Articulators and
articulation
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Definition of articulator
A mechanical device which represents the
temporomandibular joints and jaw members
to which maxillary and mandibular casts may
be attached to stimulate jaw movements
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Purposes of an articulator
To hold the maxillary and mandibular casts in
a determined fixed relationship.
To stimulate jaw movements like opening and
closing
To produce border movements and
intraborder movements of the teeth similar to
those in the mouth
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Uses of an articulator
To diagnose the state of occlusion in both
natural and artificial dentitions
To plan dental procedures based on the
relationship between opposing natural teeth
and artificial teeth.eg evaluation of the
possibility of balanced occlusion
To aid in the fabrication of restorations and
prosthodontic replacements
To correct and modify completed restorations.
To arrange artificial teeth
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Classification of
articulator
Bonwill
theory
articulators
Based on
Conical thery
theories of
articulators
occlusion.
Spherical
theory
articulators
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Based on type of interocclusal
record used
Inter-occlusal record adjustment
Graphic record adjustment
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Based on ability to stimulate jaw
movements
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
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Class I articulators
Only vertical motion is possible
These articulators used when a tentative jaw
relation is done
Eg. Slab articulator , barndoor articulator
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Class II articulators
Horizontal and vertical movements possible
But do not orient the movement to TMJ with a
face-bow
Type A : eg. Mean value articulator
Type B : eg. Monsons articulator , Hall
articulator
Type C: eg. Houses articulator
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Class III articulators
Type A : eg. Hanau H , Hanau II ,
Bergstorm articulator
Type B : eg. Panadent, Trubite , Teledyne
Hanau university series
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Class IV articulators
Type A :eg. TMJ articulator
Type B : eg. Stuart instrument
gnathoscope
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Based on adjustability
Non adjustable
Semi adjustable
Arcon articulator
Non-arcon articulator
Fully adjustable
eg. Stuart instrument
gnathoscope
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Structure of an
articulator
Described as a tranguloid apparatus
Consists of upper and lower member
Upper member represents maxilla and lower
member represents mandible.
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Mean value articulator
Non- adjustable articulator
Why is it called so ? Designed using fixed dimensions
which are derived from the average distance between
incisal and condylar guidance of the population
Condylar guidance eq. of glenoid fossa attached to
lower member
Condylar element eq. mandibular condyle attached to
upper member hence it is non-arcon articulator
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Upper member
Triangular frame with base of triangle placed posteriorly
Apex contains a provision to accommodate vertical
rods(incisal pin)
Two condylar elements seen projecting on either side of
the base of triangle
They articulate with condylar guidance of the lower
member
Attachment of maxillary cast during articulation.
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Lower member
L shaped frame with a horizontal and vertical
arm
Horizontal arm triangular in shape and corresponds
to upper member
Apex of triangle of the horizontal arm contains the
incisal guide table
Vertical arm is rectangular in shape containing
condylar guidance slot at the upper portion
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Lower member
A fixed metal bar is present in the vertical arm.
Incisal guide table or ant. guidance of the articulator
that part of articulator which maintains incisal
guide angle
the verical rod should rest on the centre of
the incisal guide table during articulation ??
Condylar guidance
guides movement of condyle
represents glenoid fossa of TMJ
angulation should be equal to that of TMJ
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Wax up
Waxing up is defined as the contouring of a
pattern in wax generally applied to shaping in
wax of the contours of a trial denture
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Procedure
Roll of base plate wax softened under open flame
Softened wax kneaded and adapted over the cervical area of teeth
The wax should be adapted and contoured such that it gives convex
contour to the denture flange
A depression should be central and lateral incisors
The buccal gingival bulge should become more prominent near the
molar and 2nd molar regions
Wax should be carved around the neck of each tooth using a wax
spatula.
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Procedure contd
Excess wax removed till the finish line of teeth
The wax should be thinned down near the necks of teeth. Done to
resemble the free gingiva
Stippling can be produced interdentally using a tooth brush
The contoured pattern can be polished by flaming it swiftly and
immediately wiped wet cotton
Layer of wax can be added to the palatal surface of the record base
to increase its thickness
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Reference
Textbook of prosthodontics, Deepak
nallaswamy
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