Articulators

DEFINITION
An articulator may be defined as a
mechanical device that represent the

temporomandibular joint and jaw members
to which maxillary and mandibular casts
may be attached to simulate some or all of
the mandibular movements.
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Centric jaw
relationship
Mounting of occlusal rims
Trial dentures
Intercuspal
ICP
Position
The jaw relationship in
which maximal occlusal
contact occurs
The position of the
mandibule when the
relationship of opposing
occlusial surfaces
provides for maximum
planned contact and
intercuspation
Tooth-determined
position.
PURPOSES
1.
To hold the maxillary and mandibular casts in a

determined fixed relationship
2.
Mounting of dental casts for diagnosis treatment

planning and patient presentation.
3.
To simulate the jaw movement like opening and

closing.
4.
Fabrication of
restoration.
5.
Arrangement of artificial teeth for complete and

removable partial denture.
occlusal
surfaces
for
dental
USES
1.
To diagnose the state of occlusion in both the

natural and artificial dentition.
2.
To plan the dental procedures based on the

relationship between opposing natural and artificial
teeth.
3.
To aid in the fabrication of

restorations and prosthodontics
replacements.
4.
To arrange artificial teeth.
Minimal requirements
1.
It must be accurately maintain the

correct
horizontal
and
vertical
relationship of the patients casts.

2. The casts should be easily removable and
attachable to the articulator without

loosing their correct horizontal and
vertical relationship
The articulator should be able to open and

closed in a hinge like fashion.
The construction should be accurate, rigid
and of non corrosive material.
The design should be such that there is
adequate distance between the upper and
lower members.
The articulator should be stable on the
laboratory bench and not too bulky and
heavy.
ADVANTAGES
Properly mounted casts helps in better
visualization of patients occlusion ( lingual).

Pt co-operation is not a factor.
The refinement of complete denture
occlusion in the mouth is extremely difficult
bcoz of shifting in denture bases & tissue
resiliency.
Reduced chair side time/ appointment time.
Pts tongue, saliva & cheeks are not factors
when using an articulator
LIMITATION
An articulator may be made of metal/
plastic. Metal articulators show errors

in tooling or errors resulting from
metal fatigue.
The articulator may not exactly
simulate the intra border & functional
movements of the mandible.
Errors in jaw relation reproduced as
errors in denture occlusion.
ELEMENTS OF AN ARTICULATOR
horizontal axis of rotation: variability of the
position of the horizontal axis of rotation in

relationship to the maxillary dental cast
condylar inclination/fossa components:variability
of the angle of the eminentia, directional guidance of
the superior, posterior and medial walls of the fossa,
and ability to simuate laterotrusive movement
intercondylar distance: adjustability
of the distance between the vertical

axis of rotation
Benett angle/Benett movement:
adjustability of the angle and capability
of stimuating sideshift movement
incisal guidance: adjustability and
ability to stimulate the anterior
guidance of the natural dentition
CLASSIFICATION OF
ARTICULATORS
Several basis of classification of
articulator were proposed, some of
them are as follows.
A. Based on theories of occlusion.
B. Based on the adjustabililty of the
articulator.
BASED ON THEORIES OF
ARTICULATOR
A. Bonwill theory articulator WG A Bonwi
Known as theory of
equilateral triangle.
Allow lateral
movement & permit
movement in
horizontal plane.
B. Conical theory articulator R. E.

HALL
Lower teeth move

over the surface of
the upper teeth as
over the surface of
a cone generating an
angle of 45 degree.
C.Spherical theory articulatorG.S.MONS
Lower teeth
move
over
the
surface of the
upper teeth as
over a surface of
sphere
with
a
diameter
of
8inches.
The center was

located
in
the
region of glabella.
BASED ON Morphology
ARCON: condylar elements are on
the lower member of the

articulator, mechanical fossae are
placed on the upper member of
the articulator
NON ARCON: condylar path
simulating the glenoid fossae are

