The document discusses the history and types of articulators. It defines an articulator as a mechanical instrument that represents the temporomandibular joint and jaws. It then summarizes the evolution of various articulators from the early slab articulator in 1756 to modern fully adjustable articulators. The document also classifies articulators based on theories of occlusion, the type of records used, their ability to simulate jaw movements, and their adjustability.

1. A healthy smile is worthwhile
GOOD MORNING ALL

2. ARTICULATORS
Dr.SHARI.S.R
II MDS
GDC,TRIVANDRUM

3. Definition History Classifications
Various
articulators
Limitations
Advantages
Parts
Requirements
Uses

4. 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-9)
ARTICULATOR

6. THE SLABARTICULATOR
.
The slab articulator devised by Philip Pfaff in
1756

7. THE FIRST MECHANICAL ARTICULATOR
 J B Garriot 1805
 ‘Gariot Hinge Joint
Articulator’
 Hinges with a set screw
in the posterior

8. THE HOWARTH PLASTER ARTICULATOR
1830.
Plaster articulators
Two nested metal boxes held
in position and the hinge
movement was controlled with
elastics

9. THE BARNDOOR HINGE ARTICULATOR
Vertical stop at anterior end introduced

10. First to imitate mandibular movements –but not successful
DANIEL T EVANS’ ARTICULATOR 1840

11. CHRISTENSEN’S ARTICULATOR
o Use of a protrusive interocclusal wax record
to measure the angle of the condylar paths

12. 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.

13. GYSI ADAPTABLE ARTICULATOR
(1908)
Extra oral tracings and particular
condylar path plate

14. GYSI SIMPLEX- Alfred Gysi (1914)
 Condyles- lower member
 Condylar paths -inclined at 33°

15. MAXILLOMANDIBULAR INSTRUMENT
 Monson(1918)
 Spherical theory

16. HAGMEN
BALANCER
 1925
 Designed according to
Monson’s Spherical
theory.
 Functioning head- 4’’
above occlusal plane

17. 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

18. GNATHOSCOPE
McCollum(1939)
 Mandibular recorder
 Non arcon
 Designed for use
with the
gnathograph, an
extraoral device for
tracing mandibular
movements.

19. BERGSTORM ARTICULATOR
 Arcon instrument
 Hanau H had similar
features
 Accept facebow record,
uses protrusive
interocclusal record and
has curved condylar
guides.

20. 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
 Fully adjustable Arcon.
 No locking device between the
upper and lower members for
centric position.
 Gothic arch tracing

21. PURPOSES OF ARTICULATORS
To simulate patient’s jaw movements

22. Purposes
1. To hold the maxillary and mandibular casts in a
determined fixed relationship
2. To simulate the jaw movement like opening and
closing .
3. To produce border movements and intra border
movements

23. 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.To arrange artificial teeth.
USES

24. M uth is the best articulator

25. ..then why not use
 Patient’s saliva, tongue, and cheeks
Shifting denture bases and resiliency of the
supporting tissues
Patient co-operation is not needed.
Visualization (lingual)
 Less chair time

26. 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.

27. BASIC REQUIREMENTS
• It should hold cast in correct horizontal and vertical relationship
• .
• Provide positive anterior vertical stop.
• Should accept facebow transfer record .
• Should open & close in a hinge movement.
• Made of non corrosive rigid materials.
• Shouldnot be bulky / heavy.
• Adequate space b/w upper & lower members.
• Moving parts move without any friction
• Non- moving parts should be rigid

28. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• The condylar guides should allow protrusive and
lateral jaw motion.
• The condylar guides should be adjustable in a
horizontal direction.
• The articulator should be adjustable to accept and
alter the bennet movement.
• The incisal guide table should be customizable.

29. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
• THEORIES OF OCCLUSION
• TYPES OF INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD
USED
• ABILITY TO SIMULATE JAW
MOVEMENTS
• ADJUSTABILITY OF ARTICULATOR

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

31. 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’’

32. 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

33. Hall’s Experimental Conical Theory
Type

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

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

37. BASED ON ABILITY TO SIMULATE THE JAW
MOVEMENT
• At the international prosthodontic workshop on
complete denture occlusion at the University of
Michigan in 1972, the articulators classified based on
– instrument capability,
– intent,
– recording procedure
– record acceptance
: Hinge Type
: Arbitrary – type A, type B, type C
• Class I
• Class II
• Class III : Average -type A, type B
• Class IV : Special – type A, type B

38. CLASS I (Hinge
Type)
• Simple articulator capable of
accepting a single
static registration.
• Only Vertical motion possible.
• Use in cases where a tentative
jaw relation is done
• Example : Slab articulator,
Hinge joint articulator (J.B.
GARIOT), Barn door
articulator, Gysi Simplex

39. Gysi Simplex

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

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

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

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

44. Class III, TYPE B
• Accept a Static Lateral, protrusive interocclusal records + face-
bow transfer
• Exp.
– Trubyte articulator
– Tripod articulator
– Ney articulator
– Hanau (130-21)
- (GYSI, 1926) – NON ARCON
- STANSBERRY
- (De Pietro , 1960) – ARCON
- (Richard Beu & James Janik .1964)
- (Richard Beu ,1975) – ARCON
- Robert Lee – ARCON
– Tele Dyne articulator
– Pandent articulator
– Denar Mark II
– Whipmix
– Case Articulator Simulator
– TMJ Mechanical fossa Instrument

45. Ney’s Articulator

46. Stansbery “Tripod” Articulator

47. 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.

