What should a patient do when instructed to take a wax bite during dental procedures?

When a patient is instructed to take a wax bite during dental procedures, the correct action is to bite into the wax. This procedure is often used to record the occlusion (the contact relationship between the upper and lower teeth) and to assist in fabricating dental prosthetics, such as dentures, or to check the bite for orthodontic assessments.

Biting into the wax helps to create an accurate impression of the patient’s bite, capturing the spatial relationship of the teeth in their natural position. This recording is essential for the dental team to analyze and ensure that any devices or treatments achieve a proper fit and functional alignment.

Normal closing of the jaw is important, but simply closing without the context of biting into the wax may not yield a definitive impression of the bite relationship. Grinding teeth back and forth is not appropriate as it can distort the intended impression of occlusion, leading to inaccuracies in the records. Opening wide does not contribute to the process of taking a wax bite and may disrupt the recording of the necessary relationships between dental arches. Therefore, the action of biting into the wax is essential for achieving the intended outcome in the context of the procedure.