Dental Articulators

▪ Definition:
The articulator is a mechanical device that represents the temporomandibular joints and
maxillary and mandibular jaws and simulates the way the mouth works.
▪ Function:
When maxillary and mandibular dental casts are attached to the articulator, the articulator can
simulate the jaw movements in the patient (when the patient is absent).
▪ In the natural state (in the patient), the mandible moves forwards and side-to-side and the
maxilla remains stable, while articulator members work in reverse of the natural state:

✓ The base or lower member of the articulator (mandible) remains stable

✓ Raising the upper member (maxilla) of the articulator demonstrates mandibular depression
(opening)

✓ Pushing the upper member backwards demonstrates mandibular protrusion (bringing the
mandible forwards)

✓ If the articulator truly “duplicated” natural mandibular movement in the patient, then the
lower member of the articulator should move

✓ The articulator moves in reverse because the lower member remains fixed on the lab bench

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➢ Mounting records:

Dental models: impressions are made and poured in dental stone; the models are then
mounted on the articulator either for examination and diagnosis, or to construct dental
appliances.

✓ The maxillary cast is mounted to the articulator first using the facebow record. The
mandibular cast is then mounted to the articulator using the inter-occlusal record.

➢ What is the facebow?

Special records are taken to accurately position the dental models on the articulator:

Facebow helps to takes 3 reference points (1 anterior and two posterior) present in the
patient’s head, relate the angulation of the jaws to it and then transfer them to the articulator.

- Facebow record (transfer): measurement of the relationship between the upper teeth and
the transverse horizontal (hinge) axis between the patient’s condyles (base of the skull).

- Interocclusal record (bite): taken at in maximum intercuspal (MI) position or CR with

extensive restorations. If I have intercuspation, I’ll put the mandible with maxilla and
simply they will fit together, the more teeth I have, the more need for CR not MIC.

✓ There’s a concept in the prosthodontics; “reconstructive and confirmative “, confirmative

means I conform to, so I follow the existing occlusion.

For example, if I have 30 teeth and one has fallen, what do you think, I’ll replace it with MIC or
CR? of course with MIC.

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Classification of Articulators:
Two classification systems for articulators:

1. Adjustability: discussed below

2. Class I, II, III, etc.

1. Non-Adjustable Articulators:

- The simplest type of articulators

- Accept only centric relation records
- Nonadjustable (can only be opened and closed)
- It is usually a small instrument that is capable of only a hinge opening
- The distance between the teeth and the axis of rotation is considerably shorter than it is in
the patient’s mouth (shorter radius) with a resultant loss of accuracy
- Two types of this articulator:

a. Simple Hinge Articulators: cast holder, often used for orthodontic applicants.

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b. Average-Value Articulators:

✓ Hanau Mate:
• Condylar guidance fixed at average 30°inclination
• Lateral excursions (Bennett Angle) fixed at average 15 °inclination.

✓ ASA 5000 (and ASA 5010): the one we used in 3rd year.

2. Semi-Adjustable Articulators:

- It is an instrument whose larger size allows a close approximation of the anatomic distance
between the axis of rotation and the teeth
- Accepts facebow transfer record
- Accepts centric relation
- Accepts protrusive records
- Can adjust:
• TMJ to Incisor distance
• Protrusive Condylar Guidance Angle
• Lateral Condylar Bennett Guidance Angle
• Incisal guidance plate
• Inter-condylar distance is USUALLY NOT adjustable

- Condyle is movable so better restoration can be achieved

- Widely used in dental schools.

- Examples: Hanau H, Hanau H-2, Hanau Wide-Vue, Denar Mark II, Whip Mix 2240,
Kavo Protar 7

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- It has Lateral Guidance Angle (Bennett Angle): angle formed between the path of non-
working condyle and sagittal plane.

-It has Protrusive Condylar Guidance Angle

➢ Two types of this articulator:

a. ARCON: The condylar elements are placed on the lower member

of the articulator, just as the condyles are in the mandible.

-ARCON is an abbreviation for Articulating condyle

The mechanical fossae are placed on the upper member of the

articulator, simulating the position of the glenoid fossae in the skull,
so it’s just like the natural not reverse.

b. NON-ARCON: The condylar paths simulating the glenoid fossae

are attached to the lower member of the instrument while the
condylar elements are placed on the upper portion of the
articulator.

This reversal makes changing the vertical dimension after mounting inaccurate, because the
arch of rotation will change.

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So, when using this type, it’s important to register the vertical dimension from my
interocclusal record as I’m going to make the final restoration.

3. Fully Adjustable Articulator:

- Expensive
- Accept centric relation
- Accept protrusive records
- Accept lateral records
- Most complex articulators
- Used in full mouth rehabilitation or where two or more quadrants of the dental arch are
being restored, in very complex cases

- Examples (Denar 5A, Gnatholator, Stewart "Wip Mix")

- Can Adjust:
• All Condylar and Incisal Guidance Angles:
✓ Posterior wall
✓ Superior wall
✓ Medial wall

• Intercondylar (and glenoid fossa) distance

• Accepts face-bow record including
kinematic face-bow record
• It has ISS (Immediate side shift)

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➢ Dental facebow:

▪ Definition:

-The “facebow” is a device that relates the position of the maxillary arch of the patient to the
rotational transverse hinge axis of the mandible (/the base of the skull)
-It then transfers this relationship to the dental articulator so that the maxillary cast can be
accurately mounted.

