Articulators 3

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An articulator is a mechanical device that simulates the If the casts are mounted at an increased dimension of oc-
movements of the mandible (Fig 3-1). The principle em- clusion (ie, with a thick interocclusal record), the teeth will
ployed in the use of articulators is the mechanical replication occlude in a different intercuspal position on the articula-
of the paths of movement of the posterior determinants, the tor than in the mouth.2 A slight positive error resulting in a
temporomandibular joints (TMJs), and, in some cases, the deflective occlusal contact could develop between the me-
anterior guidance. The instrument is then used in the fab- sial incline of the maxillary teeth and the distal incline of the
rication of fixed and removable dental restorations that are mandibular teeth.3
in harmony with those movements. The articulator is a tool, The mediolateral location of the centers of rotation (ie, the
and, as with all tools, its value to the dentist is determined intercondylar distance) will change the radius of tooth move-
by its appropriate use. ment, which in turn will affect the arc traveled by a tooth
The outer limits of all excursive movements made by the cusp in the horizontal plane during a lateral excursion of the
mandible are referred to as border movements. All function- mandible. On a small hinge articulator, the discrepancy be-
al movements of the mandible are confined to the three- tween the arcs traveled by a cusp on the instrument and
dimensional envelope of movement contained within these in the mouth can be sizable, particularly on the nonwork-
borders.1 The border movements are of significance in dis- ing side (Fig 3-4). The result is an increased possibility of
cussing articulation because they are limited by ligaments. incorporating a nonworking occlusal interference into the
As such, they are highly repeatable and useful in setting the restoration.
various adjustments on the mechanical fossae of an articu- A semi-adjustable articulator is an instrument whose larg-
lator. The more nearly the articulator duplicates the border er size allows a close approximation of the anatomical dis-
movements, the more nearly it will simulate the posterior tance between the axis of rotation and the teeth. If casts
determinants of occlusion. As a result, the harmony between are mounted with a facebow transfer using no more than
the fabricated restoration and the posterior determinants an approximate THA, the radius of movement produced on
(ie, the TMJs) will be improved. the articulator will reproduce the tooth closure arc with rela-
Articulators vary widely in the accuracy with which they re- tive accuracy, and any resulting error will be slight (Fig 3-5).
produce the movements of the mandible. At the lower end Placing the casts a small distance closer to or farther from
of the scale is the nonadjustable articulator. It is usually a the condyles through the use of an approximate THA will
small instrument that is capable of only a hinge opening. The produce an error of only a small magnitude during lateral
distance between the teeth and the axis of rotation on the excursions4 (Fig 3-6).
small instrument is considerably shorter than it is in the skull, The semi-adjustable articulator reproduces the direction and
Copyright 2012. International Quintessence Publishing Group.

with a resultant loss of accuracy. endpoint but not the intermediate track of some condylar
As the mandible moves up and down in the retruded posi- movements. As an example, the inclination of the condylar
tion, the cusp tip of a mandibular tooth moves along an arc path is reproduced as a straight line on many articulators,
in a sagittal plane, with the center for that rotation located at when in fact it usually traverses a curved path. On many in-
the transverse horizontal axis (THA), which passes through struments, the lateral translation, or Bennett movement, is
the condyles (Fig 3-2). If the location of the axis of rotation reproduced as a gradually deviating straight line, although
relative to the cusp tip differs markedly from the patient to several recently introduced semi-adjustable articulators do
the articulator, the radius of the arc of closure of the cusp tip accommodate the immediate lateral translation.
may be different, producing an error. Drastic differences be- Intercondylar distances are not totally adjustable on semi-
tween the radius of closure on the articulator and in the pa- adjustable articulators. They can be adjusted to small, medi-
tient’s mouth can affect the placement of morphologic fea­tures um, and large configurations, if at all. Restorations will require
such as cusps, ridges, and grooves on the occlusal surface. some intraoral adjustment, but it should be inconsequential
The casts mounted on a smaller articulator will have a if the restoration is fabricated carefully on accurately mount-
much shorter radius of movement, and a tooth will travel a ed casts. This type of articulator can be used for the fabrica-
steeper arc during closure of the small articulator (Fig 3-3). tion of most single units and fixed partial dentures.

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AN: 796974 ; Sather, David A., Shillingburg, Herbert T..; Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics
Account: s1229929.main.eds
 3 Articulators

mha

Fig 3-1 The articulator should simulate the movements of the Fig 3-2 As the mandible closes around the hinge axis (mha), the
mandible. cusp tip of each mandibular tooth moves along an arc. (Reprinted
from Hobo et al2 with permission.)

mha aha

a
a
m

Fig 3-3 The large dissimilarity between the hinge axis of the small Fig 3-4 A major discrepancy exists between the nonworking cusp
articulator (aha) and the hinge axis of the mandible (mha) will path on the small articulator (a) and that in the mouth (m). (Reprinted
produce a large discrepancy between the arcs of closure of the from Hobo et al2 with permission.)
articulator (dotted line) and of the mandible (solid line). (Reprinted
from Hobo et al2 with permission.)

