ARTICULATORS,USES AND

IMPORTANCE IN
PROSTHODONTICS
PRESENTED BY
DR AGHIMIEN OSARONSE A
5
TH
MAY, 2009
OUTLINE
DEFINITIONS
PRINCIPLE BEHIND USAGE
BASIC DESIGNS
CLASSIFICATIONS
USES
IMPORTANCE
CONCLUSION

DEFINITIONS

ARTICULATOR IS A MECHANICAL
DEVICE THAT SIMULATE THE TMJ
AND ITS JAW MEMBERS TO WHICH
THE MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR
CASTS ARE ATTACHED TO SIMULATE
THE JAW MOVEMENT


PRINCIPLE BEHIND USAGE



IT HELPS TO REPLICATE THE POSTERIOR
DETERMINANT OF MANDIBULAR MOVEMENT
[TMJ] .
OTHER DETERMINANTS INCLUDE;
1.ANTERIOR DETERMINANT;THE ANTERIOR
MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR TEETH
2.NEUROMUSCULAR DETERMINANT ; MUSCLES
AND THEIR NERVE SUPPLY AND LIGAMENT.
THE OUTER LIMITS OF ALL EXCURSIVE
MANDIBULAR MOVEMENT ARE CALLED
BORDER MOVEMENTS,THE MORE THIS CAN
BE REPLICATED BY THE ARTICULATOR, THE
MORE IT SIMULATES THE TMJ.
BASIC DESIGNS
1. ARCON ARTICULATORS:
CONDYLAR ELEMENTS ARE ON THE LOWER MEMBER
OF THE ARTICULATOR,JUST AS THE CONDYLES ARE
LOCATED ON THE MANDIBLE.THE MECHANICAL
FOSSAE ARE PLACED ON THE UPPER MEMBER AS THE
GLENOID FOSSAE ARE IN THE SKULL
.2. NONARCON ARTICULATORS:
THE CONDYLAR PATH SIMULATING THE GLENOID
FOSSAE ARE PLACED ON THE LOWER MEMBER WHILE
THE CONDYLAR ELEMENTS ARE PLACED ON THE
UPPER PORTION.

THE ARCON TYPES ARE MORE ACCURATE AND
ARE EASILY DISASSEMBLED.
THE NONARCON TYPE IS MORE POPULAR FOR
DENTURE FABRICATION
CLASSIFICATIONS
1. NON-ADJUSTABLE
2. ADJUSTBLE
.SEMI
.FULLY
NON-ADJUSTABLE
.
-DISTANCE B/W THE TEETH AND AXIS OF ROTATION IS SHORTER THAN THAT OF THE SKULL,
HENCE LOSS OF ACCURACY
Does not produce functional movements.
Accepts a single inter occlusal record.
Vertical motion may or may not be possible.
Example: Gariots articulator
Barn door
Used for prosthetic and some advanced restorative procedures.

Holds the cast in a prescribed relationship usually the inter cuspal position [ICP].
Allows separation and approximation of the cast.
IT UNDERGOES A SIMPLE HINGE AXIS MOVEMENT
SIMPLE HINGE ARTICULATOR
Fast- Clip Articulator (Partial Protheses and Bridges)
Spring Articulator (Occludator with spring joint)

SEMI-ADJUSTABLE
-ALLOWS CLOSE APPROXIMATION OF ANATOMICAL
DISTANCE BETWEEN AXIS OF ROTATION AND THE
TEETH
- IT REPRODUCES THE DIRECTION AND END POINT
BUT NOT THE INTERMEDIATE TRACK OF SOME
CONDYLAR MOVEMENT e.g CONDYLAR
INCLINATION ANGLE AND THE BENNETT
MOVEMENT..the bodily shift of the mandible to
the working side.
- -RECENT SEMI-ADJ ACCOMODATE THE
IMMEDIATE LATERAL TRANSLATIONAL

SEMI-ADJUSTABLE CONT
- THE INTER-CONDYLAR DISTANCES ARE NOT FULLY ADJUSTABLE; COULD BE SMALL,
MEDIUM, OR LARGE.
Accepts face bow transfer.
Inter occlusal records can be used to record condyle angle.
Designs: Arcon type (Mandibular condyle)
BioArt, Whipmix and Denar series have a condylar element on the lower
member which is able to slide against an adjustable plane on the maxillary
component.
Non Arcon type e.g. Dentatus, Hanau
H2

FOR FABRICATION OF MOST SIMPLE PARTIAL DENTURES AND FIXED PARTIAL
DENTURES
Balance Non-Arcon-Articulator
FULLY ADJUSTABLE
MORE ACCURATE
REPRODUCE THE ENTIRE CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE BORDER MOVT; immediate and
progressive lateral translation AND the
curvature and direction of condylar
inclination.
Inter-condylar distance is completely
adjustable
FULLY ADJUSTABLE cont
IS EXPENSIVE
REQUIRE HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL
IS TIME CONSUMING.
FOR THIS REASONS IT IS USED PRIMARILY FOR EXTENSIVE
TRT REQUIRING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE
OCCLUSION.
THE PANTOGRAPHIC RECORDING IS USED TO TRACE THE
CONDYLAR PATH,THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE RETRUDED,
FORWARD, AND MOST LATERAL POSITIONS.

Normally of the arcon design e.g Denar series.
Balance De-Luxe with fully adjustable condylar angulation

USES
Primary

function is to act as the patient in his absence
- Used to simulate the patients TMJ, muscles of mastication,
mandibular ligaments, mandible and maxilla, the complex
neuromuscular mechanism that programs mandibular movement
- Articulators can simulate but cannot duplicate, all possible
mandibular movements even the most sophisticated instrument
- Instrument can be programmed with certain patients records
that allow for fabrication of restoration.

USES CONT
Mounting dental casts for
diagnosis,
treatment plan,
Representig patient presentation.
Fabrication of occlusal surfaces for dental restoration.
Arrangement of artificial teeth for complete and
removable partial dentures.

IMPORTANCE
1. Patients occlusion better visualized from lingual
view
2. Proper occlusal scheme is better developed when
articulating teeth for complete denture due to
lingual view provided by articulator
3. Patient cooperation is not a factor to contend with
provided appropriate interocclusal records are
obtained from patient.
4. Refinement of complete denture occlusion in the
mouth is difficult because of shifting denture base
and resiliency of the supporting tissue.

IMPORTANCE N CONT
5.More procedures can be delegated to
auxiliary personnel when utilizing an
articulator for development and refinement of
the patients occlusion
6. Saliva, tongue and cheeks are not
considered when using articulator.
7. Decreased chair side time.


CONCLUSIONS
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF
ARTICULATORS CAN NOT BE OVER
EMPHASISED BASE ON THE USES AND
FUNCTIONS.
IT IS THEREFORE ADVICE THAT
PROSTHODONTICS AND OTHER DENTAL
PRACTIONEER TO USE ARTICULATORS WHEN
FABRICATING PROSTHESES FOR THEIR
PATIENTS



THANKS FOR LISTENING