The document discusses the history and classification of articulators. It describes various types of articulators including mean value, semi-adjustable, and fully adjustable articulators. Key articulators mentioned include the Hanau, Whip Mix, and Denar articulators. Articulators are mechanical instruments that simulate jaw movements and are used for diagnosis, treatment planning, and the fabrication of dental restorations.

1. Jyolsna K S
II year MDS
Dept of Prosthodontics
AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences

2. Definition History Classifications
Programming
Various
articulators
Limitations
Advantages
Parts
Requirements
Uses

3. A mechanical instrument that represents the
temporomandibular joint and jaws, to which maxillary
and mandibular casts may be attached to simulate
some or all mandibular movements. (GPT-8)
Articulator

5. .
The Slab Articulator
The slab articulator devised by Philip Pfaff in
1756

6. The first mechanical articulator
 J B Garriot 1805
 ‘Gariot Hinge Joint
Articulator’
 Hinges with a set screw
in the posterior

7. The Howarth Plaster Articulator 1830.
Plaster articulators
Two nested metal boxes held
in position and the hinge
movement was controlled with
elastics

8. The Barn door hinge articulator
Vertical stop at anterior end introduced

9. First to imitate mandibular movements –
but not successful
Daniel T Evans’ articulator 1840

10. Christensen’s Articulator
o use of a protrusive interocclusal wax record to
measure the angle of the condylar paths

11. Bonwill articulator
 1858
 Bonwills theory of occlusion
New century articulator
 George B Snow
 Adjustable condylar paths and
tension spring
Acme articulator (1906)
 Straight condylar path
 Adjustable condylar inclination
 Provision for Bennett
movement.

12. Gysi adaptable articulator
(1908)
Extra oral tracings and
particular condylar path
plate

13. Gysi Simplex- Alfred Gysi
(1914)
 Condyles- lower member
 Condylar paths -inclined at
33°
 Incisal guidance -fixed at 60°

14. Maxillomandibular
instrument
 Monson(1918)
 Spherical theory

15. Hagmen balancer
 1925
 Designed according to
Monson’s Spherical
theory.
 Functioning head- 4’’
above occlusal plane
 Occlusal plane- base of
isosceles triangle

16. Hanau Model H-110
 1926 : Hanau
 Individual condylar guidance
adjustments
 Lateral setting was calculated
by : L=H/8+12
Hanau Model H-110 modified
o Similar to H-110 except that
it had an incisal guide table
instead of incisal guide cup

17. Gnathoscope
McCollum(1939)
 Mandibular recorder
 designed for use with
the gnathograph, an
extraoral device for
tracing mandibular
movements.

18. Bergstorm articulator
 Arcon instrument
 Hanau H had similar
features
 accept facebow record,
uses protrusive
interocclusal record and
has curved condylar
guides.

19. Transograph (1952)
 Split axis instrument designed
to allow each condylar axis to
function independently of each
other
 Depends on Hinge axis-
adjustment
Ney articulator- (1962)
Dr. A. J DePietro
 Arcon
 no locking device between
the upper and lower members
for centric position
 Gothic arch tracing

20. Uses of Articulators
To simulate patient’s jaw movements

21. 1.Diagnosis, treatment planning and patient
presentation in both the natural and artificial
dentitions.
2.To plan dental procedures
3.To aid in the fabrication of dental
restorations and lost dental parts.
4. To correct and modify completed restorations.
5.Teaching and studying of occlusion and
mandibular movements.
Uses

22. Purposes
1. To hold the maxillary and mandibular casts in a
determined fixed relationship
2. Mounting of dental casts for diagnosis,
treatment planning and patient presentation.
3. To simulate the jaw movement like opening and
closing and also border movements.
4. Fabrication of occlusal surfaces for dental
restoration.
5. Arrangement of artificial teeth for complete and
removable partial denture.

23. M uth is the best articulator

24. ..then why not use
it
 Patient’s saliva, tongue, and cheeks
 Shifting denture bases and resiliency of the
supporting tissues
 Inability of humans to detect visually subtle
changes in motion
Visualization (lingual)
More chair time

25. Limitations
 Error in tooling and errors resulting from metal
fatigue and wear.
 Simulate but not duplicate the jaw movements.
 Movements simulated are empty mouth sliding
motions, not functional movements.
 Errors in jaw relation reproduced as errors in
denture occlusion.