The most accurate instrument is the fully adjustable ar- lateral translation, and the curvature and direction of the
ticulator. It is designed to reproduce the entire character of condylar inclination. Intercondylar distance is completely
border movements, including immediate and progressive adjustable. When a kinematically located hinge axis and an

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 Articulators

mha
aha

Fig 3-5 The dissimilarity between the hinge axis of the full-size semi-adjustable
articulator (aha) and the mandibular hinge axis (mha) will cause a slight discrepancy
between the arcs of closure of the articulator (dotted line) and of the mandible (solid
line). (Reprinted from Hobo et al2 with permission.)

ma

a
m

Fig 3-6 There is only a slight difference between cusp paths on a full-size articulator
(a) and those in the mouth (m), even though the cast mounting exhibits a slight
discrepancy. (Reprinted from Hobo et al2 with permission.)

accurate recording of mandibular movement are employed, consuming to accomplish. For this reason, fully adjustable
a highly accurate reproduction of the mandibular movement articulators are used primarily for extensive treatment requir-
can be achieved. ing the reconstruction of an entire occlusion.
This type of instrument is expensive. The techniques re-
quired for its use demand a high degree of skill and are time-

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 3 Articulators

a1
a2

a b

a3

a4

c d

Fig 3-7 The angle between the condylar inclination and the occlusal plane of the maxillary teeth remains the same in an open (a) and a closed
(b) arcon articulator (a1 = a2). However, the angle changes in an open (c) and a closed (d) nonarcon instrument (a3 ≠ a4). For the amount of opening
illustrated, there would be a difference of 8 degrees between the condylar inclination at an open position (where the articulator settings are
adjusted) and the closed position at which the articulator is used.

Arcon and Nonarcon To set the condylar inclinations on a semi-adjustable

instrument, wax wafers called interocclusal records are used
Articulators to transfer the terminal positions of the condyles from the
skull to the instrument (see chapter 4 for the technique).
These wafers are 3.0 to 5.0 mm thick so that the teeth on
There are two basic designs used in the fabrication of ar- the maxillary and mandibular casts are separated by that
ticulators: arcon and nonarcon. On an arcon articulator, the distance when the condylar inclinations are set.
condylar elements are placed on the lower member of the When the wafers are removed from an arcon articulator
articulator, just as the condyles are located on the mandible. and the teeth are closed together, the condylar inclination
The mechanical fossae are placed on the upper member of will remain the same. However, when the teeth are closed
the articulator, simulating the position of the glenoid fos- on a nonarcon articulator, the inclination changes, becom-
sae in the skull. In the case of the nonarcon articulator, the ing less steep (Fig 3-7). Arcon articulators have become
condylar paths simulating the glenoid fossae are attached more widely used because of their accuracy and the ease
to the lower member of the instrument, while the condylar with which they disassemble to facilitate the occlusal wax-
elements are placed on the upper portion of the articulator. ing required for cast gold restorations. However, this very

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 Tooth–Transverse Horizontal Axis Relationship

Fig 3-8 After the THA locator is placed, the patient is assisted in opening and Fig 3-9 When a precision facebow transfer is made,
closing on the THA. An arcing movement of the stylus on the side arm (A) indicates both side arms are adjusted so that the stylus at the
that it is not located over the THA. The side arm is adjusted so the stylus will rotate end of each arm is located over the THA (arrow). A
without moving during opening and closing (B). This indicates that it has been third reference point, such as the plane indicator shown
positioned over the THA. here, is used.

feature makes them unpopular for arranging denture teeth. ear. The mandible is manipulated so that the condyles are
The centric position is less easily maintained when the oc- in the optimum position in the mandibular fossae with the
clusion of all of the posterior teeth is being manipulated. articular discs properly interposed, from which it is guided to
Therefore, the nonarcon instrument has been more popular open and close 10 mm. As it does, the pin will trace an arc
for the fabrication of dentures. Arcon articulators equipped (Fig 3-8). The arm is adjusted in small increments to move
with firm centric latches that prevent posterior separation it up, down, forward, or back, until the pin simply rotates
will overcome many of these objections. without tracing an arc. This is the location of the hinge axis,
which is marked with ink on the patient’s face.
The facebow is attached to the maxillary teeth, and the

Tooth–Transverse side arms are adjusted so that the pin at the free (posterior)
end of each side arm will touch the hinge axis mark on its
Horizontal Axis Relationship respective side of the face (Fig 3-9). A third reference point
is selected on the face and recorded by adjusting a pointer
on the facebow. The facebow is removed from the patient
To achieve the highest possible degree of accuracy from an and transferred to the articulator. The reference pins on the
articulator, the casts mounted on it should be closing around facebow are placed over the axis of rotation on the articulator
an axis of rotation that is as close as possible to the THA condyles. With the anterior reference device providing the
(hinge) of the patient’s mandible. This axis is an important vertical orientation of the facebow, it can then be used to
reference because it is repeatable. It is necessary to transfer accurately mount the maxillary cast on the articulator. This
the relationship of the maxillary teeth, the THA, and a third technique is most commonly used for facebow transfers to
reference point from the patient’s skull to the articulating de- fully adjustable articulators.
vice. This is accomplished with a facebow, an instrument that A facebow that employs an approximate location of the
records those spatial relationships and is then used for the hinge axis based on an anatomical average can also be used.
attachment of the maxillary casts to the articulator. This technique should provide enough accuracy for the res­
The more precisely located the THA, the more accurate toration of most mouths, if the occlusal vertical dimen­sion is
the transfer and the mounting of the casts will be. The most not to be altered to any significant extent. An error of 5.0 mm
accurate way to determine the hinge axis is by the “trial and in the location of the THA will produce a negligible antero­
error” method developed by McCollum and Stuart in 1921.5 posterior mandibular displacement of approx­imately 0.2 mm
A device with horizontal arms extending to the region of the when a 3.0-mm centric relation record is removed to close
ears is fixed to the mandibular teeth. A grid is placed under the articulator.4
the pin at the end of the arm, just anterior to the tragus of the

