Dental investment materials are used to encase the wax designed for the lost wax casting technique. These materials are usually available as a powder that is mixed with water and then used to encase the wax design. These materials solidify and can withstand the heat of the casting furnace to hold the precise shape left behind when the wax is burned out. Different gypsums are designed for use with different dental alloys or other materials, so be sure to select the proper gypsum for the case at hand.