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Articulators and facebow

10/4/2022
➢ Definition of articulators and facebow
➢ Uses of articulators
➢ Components
➢ Classification of articulators
➢ Types of articulators
➢ Indications
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Mandibular Reference Positions
Basic jaw positions: centric occlusion (CO) or inter-cuspal position (ICP),
centric relation (CR), and rest position.

■ Centric occlusion or ICP: maximum inter-cuspation of teeth.

■ Centric relation is a position or path of opening and closing without

translation of the condyles of the mandible in which the condyles are in
their uppermost position in the mandibular fossa and related anteriorly to
the distal slope of the articular eminence.

In the majority of people centric occlusion appears to be anterior to centric

relation on the average by 1mm.

Centric occlusion is a tooth determined position whereas centric relation is a

jaw to jaw relation determined by the condyles in the fossa.

A coincidence between CO & CR occurs in 10% of the population.

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Tracing of mandibular movement in the
sagittal plane (posselt's envelope)
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Tracing of mandibular movements in the
horizontal plane

Benett movement it Benett angle:

occurs in lateral occurs on the
movement of the non working
mandible where the side, it is the
condyle rotates with a angle made
slight lateral shift in between the
the direction of head of the
movement. The shift condyle and
may be immediate or the vertical
progressive (occurs plane
slowly during
translation).
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Mandibular movement

In tracing the movement of the mandible using recording

equipment such as a pantograph or a kinesograph it is
possible to record mandibular movement in different
planes. If we place a point between the mandibular central
incisors and it is tracked during maximum lateral,
protrusive, retrusive and wide opening, such movements
take place within a border or envelope of movements.
Articulator:
A mechanical device used to simulate
mandibular movements. The principle
employed is the mechanical replication
of the paths of movement of the
posterior and the anterior
determinants.

Border Movements

The outer limites of all excursive movements of the mandible are

referred to as border movements. They are highly reproducible and
useful for articulator adjustments.
Why do we need articulators ?

•A faithful simulation : casts on the articulator exhibit the same tooth

to tooth and arch to arch relation that exists in the patients mouth.

•Movements of the mandible are simulated on the articulator as close as

possible to what exists clinically

How can an articulator simulate the clinical situation ?

We need to mount the maxillary cast on the articulator in the same way
the maxillary arch is related to the terminal hinge axis
 Aim of using Articulators

• Fabrication of prosthesis that are in

harmony with the existing occlusal
scheme and TMJ situation
 Advantages of Articulator

The articulator permits the visualization of the teeth from all aspects at
different mandibular position.

Study of sectors of the dental arches

 Use of Articulator
1- PreTreatment stage
• Occlusal analysis and equilibration

• Changing the arch and tooth relationship preparing for orthognathic

procedures
 Use of Articulator

1- PreTreatment stage
• Wax up for diagnosis and proper planning, as well as communicating and
explaining the treatment to patients
 Use of Articulator

2- Treatment stage

• Fabrication of fixed and removable prosthesis that are in harmony with

the existing occlusion

• Fabrication of splints for occlusal therapy

 Components of Articulator

• Superior and inferior member

• Vertical arms
• Mechanical fossae and condyle
• Incisal pin and table
 Classification of articulators
I: Arcon : Articulating Condyle.
Fixed Prosthodontics
The condylar elements are placed on
the lower member of the articulator,
just as the condyles are located on the
mandible. The mechanical fossae are
placed on the upper member, simulating
the position of the glenoid fossae in the
skull
II: Non Arcon

Removable Prosthodontics
The mechanical fossae is located in the
lower member of the instrument while
the condylar elements are placed on
the upper portion of the articulator
 Types of articulators

Hinge Articulator
• Non adjustable, capable of only hinge
opening and closing.
• maximunintercuspation
Uses
• Single tooth restoration when the
occlusal influence is minimal

Twin stage Occluder

Maximum intercuspation and functional
position
Problems

Inaccurate
Dimensions of the articulator
(distance between the
transverse hinge axis and the
teeth)

Limitations
Does not reproduce any type of movement except hinge
Only position is maximum intercuspation
 Average articulator

• Condylar inclination fixed between 20 and 30 °.

• mounting of cast is established using an occlusal table
• cannot be programed

Uses
For complete denture fabrication
 Semi adjustable Articulator

• More accurate reproduction of mandibular movements

• Intercondylar distance can be modified (small, medium, large)
• 1st generation:

• Reproduce the condylar inclination, Bennett angle

• 2nd and 3rd generation: includes the immediate side shift (Ex. SAM2)

• Some have straight condylar paths others have curved paths (anatomic)
 Semi adjustable Articulator

Examples : Denar II, Whip Mix, Hanau, Dentatus, SAM

DENAR STUART HANAU DENTATUS

Whip Mix
 Fully adjustable Articulator

• Reproduces the entire mandibular movement border movement

(inclination and path)
• Intercondylar distance is completely adjustable
• simulate the mandibular movements in 4 dimension (Timing!)
• Requires a pantographic recording
• Kinematic facebow registration
•Highly expensive and time consuming

Denar D5A
Indications
 Non Adjustable Articulators
(Hinge and average angle
articulators)
Single Tooth restoration

Semi adjustable Articulators

Most of fixed and removable dentures

Fully adjustable Articulators

Complex (Multiple tooth restorations) rehabilitation
Missing anterior guidance
Extensive occlusal modification
Changes vertical dimension of occlusion
Atypical mandibular movements
ATM Joint problems
Diagnostic Information
provided Fully Adjustable

Occlusal Information
conveyed to the lab Semi Adjustable
Time and skill needed
Modifications in Average Articulator

Patient’s mouth
Hinge Articulator

Unmounted casts
 Mounting the casts on the articulator

Step I: Mounting the upper cast : Facebow

Step II: Mounting the lower cast : interocclusal records

Step III: Programing the articulator: interocclusal records

or pantographic tracing
 Facebow Transfer

1. Mechanical device used to transfer the terminal hinge axis from the patient
mouth to the articulator.
• Record the spatial position of the maxillary occlusal plane to the transverse
opening and closing axis of the patient.

