Articulator, Face Bow

And Mounting
Presented:
Hussien Saad
Hanan Hamid
Haneen Rabeea
Jannat Ihsan

Supervised: Afeaa Latif

 Face Bow
It is a caliper-like device, which is used to record the relationship of the
jaw to the temporomandibular joints and to orient the cast in the same
relationship to the opening axis of the articulator

Functions of Face Bow

1- To record the relationship of maxilla to temporomandibular joints.
2-Transfer the above relation from the patient to the articulator by using
posterior and anterior reference points.
3- Simulation of mandibular movements of the patient on the articulator by
accurate transfer of the cast to the articulator
Parts of Face Bow
1-U-Shaped Frame: forms the main part of the frame with remaining components
attached to it by clamps. Frame 1 extends from the region of TMJ or external acoustic
meatus to a distance of 2-3 inches in front of the face
2-Condylar rods: are positioned 13 mm anterior to the auditory meatus on the Canto-
Tragal line. This placement generally locates the rods within 5 mm of the true centre of
the opening hinge axis of the jaw.
3-Bite Fork: consist of stem and prongs. Wax material is usually attached to the bite
fork, and the bite fork is held in contact with maxillary jaw or mandibular jaw in
kinematic face-bow.
4-Locking Device: helps to attach the bite fork to the Ushaped frame.

5-Orbital pointer with clamp: used as a third reference point. The pointer tip is
placed in the contact with infraorbital notch which is 43 mm above the incisal edge
of the right incisors.
Types Of Face Bows
1-Kinematic face bow
which locates the true hinge axis used for fabrication of fixed partial denture, it is
generally not used for complete denture fabrication because it requires along an
complex procedure to record the orientation jaw relation.
2-Arbitrary face bow
which locates the arbitrary hinge axis. It is most commonly used in
complete denture construction.

These are of two types

1- fascial type. 2-earpiece type .

Articulators
Articulator is a mechanical device, which represents the temporomandibular joints and
jaw members to which maxillary and mandibular casts may be attached.
Requirements
1- Should be possible to attach and remove the casts from the articulator
without losing their relationship.
2-Articulators should maintain the accuracy of vertical and horizontal
jaw relation records
3- It should have incisal guide pin with anterior stop that can be adjusted.

4-It should function freely in the hinge movement.

5- It should accept the face bow record adjustable with the anterior and
posterior reference positions.
6- It should be made up of rigid, non-corrosive material and moving parts
should be resistant to wear.
7-Design should have adequate distance between upper and lower members to
permit the view of occlusion from posterior side.
Requirements
8- Condylar guides should be adjustable.
9- There should be a provision for Bennett movement
10- Incisal guide table should be adjustable in sagittal and frontal planes.

Functions
1-Allow most of the prosthetic work to be done in the absence of the patient.
2-Maintain jaw relation record during setting up of teeth.
3-Denture remounting after processing for correction of
occlusal disharmony.

Methods of classifying articulators are

1-Based on the theories of occlusion.
2-Based on the type of inter-occlusal record used.
3-Based on the ability to simulate jaw movements.
4-Based on the adjustability of the articulator.
Types of articulators
1-Non-adjustable
A-(simple hinge) articulators: it consists of an upper and lower members held apart at a
certain distance by the screw which act at the back. The screw can increase or decrease the
distance between the two members, and permits only a hinge like movement.
Possible movements: Opening and closing movements only
Records required: 1-OVD 2-Centric relation record

Advantages: 1-Simple instrument. 2-Cheep. 3- Rigid.

Disadvantages: Simples articulator is designed to accept only inter

occlusal that is in accurate. Cannot accept face-bow.

B- Fixed condylar path articulators: The two members are joined by 2 joints that represent the TMJ.
The horizontal condylar path is fixed a certain angle that ranges from 30-40 which is the average of
the most patients. On the fixed condylar path articulators, the upper members are movable (the
condyle) and the lower Members are stationary.
Types of articulators
1-opening and closing
Possible movements:
2-protrusive movement at a fixed condylar path angle.

Records required: 1-OVD 2-Centric relation record 3-Face Bow Record

2-Adjustable condylar path articulators

These types of articulators differ from fixed condylar path articulators in that have
adjustable condylar and incisal guidance. they can be adjusted so that the movements of
its jaw members closely resemble all movements of the mandible for each individual
patient
A) Semi adjustable condylar path articulators
Design
In these articulators (e.g. Hanau’s articulator) the horizontal condylar path is adjusted by
the protrusive record obtained from the patient. The lateral condylar path inclination is
adjusted according to the Hanau’s formula: L=H/8+12 (L=lateral condylar path, H= the
horizontal condylar path)
A) Semi adjustable condylar path articulators
Advantages
1.Accept face-bow record.
2. Have adjustable condylar guidance better dentures.
3. Have adjustable incisal guidance.
Disadvantages: Require more time and procedure.

Semi Adjustable Articulators

-Arcon(articulator+condyle): is commonly condyles on the
lower member and the condylar guides on the upper.
Advantages
Face-bow transfer, occlusal plane and the relationship of the opposing casts
are preserved when the articulator is opened and closed.
 -Non -Arcon: or condylar articulator having the condylar
guides (fossa assemblies) attached to the lower member.

