JAW RELATIONS

Jaw relations perhaps play the most important role in

determining the outcome of the prosthodontic rehabilitation in
any edentulous patient.

However, the term “JAW RELATIONS” has always been

regarded as inappropriate and therefore “MAXILLO-
MANDIBULAR RELATIONSHIP” has been advocated.
IMPORTANCE:
It is extremely important to relate the mandible to the
cranium and/ or the maxillae in order to achieve optimum
results, as far as occlusion is concerned. In natural
dentition the presence of teeth makes it easy to determine
the relationships of the jaws.

But once, the teeth are lost, it is extremely difficult to

correlate the moving mandible to the cranium or the
maxilla, because of the complex positions its assumes. As
the knowledge of TMJ, the muscles of mastication and the
various mandibular movements is essential to understand
jaw relation.
JAW RELATIONS/ MAXILLO-MANDIBULAR
RELATIONS:
“It is defined as one of the infinite relationships of the
mandible to the maxillae”

JAW RELATION RECORD:

“A registration of any positional relationship of mandible
relative to the maxilla.”
These records will assume the following dimensions.
1. ORIENTATION JAW RELATION
2. VERTICAL JAW RELATION
3. HORIZONTAL JAW RELATION
ORIENTATION JAW RELATION/ FACE BOW RECORDS

“ The orientation relations are those, which orient the

mandible to the cranium in such a way that, when them
mandible is kept in its most posterior position, the mandible
can rotate in the sagittal plane around an imaginary line
passing through or near the condyles”

The imaginary line/ transverse axis can be located by using the

face bow which is called as Hinge Axis.
 FACE BOW

Boucher's definition:
“The face bow is a caliper like device that is used to record the
relationship of the jaws to the TMJ (opening axis of the jaws) and
to orient the casts in this same relationship to the opening axis of
the articulation.”

GLOSSARY OF PROSTHODONTIC TERMS DEFINITION:

“A caliper like instrument used to record the spatial relationship
of the maxillary arch to some anatomic reference point and then
transfer this relationship to an articulator. It orients the dental
cast in the same relationship to the opening axis of the
articulator”
HISTORICAL BACK-GROUND:

The face bow we know today, started its journey way

back in the early years of the 20th century (1970), when SNOW
first used a caliper like device. Since then the face bow has
evolved through various stages of refinement to reach its
present form. It has now become an in separable aspect of
modern day prosthodontics.
PARTS OF A FACE BOW

1.’U’Shaped frame Large enough to

extend from the
TMJ to a position
2-3 inches in front
of the face.

2. Condylar rods Contact the skin

3. Bite forks Occlusal rims are
attached to this

4. Orbital pointer Coincides with

infra-orbital
foramen
5.Locking clamps Secure the device
EAR PIECE TYPE
FASCIA TYPE
 CLASSIFICATION OF FACE BOWS

FACE BOW

ARBITARY FACE BOW KINEMATIC FACE BOW

EAR PIECE /MEATUS TYPE FASCIA TYPE

 ARBITRARY FACE BOW KINEMATIC FACE BOW

MEATUS TYPE By DAWEY

1.In this type mandibular occlusion
(1914). The condylar rods go into
rim is attached to the bite fork and
the ear
hence give a more accurate reading
FASCIA TYPE Rods are placed as the mandible is dynamic,
13 mm in front of the tragus of the (maxilla is static)
ear.Ex. HANAU MODEL FACE
2. It is used to locate and transfer
BOW,QUICK MOUNT FACE
the true hinge axis points
BOW (Whipmix)
3. As it is more complex it is rarely
In this type maxillary occlusal rim
used in routine prosthodontic
is attached to bite fork and hence
procedure
gives an approximate reading.
4. Its use is restricted to occlusal-
These are widely used, as they
equillibration, full mouth
have simple design and consume
rehabilitation and gnathologic
less chair side time compared to
studies.
kinematic type
INDICATIONS FOR USING FACE BOWS

a. When balanced occlusion is desired.

b. When teeth with cusp forms are sued.
c. When inter occlusal check records are used.
d. Constructing accurate crowns and bridges
e. Full mouth rehabilitation
f. Diagnostic mounting and treatment planning
g. Gnathologic studies and treatment
h. Making occlusal correction
 CONTRAINDICATIONS

 When monoplane teeth are used

 No alterations of occlusal surfaces of the teeth
that would need changes in VDO originally
recorded
 No interocclusal check records that would be at a
different VD from that in original interocclusal
record
 When articulators that are not designed to accept
a face bow transfer are used in the denture
procedures
MODE OF USING FACE-BOW/PROCEDURE

The basic principle of using face bow is to orient mandible to

the opening axis of TMJ and overall to the cranium. Hence it
is vital to have some reference points in the skull.
 REFERENCE POINTS

3 ANTERIOR 2 POSTERIOR
A point anterior to the 2 posterior point, located
maxilla this determines at posterior to the maxilla
what point in the (usually the terminal axis
articulator the occlusal is taken) which can be
place is placed. detected arbitrarly/
Examples for anterior kinematically.
points.
1. ORBITAL (HANAU
FACE BOW
2. NASION (WHIPMIX)
3. ALA OF NOSE
(Represent CAMPER’S
PLANE)
 Posterior reference points
Beyron point 13 mm form
posterior margin of tragus to
canthus
Bergstrom point 10 mm
anterior to center of external
auditory meatus and 7 mm
below Frankfurt plane

“Beck’’-Bergstrom point closest to hinge axis

Beyron point next most accurate point
 PLANE OF ORIENTATION

•The spatial plane

formed by joining
anterior and posterior
reference points is
called plane of
orientation
If we join the anterior and posterior reference points, we get
the PLANE OF ORIENTATION reference point.
SIX STEPS IN FACE-BOW TRANSFER
STEP 1: Posterior reference point is measured and marked
(13 mm anterior to tragus on the tragocanthal line)
STEP 2: Condylar rods is positioned on this mark (In meatus
type, rod is positioned in external auditory meatus.
STEP 3: Bite fork is attached to occlusal rims.
STEP 4: U shaped form is slipped over the bitefork extention.
The orbital point is also positioned and all locking units are
tightened.
STEP 5: The whole assembly is positioned on the articulator
and maxillary cast is attached to upper member and
mounting is done.
STEP 6: The lower mounting is achieved with a centric
relation.
 PROCEDURE

Modeling plastic is Adapted to the Position over the

heated – 600 bite fork maxillary teeth

It is removed Chilled in water Well adapted

when cooled and trimmed record base
To verify accurate fit Bite fork position face Earpiece into the
and stability bow is guided onto the external auditory
stem of the bite fork openings

Orbital pointer Thumbscrews tightened to maintain the spatial

positioned relationships between face bow and bite fork
• Maxillary rim attached
to the bite fork.

• Bite fork position

• Ear-piece inserted

• Clamp holding the bite

fork locked

• Fully assembled face

bow and ear-piece
clamps are loosened

• Bow is centered in the

articulator
Hanau face bow transfer procedure
CONCLUSION:

Failure to use face bows can lead to errors in occlusion. But

however, some dentists are contended; not to use facebow in
situation like

Used of monoplane teeth is planed

When the vertical dimension of occlusion is not subjected to
any alteration.
When the use of interocclusal check records is not done.