ARTICULATORS

Def.

Mechanical device represent TMJ and Jaws where Maxillary and Mandibular cast are

attached at vertical and horizontal relation to simulate mandibular movement .

Vertical relation vertical dimension

Horizontal relation centric relation

Basic parts of articulators
Functions:

1- act as patient in absence of patient.

2- simulate not duplicate mandibular movement.

3- arrangement of artificial teeth in complete denture or R.P.D.

4- mount casts for diagnosis and treatment plan.

Advantages:

1- see occlusion from lingual side help in setting of artificial teeth.

2- patient’s saliva, cheeks and tongue not factors.

3- patient’s cooperation not a factor.

4- considerable chair time and appointment.

Requirements

Minimal requirements:

1-mentain vertical and horizontal relation.

2-casts are easily attached and removed without losing relation.

3-should have incisal post {incisal guide pin } which maintain vertical dimension.

4-open and close in hinge like movement.

5-its material should be rigid, accurate and non corrosive.

6-moving parts should resist wear.

Additional requirements: (to achieve balanced occlusion)

1- accept face bow transfer.

2- allow lateral and protrusive movement {accept lateral and protrusive record}

(adjustable condylar guidance)

3- adjustable incisal guidance.

Types of articulators:
*According to acceptance of records:
There are 5 records:

1-face bow record detect terminal hinge axis where articulator open and close

around.

2-inter occlusal record {centric record} detect relation between maxilla and

mandible.

3-protrusive record detect horizontal condylar angle/path.

4-latral record detect laterals condylar angles/paths (right and left)

Types:
(in each type talk about shape of articulator, movement, records accepted and others)

1-class I {simple holding instrument }

A-plaster slab articulator (relator)

* Not allow movement just holding /maintain relation so not used now.
*Accept interocclusal record.
* Not consider as articulator.
B- simple hinge articulator:

*Consist of two bows united by screw posteriorly.

*Allow open and close movement.

*Accept only interocclusal record only.
2-class II {mean value}

*Has mean value(fixed) through

1- inter condylar distance
2- condylar guidance 30:40
3- incisal guidance 10:15

*Allow opening and closing

*Accept:
1- interocclusal record.
2-may accept face bow transfer to mount upper cast
or mounted by bown will triangle {equilaterals triangle equal 4 inch }
3-classIII (adjustable articulator)
A- semi adjustable:
*Accept:
1-face bow record/transfer.
2-interocclusal record (centric record)
3-protrusive record.
Not accept lateral record but calculated by Hanau formula L꞊H/8 +12

(L) lateral condylar guidance (h) horizontal condylar guidance

*example
arcon whip mix articulator non arcon Hanau articulator
2-fully adjustable:
*Accept
1- face bow record/transfer
2- inter occlusal record (centric record)
3- protrusive record
4- latral record(right and left)
Example: Denar articulator
*According to location of the articulator condyle:

Arcon (articulating condyle) Non arcon (non articulating

condyle)
Description Has condylar element Has condylar ball element
represent condyle in lower represent condyle in upper
member member
condylar shaft /groove condylar shaft /groove represent
represent glenoid fossa in glenoid fossa in lower member
upper member
Simulate patient As patient anatomically correct The reverse of patient

Movement Lower member move Upper member move

Arcon Articulator
Non Arcon Articulator
principles of articulator:
*articulators simulate, not duplicate patient mouth.
not duplicate as in patient mouth there are:
1- muscles do movements.
2- ligaments restrict movements.
3- resiliency of mucosa.
But Simulate as follow:
1- condylar path and guidance:
In mouth: (condyle move in glenoid fossa)
*Condylar path path travelled by condyle in glenoid fossa and there are:
a- horizontal condylar path path travelled by condyle in glenoid fossa during

protrusion.

*horizontal condylar angle angle formed between horizontal condylar path and

horizontal plan.

b- lateral condylar path path travelled by condyle in glenoid fossa during lateral

movement.

*lateral condylar angle angle between lateral condylar path and horizontal plan.

In articulator: ( there is condylar guidance)

Condylar guidance consist of:

1- condylar element represent condyle.

2-incisal path and guidance:
In mouth there is
a-Incisal path path travelled by labial surface of lower anterior teeth on
lingual surface of upper anterior teeth during protrusion.
Incisal angle angle between incisal path and horizontal plan.
In articulator there is:
Incisal guidance consist of:
1-incisal table moved by screw
2-incisal post over it
*adjusted according to over jet and overbite which obtained by setting of anterior
artificial teeth according to esthetic, phonetics
 Different records used to mount upper and lower cast on
different articulators

General steps:

1- Make grooves in the cast. so during mount there will be projections allow return

to articulator in the same position after processing for laboratory remount.

2- place cast in water for 5 minutes to be saturated by water. if not placed, during

mounting absorb water from plaster index become one unit.

In simple hing articulator *by centric interocclusal record together where

two bows are parallel,

In mean value articulator

*mount upper cast bownwill triangle or by face bow transfer.

*Mount lower cast by interocclusal record.

In adjustable articulator

*mount upper cast by face bow. so adjust transverse hinge axis on articulator .

* Mount lower cast by interocclusal record or by mandibular face bow.

*Adjust condylar guidance by (protrusive record and lateral record in fully

adjustable),,,, (protrusive record and Hanau equation in semi adjustable articulator)

*Adjust incisal guidance by overjet and over bite which obtained by setting of

anterior artificial teeth according to esthetic and phonetics.

 Face bow record condylar rods

Bite fork

Infra orbital
pointer
a-maxillary face bow:
Function: used for craniomaxillary orientation.

(transfer relation between maxilla and terminal hinge axis of patient)

Consist of:
a- 2condylar rods: has degrees placed on condyle.
b- Bite fork: placed in labial surface of occlusion rim parallel to occlusal plane.
c- Infra orbital pointer: place at infraorbital notch.
Types:
1-arbitary face bow: (fascia face bow) as detect position of condyle arbitrary (11;13
mm anterior to tragus of ear along canthus tragus line )
2-ear piece face bow: Place condylar rods in ear related to external auditory meatus
which is fixed and relate position of condyle.
b-mandibular face bow:

Function: Used to record position of condyle in terminal hinge axis (in centric

relation )

Consist of:

a-condylar rod: placed at condyle arbitrary at first.

b-Bite fork: attached to lower record.

 ?? Compare between different types of articulators
S imple Mean value semiadj ust able Fully
hinge adj ust able

Hor izont al Fixed 30° A dj ust able by A dj ust ed by

condylar pr ot r usive pr ot r usive
guidance r ecor d r ecor d

Lat r al Fixed A dj ust able by A dj ust ed by

condylar equat ion lat r al r ecor d
guidance

I ncisal Fixed and in A dj ust able A dj ust able

guidance some t ypes
adj ust able

I ncisal post A vailable A vailable A vailable

I nt er Fixed Fixed as not A dj ust able

condylar accpept lat r al
dist ance r ecor d

Recor ds I nt er I nt er I nt er occlusal I nt er
accept ed occlusal occlusal r ecor d ,,f ace occlusal
r ecor d r ecor d ,,may bow r ecor d r ecor d ,,f ace
mount ed accept f ace ,,pr ot r usive bow
t oget her bow r ecor d ,,pr ot r usive
r ecor d
,,lat r al
r ecor d
(r ight and
lef t )