Articulators is a mechanical device which represents the temporo-mandibular joints and jaw members to which maxillary and mandibular casts may be attached.’’

1. ARTICULATORS
Dr. Ibadat Jamil
Assistant professor
Dep. Of Prothodontics

2. ARTICULATORS
DEFINITION:
 By definition, an articulator. is "a
mechanical device which represents
the temporo-mandibular joints and
jaw members to which maxillary
and mandibular casts may be
attached.’’

3. PRIMARY PURPOSE:
• To hold opposing casts in a
predetermined fixed relationship.
• To simulate opening and closing
movements.
• To produce border and
intraborder diagnostic sliding motions
of the teeth similar to those in the
mouth.

4. USES
 To diagnose dental occlusal conditions in
both the natural and artificial dentitions;
 To plan dental procedures that involve
positions, contours, and relationships of both
natural and artificial teeth as they relate to
each other.
 To aid in the fabrication of dental
restorations and lost dental parts; and
 To correct and modify completed
restorations.

5. REQUIREMENTS OF AN ARTICULATOR
 It should hold casts in the correct
horizontal relationships.
 It should hold casts in the correct
vertical relationships.
 It should provide a positive anterior
vertical stop (incisal pin).
 It should open and close in a hinge
movement.

6. • It should accept a face-bow
transfer record.
• It should allow protrusive and
lateral motion.
• The moving parts should move
freely and be accurately machined.
• The non moving parts should be a
rigid construction.

7. FEATURES DESIRABLE IN AN
ARTICULATOR
 Adjustable horizontal and lateral
condylar guide elements
 The condylar elements as a part of the
lower frame and the condylar guides as a
part of the upper frame.
 A mechanism to accept a third reference
point from a face-bow transfer record.
.

8. • A terminal hinge position locking
device.
• Removable mounting plates that can
be repositioned accurately.
• An adjustable incisal guide table.
• Adjustable intercondylar width of the
condylar elements, when graphic tracings
to be used to set and / or select condylar
guidance.

9. LIMITATIONS
 Articulators are made primarily of
metal, although some have plastic
parts. Articulators are subject to error
in tooling and to error resulting from
metal fatigue and wear.
 The movements simulated are empty-
mouth sliding motions, not functional
movements.

10. The Dentures are movable, the
supporting structures for the
dentures are compressible, it is
difficult to concurrently stabilize
denture bases and control
mandibular movements, and
humans cannot detect visually
subtle changes in motion or
differentiate denture movement and
that of the mandible.

11. CLASSIFICATIONS
I. Gillis, Boucher, & Kingery (a)
Non adjustable
(b) Adjustable
II. Beck's
a) Suspension Instrument
b) Axis Instrument
c) Tripod Instrument
III. Posselt's
a) Plain Line
b) Mean Value
c) Adjustable
IV. Thomas
a) Arbitrary
b) Positional
c) Functional
V. Riliani
a) Fully Adjustable
b) Semi Adjustable
c) Non Adjustable
VI Weinberg
a) Arbitrary
b) Positional
c) Semi Adjustable
d) Fully Adjustable
VII Sharry
a) Simple
b) Hinge Type
c) Fixed Guide Type
d) Adjustable

12. ARCON
 This term appears to have been coined by Bergstrom to
designate a mechanical feature. The term comes from the
first two letters of articulator and the first three letters of
condyle. It signifies the presence of condylar elements as a
part of the lower frame and the condylar guides as a part of
the upper frame.

13. NON-ARCON
 It signifies the presence
of condylar elements as a
part of the upper frame
and the condylar guides
as a part of the lower
frame.

14. MOST COMMENLY USED
CLASSIFICATION
CLASS I ARTICULATORS
 These instruments receive and reproduce three-
dimensional graphic tracings (pantograms). These
articulators can be adjusted to permit individual
condylar movement in each of the three planes. They
can reproduce the timing of the side shift of the
orbiting (balancing) side and its direction on the
rotating (working) side. For e.g.
TMJ Stenographic, Denar D5A, Hanau Modular
System, McCollum Gnathoscope and Granger
Gnathoscope.

15. CLASS II ARTICULATORS
 These instruments will not receive three -
dimensional graphic recording. Some have fixed
controls; others are adjustable but usually in no
more than two planes. Most are set to anatomic
averages or with some type of positional records.

16. CLASS II ARTICULATORS
 Type 1 (Hinge): Type I can
open and close in a hinge
movement. They do not
accept face-bows. For e.g.
 Trubyte Simplex, The Barn
Door Hinge, Gariot,
Hageman Balancer, Gysi.

17.  Type 2 (Arbitrary): These
articulators are designed to
adapt to specific theories of
occlusion or are oriented to a
specific technique. For e.g.
Monsoon, Handy II, The
Correlator, Transgraph, The
Gnathic Relator
MONSON ARTICULATOR

18. Type 3 (Average): Type 3 are designed to provide
condylar element guidance by means of averages,
positional records, or minirecorder systems. For e.g.
Dentatus, Hanau, Whip Mix
Hanau Articulator
Whip Mix Articulator

19.  Type 4 (Special): This type was designed and used
primarily for specific complete dentures technique For
e.g.
Stansbery Tripod, Kile Dentograph and Irish Dupli-
Functional.