48. TMJ articulator

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

50. NON – ADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATOR
• Can open and close in a fixed horizontal axis.
• Have a fixed condylar path.
• The incisal pins ride on an inclined plate in a
fixed inclination.
• A class I articulator is a nonadjustable
articulator

51. SEMI ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS
 Adjustable condylar and incisal guides
 Capable of accepting face bow record.
 Adjustable condylar paths, incisal guide tables
and inter condylar distances. The degree and
ease of these adjustments differ.
Arcon Non-arcon
BERGSTORM

52. 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

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

55. 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

56. 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

57. Gysi adjustable Articulator

58. 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

59. Denar D
4A

60. Gnathoscope

61. Simulator

62. OTHER
CLASSIFICATIONS
Gillis (1926)
 The adaptable or adjustable type
 The average or fixed type.
Beck (1962)
 Suspension instrument
 Axis instrument
 Tripod instrument

63. 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.

64. Sharry ( 1974 )
• Simple
• Hinge type
• Fixed guide type
• Adjustable
.

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

66. BASIC COMPONENT OF AN
ARTICULATOR
• Condylar track
• Condylar element
• Vertical Rod (Incisal Pin)
• Incisal guide table
• Upper member
• Lower member
– Represent maxilla
– Represent mandible

67. SOME COMMONLY USED
ARTICULATOR
• Mean-Value Articulator
• Hanau wide VUE articulator
• Whip – mix articulator
• Denar articulator
• Dentatus
• SAM Articulators
• TMJ articulator

68. MEAN-VALUE
ARTICULATOR

69. The parts of mean value
articulator
• UPPER MEMBER,
• LOWER MEMBER ,
• INSICAL TABLE,
• VERTICAL RODS,
• CONDYLAR GUIDANCE,

70. •Why is a mean value articulator called so?
• Because it has 3 fixed mean values
• Intercondylar distance- 10 to 11cm
• Condylar guidance- 33degrees
• Incisal guidance- 9-12degrees

71. Uppermember
Triangular frame
Vertical Rod with thumb screw.
Two Condylar elements

72. Lower Member
L Shaped frame with
horizontal and
vertical arm.
Horizontal arm is
triangular and its
apex contains incisal
guide table.
Vertical arm is
rectangular
containing condylar
guidance slot at upper
portion.

73. Incisal guide
table
Contain very short
cylinder whose
upper surface is
concave.
Vertical Rod should
rest on the center
of the incisal guide
table during
articulation.

74. Condylar
guidance
 Represent by a slot
( condylar track)
 Condylar element of
upper member passes
through this track.
 A spring is mounted
within this track to
stabilise the condylar
element.

75. Helps to keep a
Vertical Rod or Incisal
Pin
fixed distance
between the upper
& lower member at
anterior end.
The pointed tip of
vertical rod should
rest on the center
of incisal guide
during articulation.

76. Incisal guide
pin
Present at the mid point
of vertical rod.
The incisal edge of the
maxillary incisors at
the mid line of the
occlusal rim should
touch the tip of incisal
pin during articulation.
It present the anterior
reference point.

77. Hanau – Mean Value articulator

78. HANAU
ARTICULATOR
• Hanau wide VUE articulator.
• Hanau wide VUE II articulator
• Hanau H2 articulator
• Hanau modular system
• Hanau Radial shift

79. Basic Parts of Hanau Articulator
1 Upper Member*
2 Lower Member*
3 Condylar Guide(Right)
4 Condylar Guide(Left)
5 Spring Pin*
6 Condyle Shaft
7 Condyle Element
8 Adjustable IncisalGuide
9 IncisalGuidePin
10 Thumbnut
11 Thumbscrew
12 Thumbscrew
13 Spring
14 Swing Stop
15Maxillary Orbital Indicator
Assembly(20-23)
16 SetScrew
17 Thumbscrew
18 Pin*(4)
19 MountingPlatePair
20. Thumbnut
21 Screw
22 OrbitaleGauge
23 Stud

80. WHIP-MIX
ARTICULATOR
• Designed by Dr. Charles Stuart 1963.
• It is an arcon articulator.
• Model.no: 8500
• The upper & lower member are mechanically attached by means of
a spring latch assembly.
• The inter condylar distance can be adjusted.
– Small (S) – 96 mm
– Medium (M)–110mm
– Large (L) – 124 mm.
• Two Different face-bows can utilised
– Quick mount or earpiece face-bow for complete denture.
– Kinematic.

