prosthodontics

1. Dr. Radhu Raj
1st year MDS
Dept. of Prosthodontics and Crown and
Bridge

2. 
DEFINITION
 Articulator is defined as a “mechanical device which
represents the temporomandibular joints and the jaw
members to which maxillary and mandibular casts may
be attached to simulate some or all mandibular
movements” GPT 8.

3. 
Mandibular movements (basic)
Excursions of the mandible in
3 directions
1)Downward movement-opening
of the mouth
2)Forward movement-protrusive
3)Lateral movements –sideways

4. 
 Primary function?
 To act as the patient in the absence of patient.
 Properly mounted casts-better visualisation- lingual
view.
Essentials of complete denture prosthodontics- sheldon Winkler,
2nd edition.

5. 
BASIC COMPONENT OF AN
ARTICULATOR
Upper member – Represent maxilla
Lower member – Represent mandible
CONDYLAR TRACK –
CONDYLAR ELEMENT-
Vertical Rod (Incisal Pin)
Incisal guide table

6. 
CLASSIFICATIONOF
ARTICULATORS

7. 
Several basis of classification of articulator were
proposed, some of them are as follows.
A. Based on the instrument function.
B. Based on the adjustability of the articulator.
C. Based on the location of condylar elements.

8. 
BASED ON THE ADJUSTABILITY
Three Types :-
a. Non – Adjustable
b. Semi – Adjustable
c. Fully – Adjustable

9. NON – ADJUSTABLE
 An articulator that does
not allow adjustment to
replicate mandibular
movements.- GPT 8.
 Can open and close in a
fixed horizontal axis.
 Have a fixed condylar
path.
Hinge articulator

10. SEMI ADJUSTABLE
 An articulator that allows adjustment to replicate
average mandibular movements.-GPT 8
 Have adjustable horizontal condylar paths, adjustable
lateral condylar path, adjustable incisal guide table and
adjustable inter condylar distance.

11. FULLY ADJUSTABLE
 An articulator that allows
replication of 3-
dimensional movement of
recorded mandibular
motion.-GPT 8
 Capable of being adjusted
to follow the mandibular
movement in all direction.
Eg. Stuart Gnathoscope
Simulator

12. 
Based on the location of
the condyle
 ARCON:
Bergstrom – 1950-
CONdyle- ARticulator
 NON ARCON:
 Beck and Morrison- arcon
better whereas weinberg no
change in accuracy between
the two.

14. 
At the international prosthodontic workshop
on complete denture occlusion at the
university of Michigan in 1972, the
articulators classified based on instrument
capability, intent, recording procedure and
record acceptance.
It is the widely followed classification .
Based on instrument
function

15. Class I : Hinge Type
Class II : typeA
type B
type C
Class III : type A
type B
Class IV : type A
type B

16. 
CLASS I
A simple holding instrument
capable of accepting a single
static registration; vertical
motion is possible.
Non- adjustable articulator.
Eg. Slab articulator, hinge
articulator, barn door hinge.

17. 
 Phillip Pfaff in 1756.
Articulators through the years. Part I. Up to 1940.Donald L. Mitchell,
D.D.S., M.S and Noel D. Wilkie, D.D.S.; JPD, March 1978.
THE PLASTER ARTICULATOR

18. 
THE BARN DOOR HINGE
HINGE ARTICULATOR
J B GARIOT in 1805.

19. 
Similar to the Gariot hinge articulator of 1805,
 Except that it has a fixed condylar inclination
and allows for an arbitrary lateral movement.
THE STEPHAN ARTICULATOR

20. 
CLASS II
These articulator permits horizontal and
vertical movements but they do not orient
the movement to TMJ, by a face-bow.
They are –
 TYPE A
 TYPE B
 TYPE C

21. Triangular frame
Vertical Rod with
thumb screw.
Two Condylar
elements
Uppermember :-

22. L Shaped frame with
horizontal and vertical
arm.
Horizontal arm is
triangular and its apex
contains incisal guide
table.
Vertical arm is
rectangular containing
condylar guidance slot at
upper portion.
Lower Member :-

23. 
TYPE A :-
Instruments in this class permit eccentric
motion based on averages and will not
permit face-bow transfer.
The condyles are on the lower member of
articulator.
Based on Bonwill’s triangle.

24. 4”
4”
BONWILL 1854

25. 
 GRITTMAN ARTICULATOR.
 THE GYSI ADAPTABLE AND GYSI SIMPLEX
ARTICULATORS
In 1910, but apparently it was beyond the
technical ability and finances of most dentists.
For this reason the Gysi Simplex was introduced
as a mean-Value articulator in 1914.