attached to the lower member,
condylar elements are placed on
the upper portion of the articulator
BASED ON THE
ADJUSTABILITY
Three Types :-
a. Non Adjustable
b. Semi Adjustable
c. Fully Adjustable
NON ADJUSTABLE A.
Can open and close in a
fixed horizontal axis.
Have a fixed condylar
path.
The incisal pins ride
on an inclined plate in
a fixed inclination.
SEMI ADJUSTABLE A.
adjustable
horizontal condylar
paths,
adjustable
lateral
condylar
path
adjustable
incisal guide table
and adjustable inter
condylar distance.
Have
FACEBOW Transfer
FULLY ADJUSTABLE
Capable
of
being
adjusted to follow the
mandibular movement in
all direction.
They
donot have a
condylar
guidance
instead
they
have
receptacles.
Exp. Stuart Gnathoscope

Simulator
BASIC COMPONENT OF AN
ARTICULATOR
Upper member
Lower member
Represent maxilla
Represent mandible
CONDYLAR TRACK
CONDYLAR ELEMENTVertical Rod (Incisal Pin)
Incisal guide table
Mean value / average

value/ three point
articulator
MEAN-VALUE ARTICULATOR
Upper member :Triangular frame
Vertical Rod with
thumb screw.
Two Condylar
elements
Lower Member :L Shaped frame with

horizontal and
vertical arm.
Horizontal arm is
triangular and its
apex contains incisal
guide table.
Vertical arm is
rectangular
containing condylar
guidance slot at
upper portion.
Incisal guide table :Contain very short

cylinder
whose
upper surface is
concave.
Vertical Rod should
rest on the center
of the incisal guide
table
during
articulation.
Condylar guidance
Represent by a slot
( condylar track)
Condylar element of
upper member passes

through this track.
A spring is mounted
within this track to

established
the
condylar element.
Vertical Rod or Incisal Pin :Helps to keep a

fixed
distance
between the upper
& lower member at
anterior end.
The pointed tip of
vertical rod should
rest on the center
of incisal guide
during articulation.
Incisal guide pin :Present at the mid point

of vertical rod.
The incisal edge of the
maxillar incisors at the mid
line of the occlusal rim
should touch the tip of
incisal pin during
articulation.
It present the anterior
reference point.
NON ADJUSTABLE-AVERAGE VALUE

condylar
No adjustment of movements
angle relative
to occlusal
plane in
average
patient: : 34
Condylus
sagittalis
Capable for
lateral
movement, :
15 Condylus
lateralis
Incisal
guidance:10
Casts mounted in an average

position(average values)
Balkwill and Bonwill s

Articulators

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Articulators

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DEFINITION

An articulator may be defined as a

mechanical device that represent the

Mounting of occlusal rims

To hold the maxillary and mandibular casts in a

Mounting of dental casts for diagnosis treatment

To simulate the jaw movement like opening and

Arrangement of artificial teeth for complete and

To diagnose the state of occlusion in both the

To plan the dental procedures based on the

To aid in the fabrication of

To arrange artificial teeth.

It must be accurately maintain the

relationship of the patients casts.

attachable to the articulator without

The articulator should be able to open and

visualization of patients occlusion ( lingual).

plastic. Metal articulators show errors

position of the horizontal axis of rotation in

intercondylar distance: adjustability

of the distance between the vertical

A. Bonwill theory articulator WG A Bonwi

B. Conical theory articulator R. E.

Lower teeth move

C.Spherical theory articulatorG.S.MONS

The center was

the lower member of the

NON ARCON: condylar path

simulating the glenoid fossae are

fixed horizontal axis.

Have a fixed condylar

The incisal pins ride

Exp. Stuart Gnathoscope

Mean value / average

Lower Member :L Shaped frame with

Incisal guide table :Contain very short

upper member passes

within this track to

Vertical Rod or Incisal Pin :Helps to keep a

Incisal guide pin :Present at the mid point

NON ADJUSTABLE-AVERAGE VALUE

Casts mounted in an average

Balkwill and Bonwill s

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