FUNCTIONALLY GENERATED PATH
Dr. Sabnoor Aujla
M.D.S III Year
MMCDSR, Mullana
DYANAMIC
OCCLUSION
The functionally generated pathways (FGP) of
occlusion refer to the:
Registration of the paths of movement of the
occlusal surfaces of the teeth of one dental
arch, to the teeth or occlusion rims of the
opposing arch, recorded with the help of a
plastic medium.
This indentation/tracing in the lower
arch has been made from the functional
movement
(lateral excursions and protrusive) by
the patient.
SIMPLE TERMS…
1. Functionally generated path relies on recording in a simple, yet precise manner
the pathways traveled by the cusps in the border movements of the mandible.
2. Wax is adapted over the occlusal surface of the prepared tooth.
3. The patient occludes the teeth in the intercuspal position and moves the
mandible through all excursions .
4. By this process the tips of the opposing cusps acts a recording styli that carve ,
in three dimensions in wax, a record of the border movements in all
mandibular positions.
5. Stone is brushed and poured into the wax record in the mouth to produce
functional core.
6. The stone core is then used in the fabrication of posterior tooth restoration.
Meyers first described this method in 1933,
as a means of obtaining the “Functional
Occlusal path” for bridges fabricated by a
direct/indirect technique and for dentures.
The distinct advantage of the FGP technique
is that, it facilitate to record all dimensions
of mandibular border movements at the
correct vertical dimension as they are directly
influenced by both condylar guidance and
anterior guidance.
STEPS:
REGISTRATION OF FGP RECORD
STONE- OCCLUSAL TEMPLATE IS FORMED
ARTIFICIAL TEETH ARRANGEMENT IS DONE AGAINST IT
(SINGLE CD) or Wax Up for Group Function and Posterior
Disclusion Occlusal Schemes; in regard to the restoration of
maxillary posterior teeth (RPD, FPD)
The occlusion achieved with the help of this technique is considered
to be in great harmony with controlling factors of occlusion namely,
the anterior and condylar guidance, occlusal cusps, and the
neuromuscular system.
USE:
a single crown,
more complex full mouth reconstructions.
It has also been used in developing
occlusion for complete and partial dentures
and
dental implant restorations.
PRE-REQUISTIES
Presence of an optimal occlusion.
Appropriate anterior guidance.
Elimination of posterior interferences prior to making
the restoration.
No missing or broken down opposing teeth. Badly
rotated, carious, or poorly restored teeth in the
opposing arch will not provide the occlusal pathways
needed for shaping the occlusal surface and hence
FGP should be avoided in these cases.
FUNCTIONALLY GENERATED PATH OCCLUSION IN
FPD
FUNCTIONALLY GENERATED PATH OCCLUSION IN
SINGLE COMPLETE DENTURE
FUNCTIONALLY GENERATED PATH OCCLUSION IN
REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE
Step 1 : REGISTRATION
OCCLUSAL REDUCTION is done prior to
the axial reduction which will afford greater
stability to the wax tracing.
Piece of wax is cut in a square slightly larger
than the occlusal surface of the teeth being restored.
Tracing begins by asking the patient to
perform functional movements
Step 2 : TO OBTAIN THE FUNCTIONAL CORE
•Unneeded portion of the functional index tray is broken off
The functional core fabrication is begun by brushing
mounting stone on the functional tracing
This stone replica of the movement of the
cusp tips is called the functional core. It is also
referred to as the FUNCTIONAL INDEX OR
11
COUNTER DIE.
The rest of the tooth preparation is completed and an
impression of the quadrant containing the prepared tooth is
made using a custom acrylic tray made previously. 22
• It is possible to fabricate a restoration using only the functional core
for an opposing model. However it is very helpful to have an
anatomic cast against which you can occlude the wax pattern.
• For this an occlusal registration is made at the intercuspal position
using bite registration paste in a bite registration frame.
STEP 3: TO ATTACH THE ANATOMIC CAST, FUNCTIONAL
CAST AND THE PREAPARED CAST IN THE TWIN STAGE
OCCLUDER
• Sawing of the die is done.
•The die and the sections of the
quadrant cast reassembled
• Ditching
• The mounting is ready for wax
• Gingival finish line marked in red pencil pattern fabrication.
The verticulator is another instrument that is made for use with
the functionally generated path technique. It is extremely rigid
and provides a precise alignment of cast and functional core. It
also utilizes a second upper member (removable not hinged) that
can be employed with the anatomic cast.