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 3 Articulators

Table 3-1 Accuracy of arbitrary hinge axis points*

Measurements and landmarks Arbitrary points within 6 mm of

for arbitrary hinge axis points kinematic hinge axis points (%) Investigator(s)
13 mm from posterior margin of tragus 98.0 Schallhorn7
to canthus 92.1 Beyron8
58.3 Beck9
13 mm in front of anterior margin 16.7 Beck9
of meatus 40.0 Lauritzen and Bodner10
13 mm from foot of tragus to canthus 33.0 Teteruck and Lundeen12
10 mm anterior to center of external 83.3 Beck9
auditory meatus and 7 mm below
Frankfort plane
Ear axis 75.5 Teteruck and Lundeen12
*Data from Whitsett et al.15

c
Fig 3-10 Three caliper-style facebows among those in use at the present time: (a) QuickMount (Whip Mix); (b) Denar Slidematic (Whip Mix); (c)
Hanau Spring-Bow (Whip Mix).

There are numerous techniques used for arbitrarily locating facebows possess a relatively high degree of accuracy, with
the hinge axis to serve as the set of posterior reference points 75% of the axes located by it falling within 6 mm of the true
for a facebow.6–14 A comparison of the accuracy of arbitrary hinge axis.12 There are several caliper-style facebows (Fig
and kinematically located hinge axis points is shown in Table 3-10). They are designed to be self-centering so that little
3-1. time is wasted in centering the bite fork and adjusting indi-
Facebows must have acceptable accuracy and be simple vidual side arms. The technique for their use is described in
to apply or they will not be used routinely. Caliper-style ear chapter 4.

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 Registration of Condylar Movements

Fig 3-11 An air-activated pantograph for recording mandibular move­

ments.

L
R

Fig 3-12 Tracings are shown for a pantograph in which all recording tables are attached to the mandible and all styli are attached to the maxilla.
Styli are shown in their initial positions. (a) Left lateral excursion; (b) right lateral excursion; (c) protrusive excursion.

Registration of Condylar styli are attached to the one member, and small tables upon
which the tracings are made are attached to the other mem-
Movements ber of the instrument, opposite the styli. There are both hori-
zontal and vertical posterior tables attached in the vicinity
of the hinge axis on each side of the pantograph. There are
To faithfully simulate the condylar movement on an articula- also two tables attached to the anterior member of the bow,
tor, it is necessary to obtain a precise tracing of the paths fol- one on either side of the midline (Fig 3-11).
lowed by the condyle. This can be achieved most accurately The mandible goes through a series of right and left later-
by means of a pantographic recording, which will capture all al, as well as protrusive, excursions. The styli on one facebow
of the characteristics of the mandibular border movement scribe on the recording tables the paths followed by the con-
from its optimum position to its most forward and most lat- dyles in each movement (Fig 3-12). When the pantograph
eral positions. is attached to the articulator, various adjustments are made
The pantograph consists of two facebows. One is affixed until the movements of the articulator will follow the same
to the maxilla and the other to the mandible, using clutches paths scribed on the tracings during mandibular excursions.
that attach to the teeth in the respective arches. Recording

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 3 Articulators

The pantographic tracing can only be utilized to full ad-

vantage when used with a fully adjustable articulator. To
References
adjust the settings of a semi-adjustable articulator, wax in-
terocclusal records are used. The patient closes into a heat- 1. Posselt U. Physiology of Occlusion and Rehabilitation, ed 2. Ox-
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softened wax wafer in a right lateral protrusive position and 2.  Hobo S, Shillingburg HT Jr, Whitsett LD. Articulator selection for
maintains that posture until the wax has hardened. The pro- restorative dentistry. J Prosthet Dent 1976;36:35–43.
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10.  Lauritzen AG, Bodner GH. Variations in location of arbitrary and
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mandibular teeth. A receiver unit is suspended from a face- 11.  Gysi A. The problem of articulation. Dent Cosmos 1910;52:1–19.
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Prosthet Dent 1966;16:1039–1046.
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small computer. This information can then be used to adjust Scand Suppl 1950;9(suppl 4):1–131.
the condylar settings on a fully adjustable or semi-adjustable 14.  Guichet NF. Procedures for Occlusal Treatment—A Teaching At-
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