26. 
TYPE B :-
Instruments in this class permit eccentric
motion based on arbitrary theory of motion
and will not accept a face-bow transfer.
Based on spheric theory of occlusion.
Ex. Monson’s articulator

27.  Lower teeth move
over the surface of the
upper teeth as over a
surface of sphere with a
diameter of 8inches.
 The center was
located in the region of
glabella.
C.Spherical theory articulator–G.S.MONSON

28. Designed in 1918 by George Monson, evolved
from concepts of Monson and a German
anatomist, Graf yon Spee.
MAXILLOMANDIBULAR
INSTRUMENT

29. 
TYPE C :-
Instruments in this class permit eccentric motion
based on engraved records obtained from the
patient and will not accept a face-bow transfer.
Ex.:- House’s articulator

30. 
CLASS III
 These articulator permit horizontal and vertical motion
and they do accept face-bow transfer but these
facility is limited.
They are –
Type A
Type B

31. Contain very short
cylinder whose upper
surface is concave.
Vertical Rod should
rest on the center of the
incisal guide table
during articulation.
Incisal guide table

32.  Represent by a slot
(condylar track)
 Condylar element of
upper member passes
through this track.
 A spring is mounted within
this track to established
the condylar element.
Condylar guidance

33. Helps to keep a fixed
distance between the
upper & lower
member at anterior
end.
The pointed tip of
vertical rod should
rest on the center of
incisal guide during
articulation.
Vertical Rod or Incisal Pin :-

34. Present at the mid point of vertical rod.
The incisal edge of the maxillary incisors at the mid line
of the occlusal rim should touch the tip of incisal pin
during articulation.
It present the anterior reference point.
Incisal guide pin :-

35. TYPE A :-
They accept a face-bow transfer and a protrusive
interocclusal record.
Exp. Hanau H articulator- RUDOLPH
HANAU (1923)
Hanau H2 articulator
Bergstrom articulator (ARCON)

36. 
 Individual condylar guidance adjustments in both
the sagittal and the horizontal planes.
 Non-arcon instrument.
 Protrusive interocclusal record.
 L= H/8 + 12 Bennett angle.
THE HANAU MODEL H110

37.  A semi-adjustable articulator .
 The principal feature of the Hanau Model 96H2
articulators was an increased distance between the
upper and lower members from 95 mm to
approximately 110 mm.
 In addition, the orbital indicator was added to the
upper member.
THE HANAU MODEL H2
SERIES

38. 
Semi-adjustable articulator that is a shaft type
of instrument with a straight condylar path
and a fixed intercondylar distance.
THE DENTATUS ARL
ARTICULATOR

39. 
DENTATUS ARO
ARTICULATOR
The Dentatus ARO articulator has all the
features of the Dentatus ARL plus the unique
feature of a movable arm that holds the
mandibular cast.
The universal joint and the locking device
that attaches the movable arm to the base
allow repositioning of the mandibular cast
without remounting.

40. TYPE B :-
Instrument in this class accept a face-bow transfer,
protrusive interocclusal records, and some lateral
interocclusal records.
Exp.Trubyte articulator - GYSI
Tripod articulator - STANSBERRY
Ney articulator - De Pietro (1960)
Hanau (130-21) - Richard Beu &
James Janik (1964)
Tele Dyne articulator - Richard Beu (1975)
Panadent articulator - Robert Lee

41. 
Simplified version of Stuart's fully adjustable
articulator.
Semiadjustable arcon articulator that has
three intercondylar adjustments: small,
medium,
large
WHIP-MIX ARTICULATOR

42. 
Designed without a hinge .
No mechanical equivalent or representation
of condyles.
STANBERY TRIPOD
INSTRUMENT

43.  An arcon instrument with no locking device.
 Metal interchangeable condylar paths, and the
elements are adjustable in all three planes to accept
all positional records
NEY ARTICULATOR

44.  Double condylar posts on each side.
 Inner posts serve two purposes:
 They act as the horizontal condylar guides,
 Bennett angle is adjusted by rotating an eccentric cone
HANAU MODEL M
KINOSCOPE

45. 

46. 
PANKEY-MANN
ARTICULATOR

47. 
 The P-M instrument is used to establish the most
ideal functional occlusal plane (or curvature)
possible in rehabilitating the mandibular posterior
teeth.

