ARTİCULATORS

• Articulators are mechanical

instruments designed to imitate
all or some of the jaw
movements, to which upper and
lower models can be connected,
and the jaws and
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
can be represented.
• For the most accurate
diagnosis and the most
accurate restoration, the
movements of the lower jaw
should be imitated correctly
on the articulator.

• The effectiveness of an
articulator depends on joint
anatomy, joint movements,
neuromuscular system,
accuracy of mandibular and
maxillary relationship
recordings, sensitivity of the
articulator used, and
clinician.
 PURPOSES
• Keeping the maxillary and
mandibular jaw models in a fixed
relationship
• Diagnostic and treatment planning
• To simulate jaw movement such as
opening and closing.
• Creation of occlusal surfaces in dental
restorations.
• Tooth alignment in the production of
full and removable partial dentures
 Usage
• To diagnose occlusion condition in both natural and
artificial teeth.
• To plan dentistry practices based on the relationship
between natural and artificial teeth, which are
antagonists.
• Example: To evaluate the possibility of creating a
balanced occlusion
• Assisting in the production of restorations and
prosthetics
• Correction or modification of full arc restorations
• artificial tooth alignment
 advantages of
articulators
• 1. On the articulator, the occlusal relations of the patient can be
examined more easily, especially from the tongue side.
• 2. After the necessary records are taken from the patient, the patient is no
longer needed, the arrangements in the restoration are made in the
articulator.
• 3. Since the lower jaw movements of the patient are adjusted on the
articulator, less time is spent in the clinic.
• 4. In prosthesis construction, some procedures are performed by the
assistant personnel, thus reducing the burden of the physician.
• 5. Forcing factors such as the patient's saliva, tongue and cheeks are
eliminated
 Limitations of the
articulators
• 1. Wear, abrasion and metal fatigue can be seen in
the metal body.
• 2. There is no resilience in natural tissues (muscle,
joint, connective tissue) in articulators.
• 3. It has no features to detect or correct incorrect jaw
relationships.
• 4. Articulators may not fully mimic the functional
and marginal movements of the lower jaw.
• Joint geometry is divided into Arcon and Non-arcon in
different articulators.
• The term arcon consists of the words articulation and condyle.
• Nonarcon articulators are devices in which the articular
surfaces and condyles are inverted compared to the natural
joint structure.
• Arcon articulators are average value or fully adjustable devices
in which the articular surfaces and condyles are arranged
according to the natural joint.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
Arcon and Non-arcon Articulators

• 1. In Arcon articulators, since the angular values are made by the mechanism
on the upper part of the instrument, possible changes in the vertical dimension
do not affect these values. If a change is to be made in the vertical dimension
in the non-arcon articulator, the recordings must be taken again in this vertical
dimension and the joint mechanism of the articulator must be adjusted again.
• 2. Arcon instruments are demonstrative. It is more likely to confuse right and
left lateral movements when working with a non-arcon instrument.
• 3. Especially in laboratory studies of fixed restorations, the easy separation of
the upper and lower parts of the arcon instruments provides great convenience
to the technicians. Non-arcon type does not have this feature.
• 4. The easy separation of the upper and lower parts of Arcon articulators may
cause problems in maintaining the centric relationship record. Whereas, non-
arcon articulators are compact and centric locking mechanisms are much
simpler and more reliable.
Parts of articulators
• Each device has an upper and a lower part
• Each part has a removable model holder.
A part of the upper part is movably connected to the
lower part by a mechanism simulating TMJ.
• Condylar joints are fixed to joint columns (or
condylar supports)
• In many articulators, joints can be moved by
varying amounts on these articular columns (for
example, for measurement of Bennett angle,
condylar inclination, or intercondylar distance
measurement).
On most articulators, the incisor edge
guide pin is attached to the top, while
the adjustable or replaceable cutter
guide table is fixed to the bottom.
Sometimes the benefits can be
reversed.

Together, these two parts mimic the

inclination of the patient's incisor in
the articulator.
 Reference planes
Some anatomical references are used during the transfer of the
static and dynamic relations of the jaws to the articulator:

Frankfurt horizontal plane:Franfurt plane is the plane passing

between the lowest edge of the orbit and the uppermost edge of
the external auditory canal on the right and left sides.