A plane line hinge articulator can also be used for this
purpose, but it does not permit the use of an anatomic cast.
14
STEP 4 : WAX-UP OF THE PREPARED TOOTH ACCORDING TO
FGP
Axial contours and proximal
contacts are checked before
preceding to the
occlusal surface.
The wax added technique is used
to form the occlusal morphology.
15
Now the occlusal portion of the wax
pattern can be completed by waxing
against the functional core.
16
• White liquid shoe polish is painted on the
functional core. The articulator is closed
so that the functional core is brought in
contact with the occlusal surface of the
wax pattern.
• The shoe polish will leave white marks
on the occlusal surface of the wax
pattern corresponding to the contacts in
function. Any areas in white that are not
part of the of the desired centric or
excursive contact pattern are carved off
according to the restoration which would
go to mutually protected or group
function occlusion. 35
If the restoration should be in
mutually protected relationship there
should be no contact on the lingual incline
of the buccal cusp other than the centric
contacts.
If on the other hand the restoration
to be fabricated in group function, the
lingual incline of the buccal cusp should
maintain continuous contact with the
functional core.
In no case should the non working
inclines have any contact with the
functional core. 36
19
Fabrication of fixed partial dentures using
functionally generated path technique and double
casting
Pre treatment appearance. Base casting checked in the mouth.
Fabrication of wax pattern with Completed functionally generated
retentive beads for base casting path
applied on
the occlusal
surface of PATTE
the metal RN
coping with RESIN
retentive
beads.
Completed double casting
Functionally generated path prosthesis in
. Double casting with functionally
occlusion
generated path cemented
• Once the occlusal morphology was perfected, the MIP contacts were marked using 50-ìm blue
articulating papers (Products Dentaires S.A., Vevey, Switzerland)
• Zinc oxide powder (Dental Products of India, Mumbai, India) was sprinkled and brushed onto the
occlusal surface to form a thin, uniform coat, and the patient was instructed to perform the eccentric
movements as before. All eccentric contacts became visible with the wiping away of the zinc oxide
powder.
• The wiped out areas were trimmed using an acrylic trimmer to eliminate all eccentric
interferences and the FGP patterns were completThe pattern, along with the base casting,
was invested and double casted
• The casting was placed in the oral cavity (before occlusal correction) to check whether it felt
comfortable.
• At the same time the occlusion was checked to identify any high points in the casting.
• It was observed that there was absolutely no occlusal error identified in the MIP position. Only
minimal eccentric interferences were identified and could be eliminated by selective grinding of
the casting. The time taken for metal trimming was drastically reduced to 5 min. The patient
reported absolute comfort with the prosthesis. The final prosthesis was cemented using glass
ionomer cement
The present technique has certain advantages over the conventional functional path technique;
these are as follows:
1 A cast fixed partial denture with retentive beads was used as a stable base in the present
case report. Hence a functional path tray was not required and the problems associated with
the tray, including inaccurate seating and distortions, were avoided.
2 To overcome the drawbacks of using inlay wax pattern resin was used; this has better
dimensional stability compared to the waxes.
3 The occlusal morphology was developed and corrected directly in the patient's mouth.
The discrepancies which can result due to differences between the teeth in the mouth and that
in the master dies could thus be avoided.
4 A functional core used routinely for the conventional FGP technique was not utilized in the
present technique. Hence, the discrepancies which may result from the functional core
becoming slightly degraded during waxing and metal adjustment were avoided.
5 Further, the use of the opposing functional core to adjust maximum intercuspation and to
remove eccentric interferences presupposes that it will be necessary to use the patient's
mandibular movements to make final adjustments to the prosthesis. Moreover, eccentric
interferences were removed in the patient's mouth directly.
Sarfaraz Memon . A Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Double Casting Technique Using
Functionally Generated Path and Conventional Single Casting with Respect to Functional
Articulation, Patient Satisfaction and Chair Side Time, in Single Unit Molar Teeth: An In Vivo Study
J Indian Prosthodont Soc. 2014 Dec; 14(Suppl 1): 119–125.
This study was conducted to evaluate the benefits of the double casting technique with
FGP over the conventional casting technique. Ten patients with root canal treated
maxillary molar were selected for the fabrication of metal crown. Two techniques,
one involving the conventional fabrication and other using functionally generated
path with double casting were used to fabricate the prosthesis. A comparison based
on various parameters which was done between the two techniques.
