Dental articulators

Ahmed Raouf
Dental articulators
• Def. : mechanical instruments that recreate the relationship between the

temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the jaws, by mounting upper and lower print patterns

on the instrument.

• Simulates the movements of the patient's jaw; it provides static and dynamic

relationships (Maxillo-Mandibular Relations)

• Centric Relations

• Maximum Inter Cuspation

Maxillo-Mandibular
Relations

• Centric Relations : Position in which condyles

articulate with the thinnest avascular portion

of their respective discs in the most anterior-

Superior position against the articular

eminences

• Independent of teeth
Maxillo-Mandibular Relations

• Maximum Intercuspation : 

• Complete Interdigitation of Teeth

• Independent of Condyler Position

CR vs MI

• MI and CR coincide in only 10% of the population

• Casts are mounted in MI when it can be maintained

(single fixed procedure)

• On the other hand, Casts are mounted in CR when MI is impossible to maintain

( Complete dentures, multiple teeth being restored or replaced)

Dental Articulators

•These articulation helps in Observing malocclusions or dysfunctional

movements of extraoral form. the dentist can study the treatment guidelines

to achieve Occlusal Harmony where Joint, muscles and teeth are

functioning without fatigue or discomfort for the patient.

Components of articulator
• Upper Member
• Lower Member
• Incisal Guide Table
• Condylar Guidance
• Incisal Pin
Components Of Articulator
• Upper member
• It is a tringular frame with the base of
the trinagle placed posteriorly.
• The apex of triangle contains a provision
to accommodate the incisal pin.
• Two condylar elements are seen
projecting on either side of the base of
the triangle.
Components Of Articulator
• Lower member
• L shaped frame with horizontal and
vertical arm.
• The horizontal arm is triangular in shape
and corresponds to the upper member.
• The apex of the triangle of the horizontal
arm contains the incisal guide table.
• The vertical arm is rectangular containing
the condylar guidance slot at the upper
position.
 Components Of Articulator

INCISAL GUIDE TABLE INCISAL PIN

• It helps to keep a fixed
• It can be describes distance between the upper
as a very short and lower members at the
cylindrical whose anterior end.
upper surface is • The vertical rod has a
concave. pointed tip, which should
rest on the centre of the
• The vertical rod incisal guide table during
should rest on the articulation.
center of the • The tip of the incisal guide
incisal guide table pin is the anterior reference
during articulation. point in this articulator.
 Requirements :

1. It should hold casts in correct

horizontal and vertical

relationship.

2. It should provide a positive

anterior vertical stop (incisal pin).

 Requirements :

3. It should accept a face bow

transfer record utilizing anterior

reference point.
 Requirements :

3. It should open and close in a hinge movement.

 Requirements :

4. It should allow protrusive and lateral jaw motion.

 Requirements :
6. The moving parts should not move freely and be
accurately machined.

7. The non-moving parts should be a rigid construction

made of non corrosive material.

8. The patient casts must be easily removable and

attachable to the articulator without loosing their
correct horizontal and vertical relationship.
Uses of Articulator :

• Primary purpose:

1) To hold opposing casts in a predetermined fixed relationship.

2) To open and close.

3) To produce border and inter-border diagnostic sliding motions of the teeth

similar to these in the mouth.
Uses of Articulator :

• Other purpose:

1. To diagnose dental occlusal conditions.

2. To plan dental procedures or treatment plan.

Uses of Articulator :
• Other purpose:

3. To aid in fabrication of dental

restorations and lost dental parts.

4. Helpful in teaching and studying

of occlusion and mandibular
movements.
Types of dental articulators

• Classified into different classes according to the spatial movements and

trajectory that they can perform, resulting in greater complexity of
treatments.
1- Non-adjustable condylar path articulators.
A- Simple hinge articulators(class I)
B- Fixed or Average Mean value condylar path articulators (class II)
2- Adjustable condylar path articulators 
A- Sime-adjustable condylar path articulator(Class III)
B- Fully-adjustable condylar path articulator(Class IV)
 Non-adjustable
Articulators
Non-adjustable articulator (Class I)
• occlusive hinges or hinges, It consists
of two arms upper and lower
members held apart at a certain
distance by a screw which acts at the
back. The screw can increase or
decrease the distance between the
two members, and permits only a
hinge like movement.
• designed for quick and immediate
articulation (repairs, dental clinic,...)
without using plaster or other
materials to secure the model to the
tray.
 Non-adjustable
Articulators
Non-adjustable articulator (Class I)
• Possible movements:
This type of articulators gives only
opening and closing movements.
• Records required:
1. vertical dimension of occlusion
2. centric relation records.
• Disadvantages:
These articulators do not represent the
temporomandibular joint and the
dynamic mandibular movements
Non-Adjustable
Articulators

• Non-adjustable articulators
(Class II)
• mean value or fixed condylar
path articulators
• allows movements in the
horizontal and vertical plane,
but still can't transfer the
relationship of the natural
temporomandibular joint of
the patient
 Non-Adjustable
Articulators
• Non-adjustable articulators (Class II)
Possible movements:
1. opening and closing.