48.  PART I : Examination, Diagnosis, Treatment planning and
Prognosis
 PART II : Harmonizat ion of the anterior guidance for best
possible esthetics , function and comfort
 PART III: Selection of an acceptable occlusal plane and
restoration of the lower posterior occlusion in harmony
with the anterior guidance in a manner that will not
interfere with condylar guidance.
 PART IV: Restoration of the upper posterior occlusion in
harmony with the anterior guidance and condylar
guidance. The functionally generated path technique is so
closely allied with this part of the reconstruction
PMS Philosophy

49. 
CLASS IV
 These articulator accept three dimensional dynamic
registration.
 They are capable of accurately reproducing the
condylar pathway for each patient.
They are –
Type A
Type B

50. TYPE A :-
Instruments in this class will accept three dimensional
dynamic registration and utilize a face-bow transfer.
The condylar pathways are formed by registration
engraved by the patient.
Exp. TMJ articulator – Kenneth Swenson
(1965)

52. TYPE B :-
Similar to type A and condylar pathway can be
selectively angled and customized.
The procedure utilise the pantographic tracing.
EXP. Pantronic acticulator – Dener (1982)
Gnathoscope - Charls Stuart
D 4A & D 5A - Niles Guichet
Simulator - Earnest Granger

53. 
Programmed from tracings made with a
pneumatically controlled pantograph that was
developed and introduced by the same
company.
Fully adjustable instrument that uses
interchangeable condylar guidances that can be
adjusted.
Definite centric lock and has accommodations
to hold the casts
DENAR MODEL D4A
ARTICULATOR

54. 
 Fully adjustable articulator that can be set from
pantographic tracings, positional records, and other
tracings.
SIMULATOR

55. 

56. 
The relationship of mandible to maxilla
can be transferred from patient to the
articulator
3 records
Hinge axis records
Interocclusal records
Graphic records
1. Face bow
2. Centric jaw
relation record
3. Protrusive record.
4. Lateral records
5. Intercondylar
distance record

57. 
COMMONLY USED
ARTICULATORS
MEAN VALUE
ARTICULATOR
HANAU WIDE-VUE
ARCON SERIES
ARTICULATOR

58. 
 Upper member can be moved upward and
backward.
 Condylar inclination 30 degrees.
 Incisal guide table 5 degree inclination.
Mean value articulator
TEXTBOOK OF PROSTHODONTICS- RANGARAJAN

59. 
2.HANAU WIDE-VUE ARCON SERIES
ARTICULATOR AND EAR BOW
RECORD
UPPER
MEMBER
CONDYLAR
GUIDANCE
LOWER MEMBER
MOUNTING
PLATE
INCISAL
PIN
INCISAL
GUIDANC
E

60. 
FACEBOW PREPARATION :
1. Bite fork attached to maxillary occlusal
rim 3mm above the occlusal plane.
2. Stem of bite fork made parallel to sagittal
plane.

61. 

62. Mandibular and
maxillary occlusal rim
with its imprint on bite
fork seated in patients
mouth
Remove face bow
assembly from patient
by releasing two frame
thumbscrews.
Enter the Earpieces
into external auditory
meatus of the ears.
Face bow attached to the
stem of bite fork
Orbital pointer aligned
with infra – orbital
notch on the patient and
Tighten thumbscrews
FACEBOW APPLICATION

63. 

64. 
Attach face
bow to
articulator
Suspend Nylon
earpiece on the
auditary pins
of
centric locks.
FACEBOW TRANSFER
Face bow raised
or lowered by
Adjusting elevating
screw
support the
bitefork
mount
maxillary cast
Coated with
petroleum jelly
Upper member swung
back and mixture of
stone placed on the cast.
Mounting completed
Excess removed from
mounting plate

65. 

66. Remove
earpiece face
bow and incisal
pin extension.
Invert the articulator
Place mandibular rim
and cast on maxillary
Rim.
Adjust the
incisal pin
Lower member
swung back
stone placed on
mand cast.
( the incisal pin
in contact with
incisal guide)
Articulator placed
upright

67. 

68. 
CONCLUSION
It must be recognized that the person operating the instrument is important than the
instrument.
If the dentist understands articulators and their deficiencies, they can compensate
for their inherent inadequacies.
Carl .O. Boucher

69. 
R E F E R E N C E S
 Charles M. Heartwell– the syllabus of complete denture,fourth
edition.
 Sheldon Winkler- the essential of complete denture
prosthodontics,second edition.
 Herbert T. Shillingburg- fundamentals of fixed
prosthodontics,third edition.
 Dental laboratory procedures-Rudd & Morrow
 Complete denture prosthetics- Neill, Nairn
 Prosthodontic Treatment for edentulous patients - Zarb
 Clinical Dental Prosthodontics- A . Roy Macgregor

70. 

71.  THE BIXBY ATTACHMENT
 The Bixby attachment provided no means of
establishing the horizontal plane but was considered
a forerunner of the face-bow.