IndexProductionBeeswax production methodsUses in surgeryDiscussionConclusionThe wonderful creature of the Earth: Bees produce honey which provides many uses and benefits for everyday life, but not it is only the substance produced. The second most important component is beeswax which forms the structure of the honeycomb and is often confused with propolis, but these are not the same thing. Beeswax is the natural secretion of the wax gland and is used to build the cell walls of the hive while propolis (bee glue) is a sticky plant-derived resin and is used to assemble the hive; for this reason it can be combined with beeswax but the best propolis is without beeswax. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Beeswax was originally the only natural wax for commercial use and has been a valuable substance since the 14th century. The "father of medicine" Hippocrates recommended the use of beeswax in the treatment of purulent tonsillitis; Although it was first used medicinally by the ancients to prepare healing ointments and ointments, its subsequent use was limited to the making of artificial flowers, wax figures, masks, and candles. In tune with the needs of modern society and the use of natural resources as a cure for many diseases, it has regained its popularity in the medical field. The medicinal value of propolis is well documented in the literature due to its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but the pharmacological properties related to beeswax are still under discussion. The most commonly used derivative of beeswax is bone wax which is the refined formulation used as the primary method of controlling bone bleeding during most surgical procedures. Beeswax currently has many uses in industry, pharmacy and medicine, so accurate knowledge of its production, composition and uses is important. Due to the paucity of literature regarding the use of beeswax in different clinical scenarios, the above article is an attempt to highlight the uses and advancements especially in oral and maxillofacial surgery. ProductionBeeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees of the genus Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. They have a lifespan of 35 days and wax production occurs between the 10th and 16th day of their life with the help of 4 pairs of wax-producing glands. These glands convert the sugar they consume in the form of honey into wax that is extruded through tiny pores that appear like little scales on the bees' abdomen. The scales are transparent and turn white after being chewed and mixed with salivary secretions. These are then used by bees as building material for their honeycombs. Beeswax production methods The quality of beeswax depends greatly on the production methods; which could be smelting or chemical extraction. Melting is the most frequently used process and can be performed in the following ways: hot water extraction by forced immersion, extraction with boiling water and wax press, combined extraction with steam and press, extraction with steam, centrifugal extraction. Chemical extraction using solvents is only feasible in the laboratory, where small-scale wax production is necessary. The most commonly used technique is hot water extraction by forced immersion. Here the honeycombs are immersed in water for 4-5 hours and subsequently washed to separate the water-soluble impurities. The process is repeated at least 2-3 timestimes after which the combs are placed in an aluminum container with 20-30 liters of water and boiled to melt the wax. This mixture is filtered into another container where it is left to cool. Because wax is lighter than water, it rises to the surface and can be easily separated. Left to cool, the wax solidifies forming an easily transportable block. Uses in Surgery In reviewing the literature, the history of beeswax use dates back to the 1880s and various interesting uses have been mentioned in different parts of the world. The uses of beeswax in the surgical field could be listed as follows: As an augmentation material: The first documented use of beeswax was as a soft tissue augmentation material where it was used as an injection to improve macrofacial aesthetics , however it was subsequently discarded due to unwanted tissue reaction. As an impression material: In late 1945, when light-bodied elastomers or new imaging scanners were not yet used in the clinic, beeswax and petroleum jelly mixture was the choice of intraoperative impression material for recording the defect of the skull in which cranioplasty was performed with acrylic plates. It was also used to reproduce the details of the vomerine bone when the obturator was used in the management of cleft lip and palate. As a hemostatic agent: To date the most promising use of beeswax is as a local hemostatic agent in the form of bone wax, which was first described by Parker and Horsley in 1892. Like any living tissue, bone will bleed when cut or fractured, therefore requiring hemostasis to ensure visibility while maintaining a good balance between bleeding and clotting during surgery. The most effective and immediate way is to physically block the vascular channel and is called tamponade. In this regard the widely used material is bone wax which is a mixture of beeswax. Since then, bone wax has gained widespread acceptance because it is simple to use and effective in achieving hemostasis on hard tissue surfaces, and the formulation has remained relatively unchanged, consisting of refined beeswax (88%) and isopropyl palmitate (12%). Treatment of myiasis: Beeswax is also used in the treatment of cases of myiasis of the oral cavity where an occlusion or choking approach is carried out as an adjunct to surgical debridement. In this approach beeswax could be used to block the orifice forcing the aerobic larvae to emerge for air where they can be removed with the aid of forceps or tweezers. As a coating material in sutures: Another use in the field of surgery is beeswax as a coating material in non-absorbable sutures, for example: silk. Their specific use is primarily in braided or twisted sutures to facilitate handling properties, particularly the reduction of tissue resistance when passing through the needle stroke and the ease of sliding knots along the suture when knotting . Non-adhesive dressing: After skin grafting, the most commonly used non-adhesive dressing consists of silk fibroin fabrics coated with biocompatible wax such as beeswax. The addition of wax reduces the surface energy of the fiber, making it more hydrophobic and therefore would adhere freely to the hydrophilic surface of the wound ensuring easy removal with less trauma. It also has the advantage of transforming necrotic skin into a yellow, leathery crust with good resistance to infection which allows the surgeon to excise the wound stage by stage where early massive excision is not possible. It is also used in management.