2. Protrusive movement at a fixed condylar path

angle.
Records required:
1. vertical dimension of occlusion.
2. centric relation record.
3. face-bow record: in some designs of these
articulators, the upper cast can be mounted by a face
bow transfer.
 Non-Adjustable
Articulators
• Non-adjustable articulators (Class II)
• When the articulator dose not accepts face bow

record, the mounting is made according

to Bonwill triangle.
• Bonwill  found that in mandible the inter-
condyle distance as well as the distance
from each condyle to the contact point of
lower central incisors was 4 inches
(equilateral triangle).
Non-Adjustable Articulators
• Non-adjustable articulators (Class II)
•An anterior pointer is attached to the incisal pin of the
articulator to locate the tip (midline) of occlusion rim
•Labially and thus to orients cast in relation on the Bonwill
triangle.
 Non-Adjustable
Articulators
Non-adjustable articulators (Class II)
•Disadvantages:

1. most of these articulators do not accept face-bow

record

2. the condylar path moves to a fixed angle and its

successful in patients whose condylar angle

approximates that articulator

3. no lateral movements.
2- Adjustable condylar path articulators
(ClassIII &ClassIV):
Adjustable condylar path articulators

• this type of articulators differs from the fixed condylar path articulators

in that it has 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

Semi-adjustable articulators
• Class III Semi-Adjustable Articulators are the most common in dental clinics because they can

perform most dental treatments,  most suitable for training and patient development of dental

studies.

• Simulate condylar trajectories, using values equivalent to those of the patient for almost all jaw

movements.

• Transmission to the models in relation to the temporomandibular joints of the patient is

performed by transfer with the device facebow.

Semi-adjustable articulators
 In these articulators (e.g. Hanau ‘s articulator) the horizontal condylar path is adjusted by a

protrusive record obtain from the patient.

 While the lateral condylar path is adjusted according to an arrange value by special formula:

 L=H/8+12. (Hanaue formula):

L = the lateral condylar path

H = the horizontal condylar path angle which is recorded from the patient

 We can divide them in turn into ARCON Articulators and NON ARCON Articulators

 Semi-Adjustable Articulators
Arcon Non-Arcon
• The term arcon (articulator+ • Non-arcon or condylar
condyle) is commonly used to
indicate an instrument that has articulator having the condylar
its condyles on the lower
member and the condylar guides (fossa assemblies)
guides on upper members. attached to the lower member.
 Semi-adjustable
articulators

• ARCON Articulators
• They are the most
recommended to start and
are in demand in university
prosthetic practices thanks to
their adaptability and ease of
use.
Non-Arcon
Semi-adjustable articulators
Possible movements
1. opening and closing
2. Protrusive movement according to horizontal condylar path angle
determined from the patient
3. lateral movement to the angle estimated from the Hanau s formula
4. some types have Bennett movement (immediate side shift).
Records required
1. A Maxillary face bow record to mount the upper cast. Some of the
semi adjustable articulators have orbital plan guides.
The orbital plane guide allow the casts to be mounted in relation to the axis-
orbital plane of the patients and orients the casts on the articulator in the same
relationship to the dental arches as in the patients
Records required
2. Accepts centric relation record to mount the lower cast.
Records required
• 3- Accepts protrusive records to adjust the articulator’s horizontal
guidance.
Records required
• 4- Adjusted incisal guidance angle .
Records required
5. The lateral condylar guidance is adjusted
according to the Hanau’s formula

L=H/8+12
• L = the lateral condylar path

• H = the horizontal condylar path angle

which is recorded from the patient.
Records required
• 6. Intercondylar distance fixed at 110mm
Semi-Adjustable Articulators
Disadvantages
1. The lateral condylar path angle is determined from the formula
2. Most of these articulators have no Bennett movement.
B) Fully Adjustable Articulator(ClassIV)
• They differ from the semi-adjustable articulators in that the lateral
condylar path inclinations are adjusted according to records taken
from the patient.
• Possible movements
• The same movements of the semi adjustable articulators. In addition
they have Bennett movement
Records required
1) A maxillary face bow record to mount the upper cast
Records required
2) Accept centric occluding relation record to mount the lower cast.
Records required
3) Accept protrusive record to adjust the articulator horizontal condylar
angles.

4) Accept right lateral record, to adjust the right

condylar angle.

5) Accept left lateral record, to adjust the left

condylar angle.
Records required
• 6- Incisal guidance angle adjusted according to the patient .
Records required
7- Inter-condylar distance adjusted according to the patient.
THANK YOU