Articulators

Question 1

List the types of articulars from simple to complex:

Answer 1

• hand held
• simple hinge
• plane line
• average value
• semi-adjustable - denar
• fully adjustable

Question 2

What are hand help casts useful for?

Simple hinge articulator?

Plane line articulator?

Answer 2

Hand held casts: fine for simple models if sufficient reference teeth

• only good for looking at patients teeth in occlusion (ICP)

Simple hinge articulator: cast relocator when complex occlusion (e.g. no lower molars)

• movements not representative

Plane line articulator: hinge more anatomical but arbitrary

• limited value for simple restorations, in particular those not involved in guidance
• reproduces ICP

Question 3

What is an average value articulator best used for?

Answer 3

Average value articulator:

• can reproduce hinge and slide movements and lateral excursions
• articulator hinge axis nearer condylar hinge axis
• average condylar guidance angles
• average excursion movements possible

Uses:

• simple fixed prostheses for teeth not involved in guidance
• removable prostheses

Question 4

What is a semi-adjustable articulator?

Answer 4

Semi-adjustable - Denar Mark II articulator

• arcon: corresponds to our own anatomy - condyle part of mandibular component
• non-arcon articulator - condyle part of maxillary component
• good simulator of movements, set up important but contains lots of assumptions
• facebow recording

Question 5

What is a facebow recording?

Answer 5

Facebow recording:

• relates maxillary cast to intercondylar axis but uses ear as a reference
• orientation of cast in vertical dimension governed by a marker relating to the lateral incisor