Articulators and facebows

Question 1

What is an articulator?

Answer 1

A mechanical device that simulates the movement of the mandible.

Question 2

When can casts just be handheld?

Answer 2

As study models for a single piece of work if the correct ICP can be established easily. RCP cannot be reproduced with just handheld casts.

Question 3

Which articulator did I use?

Answer 3

Semi-adjustable Arcon articulator. (Type 3 in complexity scale).

Question 4

Did you record ICP or RCP?

Answer 4

ICP as only restored small segment of arch. If larger part of the occlusion were to be restored would have registered the occlusion in RCP.

Question 5

What is a Facebow?

Answer 5

An instrument used to record the relation of the maxilla to the hinge axis of rotation of the mandible. It enables the transfer of this relationship to an articulator so a similar relationship can be established between the maxillary cast and the hinge axis of the articulator.
2 posterior ref points, 1 anterior.
2 types: Kinematic (difficult to use) and Average axis (what we use)

Question 6

How does a facebow work?

Answer 6

A facebow relates the maxillary cast to the articulator’s intercondylar axis.An occlusal bite registration links the mandibular cast to the maxillary one. Therefore the facebow transfers the casts in the same special relationship to the articulator condyles as the dental arches to the patient’s condyles.