone is
Gypsum Products harder, care should be observed when the pattern
is being carved. It has been recommended to
Type IV Dental Stone - High Strength
wait for 12-24 hours to avoid the stone fracturing
Synonyms: Die stone/high strength stone/class 2 during removal from the type IV dental stone
stone, densite, and improved stone. (high strength) die.
Gypsum is boiled in a 30% calcium chloride
solution after which the chloride is washed
away with hot water at 100°C and the material is
ground to desired fineness. The powder obtained
by this process is the densest of all types, (at the
microscopic level the particles are closely packed
with uniform appearance of crystals – Figure
1) called densite. Type 4 and 5 (high-strength)
stones are manufactured from densite. It is used
to obtain dies which are used for inlay, crown and Figure 1: Microscopy of type IV gypsum
bridge wax patterns. product – die stone – showing closely
packed crystal structure – x 3,000
Die stone has higher strength than dental stone or
plaster. Its Hardness value is 92 RHN1. Abrasion
resistance of die stone is not as high as other die
materials.
The ratio of water to the hemi hydrate powder is
usually expressed as water powder ratio. The ratio
is usually abbreviated as W: P. It is an important
factor in determining the physical and chemical
properties of final gypsum product. The higher
the ratio, the longer the setting time and weaker
will be the gypsum product. This is because there
is more water per unit volume and less nuclei of
Figure 2: Dies fabricated with die stone
crystallization per unit volume.

976 Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Dentistry, Vol. 4, Issue 3, May - July 2014

Disadvantages of Type IV gypsum-dies
Susceptibility to abrasion during carving of wax
pattern.
Gypsum dies are sometimes modified to make
them more abrasion resistant. Gypsum hardeners
are added to increase abrasion resistance.
They are:
1. Colloidal silica-30%
2. Cyanoacrylate.
3. Gum Arabic + calcium hydroxide mixture.
Silicophosphate Cement Dies
It is similar to the filling and cementing material.
Initial strength, surface hardness and compressive
strength are superior to that of die stone.
Disadvantages
i. Contraction upon setting
ii. Rough and dehydrated surface
Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Dentistry, Vol. 4, Issue 3, May - July 2014
review article
iii. High viscosity leading to surface voids.
Due to such disadvantages it is not used
presently.
Conclusion
Even though there is a plethora of materials
commercially available to fabricate dies, one
material which has not only stood the test of
time but has also been the most commonly used
material on a daily basis in the dental offices as
well as the laboratories, is type IV dental stone
plaster. Ease of manipulation, minimal equipment
and economics dictate its widespread use.
References
1. Phillips` Science of Dental Materials – Anusavice,
Shen and Rawls.12th edition-191
2. Craig`S Restorative Dental Materials,12th edition
-303.
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