Part 1 reviews published studies which relate to materials and techniques contributing to the dimensional accuracy of small dental castings. A brief history of the cire perdue or lost-wax method of casting alloys and the development of modern dental casting materials and techniques are presented. Data on the behaviour of inlay wax, in particular its contraction and distortion, are reviewed as is the extensive literature about the casting shrinkage of gold alloys (Part 2) and the setting and thermal expansion of investments under both laboratory and practical conditions (Part 3). Part 4 discusses the role of the casting ring and its asbestos liner. Asbestos as a liner has now largely been replaced by two alternative materials, one based on cellulose and the other on ceramic fibres. The limited literature on the effect of these newer materials on casting accuracy is also reviewed, as their introduction may require significant changes in the traditional technology of dental casting.