Terminal Hinge Axis? The mandibular hinging movement around the

transverse horizontal axis is repeatable. That makes this imaginary
hinge axis around which the mandible rotates in the sagittal plane a
reference point fabricating fixed prostheses.
 Components

1. Transverse component and two adjustable side arms.

2. Bite fork
3. An indicator (third reference point)
 Classification Facebow

1- Kinematic Facebow
1. Indicated when it is critical to Indicates the exact position of
precisely reproduce the exact opening the true hinge axis of the patient
and closing movement of the patient on
the articulator

2. Used for transfer on fully adjustable

articulator

1. T h e m o s t a c c u r a t e w a y o f
determining the axis is by error and trial
?
 Classification Facebow

2- Arbitrary Facebow
1.Uses an arbitrary point to represent the hinge axis
2.Less accurate but suffice for most prosthetic treatments

It implies an approximate location of the hinge axis

based on average anatomic values:
1. 13 mm from the anterior margin of tragus to
canthus
2. 10mm anterior to center of auditary meatus
and 7 mm below frankfort plane
3. ear axis
 Step By Step Registration

Whip Mix Facebow

Step By Step Registration
 Step By Step Registration

Infraorbital Indicator Nasion indicator Anterior Point

Ex: Hanau Facebow Ex: WhipMix Facebow Ex: Denar Slidematic

Finished mounting of upper cast in relation to
terminal hinge axis
 Mounting the casts

Step I: Mounting the upper cast : Facebow

Step II: Mounting the lower cast : interocclusal records

Step III: Programing the articulator: interocclusal records

or pantographic tracing
 Where are the condyles when we talk about
terminal hinge axis?

They are in the most superior anterior position in the articular fossae, with the
articular disc properly interposed.
When condyles are in this position, this position is called “Centric Relation”
Centric relation : the relationship of the mandible to the maxilla when the mandible
condyles are in the uppermost position in the glenoid fossae and related anteriorly to
distal slope of the articular eminence. It is a jaw to jaw relationship determined by
the condyles in the articular fossae independent of tooth contact.
▪ Centric occlusion (CO) or intercuspal position
(ICP): the relationship of the mandible to the maxilla
when the teeth are in maximal intercuspation,
independent of condylar position.

▪ Sometimes referred to as the best fit of the teeth

regardless of the condylar position.

▪ CO may or may not coincide with the centric relation

position.
 Mounting in the Centric relation or maximum
intercuspation position?

When a whole posterior segment or a complete arch is to be restored the cast should be
mounted in a centric relation however when a single tooth is to be restored occlusally the
cast can be mounted in a ICP.

In addition when mounting on the articulator for diagnostic and study purposes we
usually mount in centric relation position
 Inter-Occlusal Records

a record of various mandibular positions, used to mount the mandibular cast

or to adjust the mechanical condyle settings, recorded by placing a plastic
material that hardens between the occlusal surfaces of the teeth; the hardened
material serves as the record

I.Centric Interocclusal records

Centric relation record: are used to replicate on the articulator, the relationship
between the maxilla and the mandible when the condyles are in their most anterior superior
position in the glenoid fossae.
Maximum intercuspation record

II. Eccentric interocclusal records

Wax records taken in lateral and protrusive mandibular positions used to adjust the
condylar guidance of the articulator.
 Centric Relation Recording

Techniques of registration of the centric relation

position:
• Chinpoint guidance
Single handed
• Bilateral manipulation (Bimanual)
most consistent repeatable results

• Unguided method : produces a physiologic

muscle position that is not reproducible and
highly dependent on the muscle activity status.

Comparison : Study (Hobo and Iwata, 1985)

Maximum intercuspation recording
 Lateral interocclusal recording

Static records used to capture the position of the condyles in their respective
fossa in eccentric mandibular positions (protrusive and lateral)
Finished mounting of lower cast in relation to
upper cast
 Mounting the casts

Step I: Mounting the upper cast : Facebow

Step II: Mounting the lower cast : interocclusal records

Step III: Programing the articulator: interocclusal records

or pantographic tracing
 Programing an articulator

Posterior determinant Anterior Determinant

Condylar guidance Anterior guidance
Bennett angle
Lateral side shift shift

Intraoral method: Extraoral method:

interocclusal wax record pantographic tracing
 Pantographic Tracing

Faithfully simulate the condylar movement on an articulator. It is

necessary to obtain precise tracing of the paths followed by the condyle

A pantograph consists of two facebows.

One fixed to the maxilla and the other
attached to the mandible.

With recording styli attached to one member and tracing tables attached
opposite to them
 Pantographic Tracing

• Used to set fully adjustable articulators

• A pantographic recording will capture all of the characteristics of the mandibular border
movement from its most retruded position to its most forward and lateral position

• The mandible goes into a series of lateral & protrusive excursions the styli records path of
the mandibular movement

• The pantograph then attached to the articulator, adjustments are made until the articulator
can follow the same paths of the pantograph
 It consists of six recording plates
two on both sides of the anterior
member and two on each side lateral
to the TMJ region (hinge axis
region)
Denar Electronic Measurement
https://youtu.be/6oq6LK53aZs
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