81. Whip mix
8500
Series
Articulator

82. MODIFICATIONS OF WHIPMIX
• Model 8800 provides an additional ½ inches
space to mount the maxillary cast
• Model 9000 - the lower frame is ½ inches taller to
provide more space for mounting the mandibular cast.
• Model 9800 is combines the upper frame of model
8800 with the lower frame of model 9000 to provide
the greatest distance between the upper & lower
frames.
• Model 8340 assure that cast can be interchanged
between any model 8340 articulator without loss of
accuracy.

83. DENAR
ARTICULATORS
• Introduced by Niles.Guichet-1968
• Arcon type
• Latest series is D5A

84. Denar®
Mark II
Articulator

85. OMN
I
• It is a newest Denar articulator.
• The design allow one to easily exchange closed fossa
for open fossa with a positive locking latch.
• The purpose of this model is an attempt to better meet
the requirments for complete denture, removable &
fixed partial denture fabrication in one articulator.

86. DENA
R
OMNI
TRAC
K

87. DENTATUS ARTICULATOR
• Introduced in sweden in 1944.
• All models are axel type with closed
condylar tracks.
• It has a unique gauge blocks.
• Non arcon.
• The condylar path is straight.
• The intercondylar distance is fixed.
• Models :ARH,ARL,ARS,ARD.

88. TMJ
ARTICULATOR
• Designed by (1965) Kenneth Swanson.
• The articulator has a spring loaded latch to help
return the upper frame to the centric relation
position.
• Small version of the articulator is available & is
called the mini articulator.

89. SAM articulators
 High precision German articulator.
 Three interchangeable condylar housings with different curvatures of
superior wall.
 It has a unique incisal table attached to upper member

90. SELECTION OF AN ARTICULATOR
FOR FABRICATING COMPLETE
DENTURES
• One should not used too complex instruments for a simple
case or too simple articulator for a complex case.
• The important procedure in CD fabrication is the accuracy
of the interocclusal record.
• Extremely difficult to obtain graphic records-fully adjustable
articulator use is complex here.
• Simple hinge articulator is not useful-it cannot accept
eccentric interocclusal records.
• B/w the extremes semi adjustable articulator –accept
facebow,interocclusal record,adjustable condylar
guidances

91. SELECTION OF AN
ARTICULATOR FOR FIXED
PROSTHODONTICS.
• For most routine fixed prosthesis cases –Semi
adjustable arcon articulators used
• Extensive treatment requring reconstruction of entire
occlusion needs-Fully adjustable articulator

92. RECENT ADVANCES IN
ARTICULATORS
 PLASTER LESS ARTICULATORS
• “VIVIDENT” introduced arcon plasterless articulators.
• ADVANTAGES:
1. To mount casts without plaster in less than 2 minutes.
2. It saves time and labour
3. Avoids messy benches.

93. DISPOSABLE CROWN AND BRIDGE
ARTICULATORS
• No plaster needed.
• Light weight;
• Allows lateral and protrusive movements.
• Made of heavy duty plastic.
• Great centric occlusion

94. VIRTUAL ARTICULATORS
 SZENTPETERY:
• First virtual dental articulator.
• Fully adjustable 3- dimensional virtual articulator.
 KORDASS AND GARTNER:
• This system uses (JMA)-to record the mandibular movement
& generates an animation of jaw movement.
 UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY:
• The mechanical articulator is reverse engineered and scanned
via a cad system & virtual articulation is done.
J clin diagn res.2014 july:8(7)

95. ARTICULATOR CARE &
MAINTENANCE
 CLEANING:
• Use mild soap& water with a brush.
• Air dry and lubricate.
• Don’t use strong detergents alkalies,gasoline,naphtha.
 LUBRICATION:
• Use sewing machine oil /high speed handpiece oil.
• Wipe off excess oil to prevent accumilations of dust.
• Thin coating of petrolatum jelly applied on articulator surfaces
that contact gypsum.
 STORAGE:
• Clean dry atmosphere free of plaster and carborundum dust.
• Away from acids ,alkalies,/corrosive medicaments.
• Wait a full day after mounting cast before storing articulator in
carrying case.

96. CONCLUSION
 “It must be recognised 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.

97. REFERENCES
• Bouchers prosthetic Treatment for edentulous patient 9 th edition
• Heartwell cm,jr,rahn Ao:Textbook of complete dentures
• Rihamani”Classificationof articulators 1980;43:344-47.
• Winkler sheldon:Essentials of complete denture prosthodontics.
• Heinz .o .beck et all.Selection of an articulator and jaw registrations-J
prosthet dent,.vol10 issue5 1960.

98.  THANKYOU