26. Hold casts in correct
horizontal and vertical
position
Positive anterior stop
Accept face bow transfer
Open and close in hinge movement
and
allow for protusive &lateral motion
Moving parts should move
freely & be accurately
machined
Non moving parts should be
of rigid construction
Basic Requirements

27. Adjustable horizontal and lateral
condylar guide elementsAccept third point of reference
Terminal hinge position locking
device
Removable mounting plates
Adjustable incisal guide tableAdjustable Intercondylar width
of condylar elements.
Additional Requirements

28. Classification
Gillis (1926)
 The adaptable or adjustable type
 The average or fixed type.
Beck (1962)
 Suspension instrument
 Axis instruments
 Tripod instruments

29. Posselt (1968)
a) Plain line or simple hinge.
b) Mean value types
c) Adjustable types:
 Semi adjustable : Posterior
control mechanisms- set by
interocclusal positional records e.g.
Hanau, Dentatus.
 Fully adjustable : set by 3
dimensional pantographs e.g. Denar.

30. Sharry ( 1974 )
Simple
Hinge type
Fixed guide type
Adjustable
Kingery (1934)
Simple articulators and
Adjustable or adaptable articulators.

31. C.J. Thomas (1973)
 Arbitrary – Not adjustable
 Positional
 Functional

32. Boucher
Classified based on
 Theories of occlusion
 Types of interocclusal records

33. Articulators based on geometric theories of
mandibular movements
Bonwill’s
Equilateral theory
Monson’s
spherical theory
Hall’s conical
theory

34. Bonwill theory of occlusion
 4 inch distance between condyles and each
condyle and the incisor point
 Allows lateral movement and movements only
in horizontal plane
4’’
4’’

35. Conical theory: (R E HALL)
 Lower teeth move over surfaces of upper teeth
as over surface of a cone generating an angle of
45° with the central axis of the cone tipped 45°
to the occlusal plane.
 Hall’s automatic articulator

36. Spherical theory of
occlusion
 G.S.Monson
 Surface of a sphere with
diameter of 8 inches
 Monson’s maxillo
mandibular articulator

38. Based on records
 Those utilizing the inter occlusal records
 Those using the graphic record adjustment
 Those utilizing hinge-axis location for adjusting
the articulator.

39. Winkler’s classification
 International Prosthodontic Workshop on
Complete Denture Occlusion at the
University of Michigan -1972.
 Based on articulator’s function.
Class I
 Single static registration
 Slab articulators
 Hinge-joint articulator-Gariot
 Barn- door hinge

40. Class II
 Permit horizontal as well as vertical motion
Class II- A
 Based on average value
 Will not accept a face bow transfer.
 Gysi Simplex

41. Class II-B
 Based on arbitrary theories of motion
 Maxillo-mandibular instrument - Monson

42. Class II - C
 Based on engraved records
 House articulator

43. Class III
 Simulate condylar pathways
 Allow face bow transfer.
Class III A
 Accept static protrusive registration
 Example: Hanau Model H, H2, Dentatus,
Class III B
 Accept static protrusive registration and
some lateral protrusive registration
 Example: Panadent, Hanau 130-21

44. Class IV
 Accept three dimensional dynamic
registrations.
Class IV- A
 Condylar path - engraving registrations
 TMJ articulator
Class IV - B
 Condylar pathways - selectively angled and
customized by selection from variety of
curvatures/ modification/both.
 Gnathoscope, Denar, Simulator.