▪ Function \ purpose:

1. To enable the use of a semi-adjustable articulator

2. To relate the maxilla to the mandibular hinge axis so that changes in vertical dimension can
be made on the articulator
3. To relate the occlusal plane to Frankfort Plane (the horizontal plane)
4. To relate the center line of the teeth to the center of the articulator

➢ Classification:

✓ Facebows may be classified according to the posterior

reference points used to determine the rotational hinge axis
of the mandible

✓ The anterior reference point used is often the inferior

margin of the orbit or the depression above the nose
(glabella)

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✓ Two main types:

a. Arbitrary Facebow:

• Estimated hinge axis

• Can be done by:

-Ear bow: uses the openings of the ear as the posterior references (external auditory meatus)
(e.g. Denar Slidematic Ear bow).

-Facia bow: uses a point on the skin (facia) above the approximate location of the
temporomandibular joints (TMJs) as the posterior references. This point is usually 12-13 mm
anterior to the tragus of the ear on the ala-canthus line.

b. Kinematic (Hinge-axis) Facebow:

• Actual Hinge Axis

• Mainly used with fully adjustable articulator
• Uses the exact functionally determined location of the rotational hinge axis points on the
skin as the posterior reference points

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Why don’t we use a simple hinge articulator instead of semi or fully adjustable
articulators?
Because for the hinge articulator (same for non-arcon semi-adjustable articulator), when
changing the VDO, the arc of rotation will change.

- Firstly, this is the occlusal plane, then this is when the patient opens.
Now in the below picture when the patient opens, notice the difference in the distance of the
arc of rotation between the simple hinge and the semi articulators, the semi is closer to the
average of patient.
In both articulators, the jaws reach each other the same finally, but the path of reaching is not
the same, so the cusps will not slide against each other correctly when they meet.

So, again what happens if the patient doesn’t match articulator?

The distance and orientation of the arc of rotation change causing occlusal interference.
In simple hinge, a wax bite is made intra-orally between the upper and the lower natural
teeth. If the lower cast is related (mounted) to the upper cast using this bite on a small simple
hinge articulator, then when the wax bite is removed from between the casts after mounting,
the occlusal relationship will change between the upper and lower casts.

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But why does that happen? why is it different?
Because the distance between the hinge axis of the mandible (n.1) is greater than the small
distance between the hinge axis of the simple hinge articulator and the teeth (n.2), because of
this difference, the “arc of rotation” or path of closure will be different.

How to solve this problem?

By two ways:

✓ We must use an articulator which has similar anatomic dimensions to the real patient
(semi-adjustable)
✓ We must record and transfer the correct distance between the hinge axis and the patient’s
teeth to the articulator (face-bow record), this brings us to reconfirm that facebows don’t
only relate the orientation of the jaws, it also measures the distance between the TMJ and
the teeth and when that is correct; the jaws will slide against each other in the same way.

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Fox plane: used for occlusal plane, doesn’t transfer the relationship on articulator.

➢ Mounting on the articulator:

• Remove the facebow from the patient and transfer the assembly to the articulator
• Be sure that there is a room for mounting plaster when the upper member is closed
• Technique Steps for the mandibular cast:
Remove upper bow with cast and invert on bench top
Articulate maxillary and mandibular casts according to maximum intercuspation and secure
with mounting sticks and sticky wax
Add plaster (or mounting stone) to cast and recesses of mounting ring
Now as a review.

➢ Setting angles on the articulator:

1. Protrusive (Sagittal) Condylar Guidance Angle: protrusive interocclusal record sets the
Protrusive Condylar Guidance Angle (Sagittal), it’s recorded by: “the simplest way”
a. We place a sheet of wax “special type of wax, usually baseplate wax” between teeth
b. We protrude, the wax going to fill the space between teeth.
c. Then I go back and put the sheet between teeth on articulator, and we make the screw of
the guidance angle loose.
d. I keep moving the screw up and down until the cusps set on the record accurately

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2. Lateral (Bennett) Condylar Guidance Angle, Lateral excursive record sets the Lateral
Condylar Guidance Angle (Bennett Angle - Coronal), recorded by:
a. uses an average value, just lateral record, one right one left.
b. Use Hanau’s formula:

This angle almost has no effect, for example of the PCGA was 32, LCGA will be 16 “depending
on the equation”, or if the PCGA was zero, LCGA will be 12, between 16 and 12 there’s no big
difference on the articulator.

Laboratory Procedures for Fixed Prosthodontics:

▪ Essential Components:
1. Patient name and chart number
2. Dr. name and number
3. Type of restoration/tooth number (PFM, FGC, Gold Onlay, Post-Core, …etc)
4. Due date
5. Instructions:
a. Margin design
b. Occlusal design
c. Shade, if PFM and special shade requirements
d. RPD instructions if applicable
e. FPD instructions/pontic design, try-in
f. Finish

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