Auricula Orbital Plane

Ear Eye plane

Camper's plane

Tragus – base of the nose

hinge plane
Frankfurt
 There are various methods used to
determine the relationship of the
Maxilla and Mandible to each other:

1. face bow Guide plane registration

2. centric relationship
3. Protrusive relationship record. Interocclusal recordings
4. Lateral records
5. Intercondylar distance recording
graphic records
 Requirements
– Minimal requirements
– Additional requirements
 Minimal Requirements
• It is required in the production of Removable Full
Dentures for patients in the centric position.
• Full reflection of the patterns and hence the
horizontal and vertical relationships of the jaws.
• Models must be able to be removed and
reassembled from the articulator without losing the
correct horizontal and vertical position.
• There should be an incisal guide pin.
 Minimal Requirements
– Face bow transfer must be possible.
 Minimal Requirements
– The assembly must be precise, rigid, robust and resistant to
corrosion.
– Moving parts should be able to move easily and without
difficulty.
– Immovable parts must be rigid.
– The design should be such that there is sufficient distance
between the upper and lower elements.
– The articulator should be stable and not too bulky or heavy.
 Additional requirements
• Condyle guides should allow
right lateral, left lateral and
protrusive movement.
• Condyle guides should be able
to be adjusted horizontally.
• Bennet movement should be
adjustable in the articulator.
 Additional requirements

• Insizal edge guide table

should be adjustable
 Classification
• According to occlusion theories
• According to the interocclusal recording method used in their
adjustment
• According to the ability to repeat joint movements
• According to its adjustability
 According to occlusion
theories
• Bonwill theory articulators
• Bonwill (1858) made an instrument
based on an equilateral triangle with
10 cm between the condyles and the
symphysis of the condyles, which he
defined based on his observations.
This instrument allows for
anteroposterior movement, but since
the condylar guides are not
adjustable, lateral movement can only
be created in the horizontal plane.
 According to occlusion
theories
• Conical theory articulators
• Hall (1916) made an instrument
based on the conical theory.
According to the theory, the
lower teeth move over the
surfaces of the upper teeth as if
they were on the surface of a
cone and draw an angle of 45 Hall’s Experimental Conical Theory Type
degrees. When prosthesis is made
with this instrument, teeth with
45 degree cusps should be used.
 According to occlusion
theories
• The basis of the instrument
developed by Monson is based on the
theory of spherical (spherical)
occlusion. The theory of spherical
occlusion is «8 inch» 20 cm on the
surfaces of the upper teeth of the
lower teeth. shows that it works as if it
were moving on the surface of a
diameter sphere. The center of the
sphere is located in the region of the
glabella and the surface of the sphere
passes through the glenoid fossa. The
theory was proposed by George S.
Monson in 1918 and is based on
observations made by Von Spee, a
German anatomist, in natural teeth
and skulls.
 According to the interocclusal
recording method used in
their adjustment
• Adjustment with interocclusal recording
• Adjusting with chart records
• Adjustment by detecting the occlusal plane
According to its adjustability

(RIHANI classification)
• It is of three
types:
• unadjustable
• semi adjustable
• -Arcon
• -non-arcon
• fully adjustable
 non-adjustable
articulators
These articulators only imitate the opening and
closing movements in the specified vertical
dimension. Only centric relationship registration
is sufficient for this articulator.
These articulators have the advantage of being
relatively inexpensive, requiring less time to
attach the models to the articulator. They can be
used to the extent that they meet the needs of
the physician.
 Semi-adjustable
articulators
• It has adjustable horizontal condyle path, lateral
condyle path, incisor edge guidance table and
distance between condyles.
• The ease and amount of these adjustments vary.
• Face-bow accepts protrusive and centric
recordings.
• Class II and Class III articulators are semi-
adjustable articulators.
• There are Arcon and Non-arcon types.
 Fully adjustable
articulators
Since they are complex and complex devices, they are not used frequently.
The motion paths of the lower jaw in all directions are adjusted with three-dimensional dynamic recordings,
imitating the lower jaw movements with high accuracy.
There are many indicator values that can be adjusted individually for each patient.
Condylar path slopes, Bennett angle, intercondylar distance can be recorded.
Records that must be taken from the patient are the localization of the correct hinge axis, pantographic
recording and interocclusal recordings.
The transfer of recordings from the patient to the articulator begins with the correct registration of the hinge
axis of the condyles.
Then, pantographic records are taken and the patient's condyle paths are recorded. Right and left lateral
movements and protrusive border movements are performed on the pantographic recording device, which
consists of two components placed on the upper and lower jaws. Finally, an interocclusal recording is taken
during centric intercourse, which is necessary for the mandibular model to be attached to the articulator
appropriately to the upper model.
Class IV: fully adjustable articulators