45. Heartwell
 Emphasized role of pantograph in record
registration
Class I
 Will receive and reproduce stereograms
(pantograms)
 McCollum Gnathoscope, Hanau Kinescope,
Ney Articulator, Stuart Gnathologic computer,
Denar D5A

46. Class II
 Will not receive pantograph
Type 1- (Hinge) - can open and close in a
hinge movement.
Do not accept face bow.
 Gariot , Barn Door hinge , Trubyte Simplex,
Bonwill
Type 2 (Arbitrary) - designed to adapt to
specific theories of occlusion
 Monson, Transograph

47. Type 3 (Average) - designed to provide condylar
element guidance by means of positional
records, averages or mini-recorder systems.
Face bow can be used.
 Example: House, Dentatus, Hanau, Whip-Mix,
Denar (Mark II, Omni model), TMJ, Panadent
Type 4 (Special) –
Designed and used primarily for complete
dentures.
 Example: Kile Dentograph, Stansberry Tripod

48. Based on adjustability (Rihani A)
 Non-adjustable
 Semi-adjustable
 Fully adjustable
Rihani A, Classification of articulator, J Prosthet Dent, 1980;43:344 – 347

49. Non adjustable articulators
 Can open and close in a fixed horizontal
axis.
 Fixed condylar path along which condylar
ball can be moved to simulate lateral and
protrusive jaw movement.
 Incisal guide pins ride on an inclined plane in
a fixed inclination.

50. Semi adjustable articulators
 Adjustable condylar and incisal guides
 Capable of accepting face bow record.
 Condylar guides - programmed from protrusive
and lateral records obtained from patient.
 Adjustable condylar paths, incisal guide tables
and inter condylar distances. The degree and
ease of these adjustments differ.
Arcon Non-arcon

51. Arcon articulators
‘Arcon’ - Articulator and Condyle.
 Bergstrom
 Condylar element - lower member
 Condylar guidance - upper
member mechanical analog of
glenoid fossa.
 Advantages
 Whip mix
 Hanau university
series

52. Non-arcon articulators
 Reverse of Temporomandibular
joint.
 Some examples include Hanau
H series, Dentatus and Gysi.

53. Heinz O Beck et al in 1959
Evaluated the arcon concept of articulation and
concluded that no definite superiority could be
noted in the clinical evaluation of complete
dentures constructed on the arcon over the
condylar type of instruments

54. Lawrence A. Weinberg et al in 1963
Concluded that both the arcon & condylar
instruments produce the same motion
because condylar guidance is the result of the
interaction of a condylar ball on an inclined
plane. The only change is in the numbers
used to record the inclination
Lawrence A Weinberg et al,Arcon principle in the condylar mechanism of
adjustable articulators,J Prosthet Dent,1963; 13(2):263–268

55. Fully adjustable articulators
 Allows mandibular movement
in all directions
 Instead of condylar guidance ,
receptacles in which acrylic
dough can be contoured to
form a customized condylar
and incisal guidance
 Stuart instrument
Gnathoscope, Simulator

56. Individual articulators

57. Mean value articulator
 Upper member can
be moved upward
and backward .
 Condylar inclination
of 30 degrees on
both side .
 Anterior part is
supported by the
incisal guide rod
above and incisal
guide table below
with 10 to 15
inclination.

58. Stephens Class II
 Hinge movement
 Limited lateral movement.
 Some -set screw- posterior- hold
frames in a fixed vertical position
 Others -anterior pin
 In Complete dentures when non-
cusp teeth- indicated

59. Stuart Articulator
 Records and repeats the positions in
three planes
 Mandibular movements are recorded
by magnetically controlled ball point
styli
 Recorder is locked at centric relation

60. Whip Mix articulators
 1963 by Charles Stuart
 Easily mount the casts
 Original model is 8500
 Inter Condylar distance-
removable condylar guidance
spacer
 Narrowest distance-96mm
 Intermediate -110mm
 Widest distance-124mm

61. Whip Mix articulators
 Model 9000 is similar to 8500- except the lower
frame is ½ inch taller to provide more space for mounting
the mandibular cast
 Model 8800 (steep plane of occlusion and osseous
defects)
 Model 9800

62. Whip Mix articulators
 DB 2000, DB 2200, 2240
 Posterior viewing and access
space ↑
 Interframe distance increased
to 114mm
 Quick action centering latch
system
 Bilateral heavy elastics
 2240 – Accumount system

63. Denar articulators
 Dr. Niles Guichet
 Current model – D5A
 Adjustments to the guidance surfaces are possi-
ble in all three planes of space
 Denar reference plane locator and marker -
locating the reference points.
 Adjustable metal incisal table and custom incisal
platform.

