Articulators Flashcards
What is the function of an articulator?
It is an artificial representation of the jaw relationship of a patient
What are the features of a simple hinge articulator? (5 points)
Most basic form
- Not actually accurate as it does not represent the correct position of the TMJ
- It holds a static occlusal relationship
- Is often used for display casts
- Dentures can be made on simple hinge articulators
What are the features of an average value articulator? (4 points)
Resembles the real anatomy of the TMJ more than a simple hinge
- Allow more movement then simple hinge
- Can stimulate to some degree the masticatory movements of the lower jaw
- The disadvantage is that the movement is prescribed by the manufacturer of the articulator - they determine the angle of the slope (condylar angle) and we cannot adjust this angle to the patient
What are the features of a semi-adjustable articulator? (3 points)
Facilitates the movement of protrusion/lateral movement
- We can adjust the angle of the ‘condyle’ so we can have t the same as the patient’s i.e. we can make changes to this type of articulator to make it more representative to the patient
- They can be arcon or non-arcon
What is an ‘arcon’ semi-adjustable articulator?
The fossae (condylar guidance) are on the upper member of the articulator and the spheres (condylar element) is attached to the lower member - this articulator resembles the TMJ
What is a ‘non-arcon’ semi-adjustable articulator?
The fossae (condylar guidance) are on the lower member of the articulator and the spheres (condylar element) is attached to the upper member - this articulator is the reverse of the TMJ
What are the features of a fully adjustable articulator? (3 points)
We can adjust the condylar angle and condylar distance
- Can make it accurate and specific to patient
- It allows accurate replication of the 3 dimensional movement of recorded mandibular motions
