A diagnostic wax-up is a planned “preview” of dental treatment built in wax on a model of your teeth. It shows how teeth could look and fit together before any permanent work is done. Dentists and dental labs commonly use it in cosmetic, restorative, prosthodontic, and implant planning. It can also guide temporary mock-ups that let patients see and feel proposed changes.

A wax-up is a planned “preview” of tooth shape made in dental wax on a model or a digital replica. It shows how teeth and restorations may look and function before any final treatment is made. Dentists and dental laboratories commonly use wax-up in cosmetic, restorative, and prosthodontic cases. It can guide communication, fabrication, and step-by-step clinical decision-making.

A diagnostic cast is a physical replica of a patient’s teeth and gums made from an impression or a digital scan. It helps dentists study the bite, tooth positions, and spaces outside the mouth. It is commonly used in orthodontics, prosthodontics, and restorative treatment planning. It can also support communication between the dental team, the patient, and the dental laboratory.

A **study cast** is a physical replica of a patient’s teeth and surrounding oral structures. It is usually made by taking an impression or scanning the mouth, then producing a model in dental stone, resin, or another material. Dentists and specialists use study cast models to evaluate bite and tooth position outside the mouth. They are common in orthodontics, prosthodontics, and general treatment planning.

A master cast is a precise replica of a patient’s teeth, gums, and bite made from a detailed dental impression or digital scan. It is typically created in dental stone (gypsum) or a similar model material. Clinicians and dental laboratories use a master cast as the “reference model” to design and fabricate indirect restorations. It is commonly used for crowns, bridges, dentures, implant restorations, and certain orthodontic or occlusal appliances.

A working cast is a solid replica of a patient’s teeth and surrounding oral tissues. It is made from an impression or a digital scan and is used outside the mouth. Dental teams use a working cast to plan, design, and fabricate restorations and appliances. It is commonly used in crowns, bridges, dentures, orthodontics, and occlusal (bite) appliances.

A **die** is a precise, positive replica of a prepared tooth made from an impression or digital scan. It is commonly used in dental laboratories and clinics to fabricate crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and veneers. A **die** helps the clinician and technician see the tooth margins and shape clearly outside the mouth. In many workflows, the **die** is part of a larger “working model” that also includes neighboring teeth.

A CR record commonly refers to a composite resin (tooth-colored) restoration noted in the dental chart. In everyday terms, it often means “a tooth-colored filling was placed or repaired.” It is widely used in general dentistry for small to moderate restorations on front and back teeth. Depending on the clinic’s documentation system, the CR record may describe the material, tooth, and surfaces treated.

check bite is a dental term often used for a small amount of resin-based material placed to help evaluate and adjust how teeth meet. It is commonly used during restorative dentistry to confirm occlusion (the way upper and lower teeth contact). Depending on the clinician and product, it may be used as a brief “trial” build-up or as a small bonded addition. It is typically applied chairside and set with a curing light when it is a light-cured resin material.

An **occlusal record** is a record of how the upper and lower teeth meet when the jaws close. It helps a dental team reproduce a patient’s bite relationship outside the mouth on models or in digital software. It is commonly used when making crowns, bridges, dentures, night guards, and other bite-related appliances. It can also support diagnosis and planning when bite position needs to be assessed or transferred accurately.