64. Hanau articulators
 Introduced by Rudolph Hanau
 Model H
 Designed for complete dentures
 The condylar elements are a part of the upper
frame and fixed at 110 mm.
 The condylar elements functioned in a slot type
guidance mechanism adjustable from -40 to
+80 degrees.
 The side shift adjustments range from 0° to 20°
and progressive in nature.

65. Non adjustable
Hanau-mate average type articulator
Semi adjustable
Series 96 H 2 Articulator
Wide-Vue Arcon
The 130 university series
Modular Articulator System

66. Hanau-mate average type
articulator
 Non-adjustable, Arcon
 Condylar guidance - 30°
 Built-in average Bennett
Angle - 15°
 Removable upper member
to speed wax ups.

67. Model 96H2
 Semi-Adjustable, Non-Arcon
 Intercondylar distance - fixed at
110mm
 Bennett angle-0 to 300
 Adjustable Incisal guide
 Bennett movement- L=H/8+12

68. Wide-Vue Model 183 and 184
 Arcon in nature
 In 184 upper and lower
frames can be separated
 Horizontal condylar path
angle -20 to +60 °
 Bennett angle- 0-30°

69. Parts of semi adjustable articulators
 Upper & lower arms
 Mounting plates
 Condylar analogue
 Condylar guides
 Incisal guides

70. Hanau wide vue articulators
Condylar guidance
 Control centers
 Condylar track may be
adjustably inclined on the
horizontal transverse axis
from 0 to +60° or to a -20°
(Protrusive inclination)
 Condylar track adjusted on
vertical axis from 0 to 30 °
(Progressive Bennett angle)

71.  Closed condylar track-
prevents accidental
disengagement of the
upper member.
 Fixed centric stop
Limits condylar element
movement
 Centric lock
Arrest condylar element at
centric position

72. Dual end incisal pin :
 Chisel edge
 Spherical tip
 Vertical stop
 Provides a stylus contact
for excursive movements

73.  Adjustable incisal guide
 Central guiding table is
5.56mm wide
 0 to 60° (protrusive
inclination) – AP
 Lateral wings: 0 to 45°

74.  Orbital indicator
 Represents infra orbital
notch
 Provides vertical
orientation for the upper
arch

75. Programming the articulator

78. Programming
Nair KC, Programming the semiadjustable articulator, Trends in
Prosthodontics, 2011;2(1):12-14

79. “It must be recognized that the person operating the
instrument is more important than the instrument.
If dentists understand articulators and their
deficiencies, they can compensate for their
inherent adequacies.”
- Carl O Boucher

80. References
 Arthur O. Rahn, Charles M. Heartwell, Text book of
complete denture, 5th edition, Febiger Publications,
Pennysylvania, pp 59-106.
 Sheldon Winkler, Essentials of complete denture
prosthodontics, 2nd edition, pp 142- 183
 Edgar N. Starck, The History of Articulators: From
Facebows to the Gnathograph, a Brief History of Early
Devices Developed for Recording Condylar Movement:
Part I, J Prosthodont, 2001;10(4):241-248
 Edgar N. Starck, The History of Articulators: Pursuing the
Evolution of the Incisal-Pin and Guide, Part II, J
Prosthodont, 2001;10(2):113-121

81.  Edgar N. Starck, The History of Articulators: A Critical History
of Articulators Based on Geometric Theories of Mandibular
Movement, Part III:The “Balancer” Designs, J Prosthodont,
2002;11(4):305-320
 Awni Rihani, Classification of articulator, J Prosthet Dent,
1980; 43:344 – 347
 K. Chandrasekharan Nair, Rediscovering Complete
Dentures, 1st edition, 33-44
 Hanau manual
 Lawrence A Weinberg et al,Arcon principle in the condylar
mechanism of adjustable articulators,J Prosthet Dent,1963;
13(2):263–268
 Ashish R Jain, Articulators through the years revisited : From
1700 to 1900- Part I, WJD,2015;6(4):222-225
 Ashish R Jain, Articulators through the years revisited: From
1900 to 1950- Part II, WJD,2016;7(1):23-31
 Ashish R Jain, Articulators through the years revisited: From
1751 to 1970- Int J Pharm Bio Sci 2016 July ; 7(3): (B) 880 -