What gypsum material is commonly used to create dental models?

Plaster is commonly used to create dental models due to its excellent properties for mold making and its ability to capture fine details. It is a form of gypsum that sets quickly and is easy to manipulate, making it ideal for producing accurate representations of dental impressions. The setting process allows it to harden sufficiently to provide a stable and durable model that can withstand further processing, such as trimming or carving.

In the context of dental applications, plaster is favored for its workability and its ability to capture intricate details of dental structures. This characteristic is vital when creating crowns, bridges, or orthodontic appliances, where precision is critical for effective fit and function. Other materials listed, such as wax and clay, may be useful in other contexts, such as for temporary models or for sculpting, but they do not have the same properties as plaster when it comes to creating definitive, stable dental models. Gypsum could also generally refer to the mineral from which plaster is derived, but it is not specific enough in this context to denote the particular type used in dental applications.