20. CLASS III
 A new average-value articulator is the hanau mate.
 It is arcon instrument and will accept a face-bow transfer.
 It has an average horizontal condylar guidance of 300 and
a bennet angle 150 .And incisal guide table has average
value of 100.
 The upper member is removable for waxing ease by
releasing the two condylar locks.
 It will not accept static protrusive or lateral interocclusal
records.

21.  CLASS III-A
Instruments in this class
accept a face-bow
transfer and a protrusive
interocclusal record. e.g.
Hanau model H

22.  CLASS III-B
Instruments in this class
accept a face-bow
transfer,protrusive
interocclusal records and
some lateral interocclusal
records. e.g. Gysi Trubyte
articulator

23. CLASS IV
 Instruments that will accept three-dimensional dynamic registration.
These instruments allows for joint orientation of casts via a face-bow
transfer .

24.  CLASS IV-A
In this instrument condylar paths are formed by
registrations. These instruments do not allow for
discriminating capability. e.g. TMJ articulator
 CLASS IV-B
Instrument that have condylar paths that can be
angled and customiszed either by selection from a
variety of curvatures, by modification, or both.
e.g. pantograms

25. ARTICULATORS OF COMMON
INTEREST
1. Hinge Articulator: These instruments are capable of
eccentric movement, but the condylar and incisal paths are
not adjustable. For e.g. "barn door" articulator.

26. 2. Whip Mix Articulator: The condylar elements on the lower
frame are adjustable to three positions. The narrowest distance
is 96 mm, the intermediate distance is 110 mm, and the widest
distance is 124 mm. The condylar guides in the upper frame are
aligned with the condylar elements of the lower frame by either
removing or adding the appropriate number of spacers on the
shaft of the condylar guides. The condylar guides can be
adjusted to 0° to 70° horizontal condylar inclination. The medial
walls are adjustable from 0° to 45° to provide a progressive side
shift. The posterior walls are straight. The standard articulator
includes a flat plastic incisal guide table. A metal adjustable
incisal guide table, a metal dovetail incisal table, and a dimpled
plastic incisal guide table are also available.

28. 3. Hanau Articulator: (Model 96H2) This is the current model of
the original articulator. It maintains most of the features of the
model H. The condyular elements are on the axle attached to
the upper frame. The guidance assembly is a closed- slotted
system that is part of the lower frame and fixed at 110 mm. The
side shift (Bennett angle) is adjustable from 0° to 30° and is
progressive in nature. The horizontal condylar guidance is
adjustable from 0° to 75° and is rectilinear in nature.
 This model accepts a wide range of accessories. It will receive
either an ear-bow or face-bow transfer. It is also available in a
special maxillofacial design with the upper frame raised 1 inch
to provide for additional space.

30. Parts of Articulator (Whip Mix) Model 8500
 Upper Frame
 Lower Frame
 Mounting Plates (attached to upper & lower frames)
 Condylar guide (attached to upper frame) i.e. Horizontal Condylar Inclination
is Set at 30° (0°-70°)
 Condylar element (attached to lower frame - Arcon type)
► Incisal Pin
► Incisal guide table (placed on lower frame)
► Adjustment for Inter Condylar distance.
S = Small = 96 mm
M = Mediums = 110 mm
L = Large = 124 mm
► Progressive side shift adjustment
(0°-45°)
► Vertical Condylar posts.
► Index pins for attachment into
the reference holes of the facebow.

31. Hanau Model 96 H2 (Non-Arcon)
 Bow - Upper bow
 Lower bow
 Mounting Plates - attached
to upper & lower bow for
the attachment of casts.
 Mounting Jig (Maxillary
Cast Support) attached to
lower bow.
 Incisal guide pin - act as
vertical stop & is net as to
obtain flash terminal.

32. Steps for Arbitrary Mounting of Cast
 Coat the mounting plate and articulator
member with petroleum jelly or Masque*
before attaching the plate to the articulator.
This procedure helps keep the articulator free
of stone and aids in retrieving the plate from
the mounting stone after completion of the
denture.
 Attach the mounting plates to the articulator.
.

33. • Adjust the incisal guide table to its flat or horizontal
position.
Set the horizontal condylar inclination at the appropriate
setting (usually 0 degrees when using 0 degree teeth or 30
degrees or another inclination, as desired, if using
anatomic teeth, and lock the condylar elements in contact
with the condyle stopscrews.
• Place a rubber band on the articulator, extending from
the lower annular mark of the incisal guide pin around
each condyle support post. Adjust the rubber band to form
a plane that divides the space between the upper and
lower members of the articulator

34.  Place three lumps of modeling clay on the lower
mounting plate to serve as an adjustable cast support.
 With the baseplate and the occlusion rims luted
together, place the maxillary and mandibular casts in
correct relationship on the three clay supports in the
articulator. Then align them until the occlusal plane
of the occlusion rims is parallel to the plane
established by the rubber band.
 Open the articulator, and paint the base of the
maxillary cast with a separating medium.

35.  Mix plaster with , using a spatula, add
plaster to the base of the cast and mounting
plate.
 Close the articulator until the incisal guide
pin touches the incisal guide table, and add
plaster as needed to fill voids.
 After the plaster has set, invert the
articulator. Remove the modeling clay cast
supports, paint a separating medium on the
base of the cast, and attach the lower cast to
the articular with plaster.

37. • Properly mounted casts illustrate the
parallelism of the occlusion rim to the
plane established by the rubber band. The
mounted casts are ready for positioning
the denture teeth.

38. THANKYOU