Possible movements:
1-Opening and closing
2-Protrusive movement according to the horizontal
condylar path angle determined from the patient.
3-Lateral movement to the angle estimated from the
Hanau formula.
4-Some types have Bennett movement (immediate side
shift).

A) Fully adjustable articulators

They differ from the adjustable articulators in that the lateral condylar path
inclinations are adjusted according to records taken from the patient.
A) Fully adjustable articulators
Possible movements
The same movement for the semi-adjustable articulators in
addition they have Bennett movement.
Records Required
Advantages:
1-A maxillary face bow record to mount the upper cast Allow very closed representation of TMJ with
2-Centric occluding relation record to mount the lower cast. more accurate reproduction of condylar path
3-Protrusive record to adjust the horizontal Condylar path bennet shaft
Disadvantages
inclination. • consuming to use and adjustable Require high
4-Right lateral record to adjust the left lateral Condylar path
level of skill and Time
inclination. • understanding from both dentist and technician.
5-Left lateral record to adjust the right lateral Condylar path • Expensive instrument

inclination.
 MOUNTING PROCEDURE
Mounting is the procedure of attaching the maxillary and mandibular casts to the articulator in their recorded jaw
relation. It is also called articulation. The maxillary cast is first articulated, and then the mandibular cast is
articulated after recording the vertical and centric jaw relations
We have two types of mounting
1-arbitrary mounting
2-mounting using face bow

Mounting the maxillary cast

The maxillary cast is attached to the articulator using the Orientation jaw relation record:
A. The maxillary cast should be placed in slurry water for at least five minutes for
better adhesion of the cast to the mounting plaster.
B. The maxillary cast is placed onto the record base of the occlusal rim.

C. A relatively thick mix of dental plaster is mixed and placed over the maxillary casts,
then separating medium should be applied over the maxillary cast.
D. The upper member of the articulator is closed and the mounting plaster is contoured
to obtain a good finish
 MOUNTING PROCEDURE
Mounting mandibular cast
A. The mandibular cast is mounted after recording the tentative vertical and centric
jaw relations.
B. The articulator with the mounted maxillary cast is inverted to aid in mounting
the mandibular cast.
C. The maxillary occlusal rim is placed on the maxillary cast. The mandibular occlusal rim is
positioned over the maxillary occlusal rim using the centric relation records
D. The mandibular cast is placed on the lower occlusal rim. (It should be soaked in
slurry water before mounting).
E. The mandibular cast is placed on the lower occlusal rim. (It should be soaked in
slurry water before mounting).
 MOUNTING PROCEDURE
Checking The Mounting
1- The midline of maxillary cast should be coincided with the midline of
mandibular cast and midline of articulator.
2- Centralization of maxillary cast with upper member of articulator then the
centralization of lower cast which depend on accuracy of the maxillary cast.
3- Incisal pin checked if it does not touch the incisal table.

Possible Errors During Mounting

1. The record base is not properly secured to the cast
2. Interference of the casts posteriorly.
3. The incisal pin does not touch the incisal table.
4. The incisal pin is not properly screwed.
5. Movement of the casts during mounting.
6. Dimensional changes in the plaster material.
7. Wrong transference of the midline of the articulator with that of the casts (shifting of the midline).
8.Maxillary and mandibular rims are not properly fixed after making
9. centric record.
 Remounting
It is the procedure by which the processed dentures. Are returned to their previous mounting on the
articulator to correct occlusal errors resulting from the various cases.

Laboratory Remounting
Artificial teeth move about to a minor degree during denture festooning and
while the wax denture base is being converted into resin

This teeth movement due to dimensional changes in the wax denture base, dimensional changes
in the investing material ''setting expansion of the stone" slight movement of the teeth due to
excessive or improper pressure during packing, and dimensional changes in the denture base resin
during processing
In general, if all the steps are performed scientifically, errors resulted will be
small and their corrections will be simple.

The processing errors are then removed by selective grinding in the

laboratory remounting procedure .

9. centric record.
 Remounting
Purpose of laboratory remounting
1. To correct errors in occlusion that have occurred during processing
2. To return dentures to the correct vertical dimension of occlusion
3. To restore centric and bilateral balanced occlusion
The processed dentures are removed from the flasks. Reposition the stone casts on the original
plaster mountings. Carefully inspect the plaster mountings and the underside of the casts.
Remove any stone particles or debris before joining the two together.
Place each cast on its plaster mounting and check that it goes into place
exactly. If the casts do not seat on the mountings properly look for particles of
plaster which may be adhering to the mounting or the cast.
The master cast with the polymerized denture must be effectively secured to
the articulator Mountings. Begin by placing notches in both the mounting
and the master cast with an acrylic bur
soak the cast And mountings in water for 5 minutes and place a plaster around the junction between the cast and the

9.plaster
centricmount.
record.Plaster maintains a better bond and is quicker and easier to use than sticky wax.
References
1-Text book of complete denture.
2-Text book of prosthodontics.
3-Complete denture prosthetics.
4-internet