• Örn:
– Pantronic acticulator – Dener (1982)
– Gnathoscope - Charls Stuart
– Denar D 4A & D 5A - Niles Guichet, 1968
– Simulator (by Ernest Granger)
Denar D 4A
Ganathoscope

Deepak Kumar Gupta dr.dkg07@gmail.com

Simulator
According to the ability to
repeat joint movements
• Class I : Hinge type
• Class II : Unadjustable
• Class III : Average -type A,
type B
• Class IV : Special – type A,
type B
 CLASS I (hinge type)
• It is a simple type of
articulator that gives only
on-off motion.

• Only vertical movement is

possible.
• Used in crown bridges
• Ex: Slab articulator, Hinge
joint articulator (J.B.
GARIOT), Barn door
articulator, Gysi Simplex
Hagman "Junior Balancer"
Articulator
Gysi Simplex
 CLASS II (unadjustable)
• It has the ability to move horizontally and vertically. However, joint motion
cannot be transferred with face-bow. Therefore, it does not comply with TMJ
movements.
• Plug
• The articulator can make some eccentric movements in accordance with its own
dimensions. However, these movements are not suitable for the patient's
movement pattern.
• Condyles are in the lower part.
• It is a Bonwill triangle type articulator.
• Ex: Mean-Value articulator, GYSI
• Type B
• Permit limited eccentric motion based on arbitrary theory of motion
• They are articulators in accordance with the spherical theory of occlusion.

• Ex: Monson's articulator - Spherical Theory Articulator – Fournet & Hageman

articulators, Hall's articulator -Conical Theory Articulator, Shofu Handy II
• Type C
• The eccentric movement it makes is determined by the engraving method by the
patient.
• Ex: House's articulator (1920), Gnathic Relator
House Articulator
 CLASS III (Average)
• Horizontal and vertical movements available
• Limited Face-bow transfer available
• No adjustment of condyle paths
• Condyle paths are simulated using mean values or mechanical
equivalents for all or part of the movement.
• They can be Arcon or Non-arcon
• It can be used in full dentures.
• Fixation of centric relationship, progressive and immediate side shift
features
 Class III, Tip A
• It accepts static protrusive interocclusal
recordings and has face-bow transfer.
• It uses the mechanical equivalent for the
remaining movements.
• eg:
• Hanau Harticulator (RUDOLPH HANAU,
1923) - NON-ARCON,
• Hanau H2 articulator – NON ARCON,
• Bergstrom articulator (ARCON),
• Dentatus (1944, Sweden)
 Class III, Tip B
• It accepts static lateral and protrusive interocclusal
recordings and has face-bow transfer.
• It uses the mechanical equivalent for the remaining
movements.
Ney’s Articulator
Stansbery “Tripod”
Articulator
 CLASS IV (special)
• It accepts three-dimensional dynamic recordings.
• It has the ability to mimic the correct condylar path
slope for each patient.
• Provides orientation of models and movements
relative to the joint.
 TYPE A
• Three-dimensional dynamic
recording and Face-bow transfer
• The beds representing the condyle
paths are created by the records
made by the patient with the
"engraving" permission.
• Condylar tract slopes cannot be
modified.
• eg. TMJ articulator – Kenneth
Swanson (1965), Stereograph
TMJ articulator
 Tip B
• Three-dimensional dynamic recording and Face-bow
transfer
• Condyle paths can be opened and personalized by
selecting or modifying from various curvatures.
• Pantographic record transfer is possible.
• – EXP. Pantronic acticulator – Dener (1982)

– Gnathoscope
– Denar D 4A & D - Charls
5A Stuart
– Denar Model SE - Niles Guichet,
– Simulator - Earnest 1968
Granger
Some common articulators

• Mean-Value Articulator
• Hanau wide VUE articulator
• Whip – mix articulator
• Denar articulator
• Panadent articulator
• TMJ articulator