The change in the height of castings for the double casting group was less
compared to the conventional group and was highly statistically significant
(P < 0.001).
The time taken for occlusal correction was significantly lower in double casting
group than the conventional group (P < 0.001).
The patient satisfaction (before occlusal correction) indicated better satisfaction
for double casting group compared to conventional (P < 0.01).
The functionally generated path with double casting technique resulted in castings
which had better dimensional accuracy, less occlusal correction and better patient
satisfaction compared to the conventional castings.
USES OF F.G.P
Preparing the wax pattern directly against the functional
model.
After making wax pattern against anatomic model,
refine the occlusal inclines against functional stone
core.
After completing the casting against anatomic model,
adjust the metal or porcelain occlusal surfaces against
the functional model.
FGP for RPD
RECORDING FGP
Try-in of partial denture framework with inlay wax attached for occlusal registration.
(b) Obtaining functionally generated pathway record in eccentric relation
Functionally generated pathway record seated on master cast.
(b) Modeling clay used to block specified areas on the cast
Recording the FGP eliminates the need to reproduce mandibular movements on the
articulator, and hence the mounting was done on a simple three-point (mean value) articulator.
Occluding template with functionally generated pathway record mounted.
(b) Occlusal surfaces of teeth modified to fit occluding template
Postoperative view with removable
partial denture in occlusion
Functionally generated path technique utilises the patient's masticatory
system to develop occlusion and has the advantages of being simple,
accurate, and reliable.
FGP for Single Complete
Denture
STANSBURY TECHNIQUE
1. Stansbury, in his functional chew-in technique, mounted the maxillary and
mandibular casts on an articulator in centric relation at an acceptable
vertical dimension.
2. He then adapted a new base plate and fabricated the occlusal rim made of
impression compound on the edentulous cast.
3. The compound occlusal rim was at least twice the width of the molar teeth
and sufficient in height to receive an impression of the central fosse of the
lower teeth.
4. This occlusal rim was then heated and placed in the articulator to record
the impression of the fosse of all opposing teeth.
Stansbury CB. Single denture construction against a non- modified natural
dentition. J Prosthet Dent 1951;1:692–9.
1. The occlusal rim was then trimmed bucco-lingually so that only a fin of the
compound extending to the central fosse remained and the anterior region
was trimmed till the level of indentation of the incisors.
2. Carding wax was then added on the bucco-lingual sides of the occlusal fin.
The assembly was then placed in the patient’s mouth and the patient was
asked to perform eccentric chewing movements.
3. The opposing teeth cut their path in the soft carding wax and the compound
in the central fosse acted as a guide to preserve the cusp height and a
stone index was poured in this path. The original mandibular cast was
placed on the articulator and maxillary teeth setting was done according to
esthetics and centric occlusion.
4. The dentures were processed, remounted, placed opposite the stone index.
Interferences were removed in centric relation and eccentric movements to
establish bilateral balanced occlusion.
FUNCTIONALLY GENERATED PATHWAY IS MADE ON THE
UPPER RIM
THE FUNCTIONAL REGISTRATION IS POURED TO GET
THE POSITIVE REPLICA
THE REPLICATED CORE IS PLACED ON THE LOWER
MEMBER OF THE ARTICULATOR WHICH CONSISTED THE
FGP OF THE LOWER PRESENT TEETH
BALANCED TEETH SETTING IS DONE AGAINST THE FGP
FOR THE UPPER DENTURE
ADVANTAGES:
➢FGPT eliminates the need for adjusting articulator with interocclusal
records or a tracing device
➢The excursive movements produced in the mouth are more accurate
than those in an articulator.
➢It eliminates the need of face bow transfer.
➢Is simple and can produce precise excellent results.
33
DISADVANTAGES:
1. The occlusion in one of the arches must be complete before
functional generated path can be developed.
2. This cannot be effectively utilized for CD opposing RPD.
3. Verification of record in mouth is difficult.
49
Classically, the FGP
occlusion has been
described as “3D static
expression of dynamic tooth
movement,” since exact
occlusal pathways of
posterior teeth are captured
three-dimensionally in the
REFERANCES
Dawson, P. E. Evaluation, Diagnosis, and treatment
of Occlusal Problems. Functionally generated path
techniques for recording border movements
intraorally. C. V. Mosby 1989, 410-433.
F. S. Meyer. The generated path technique in
reconstruction dentistry. J Prosthet Dent 9; 432-440;
1959
Edwin H. Getz. Functional “ Check Bite-Impressions” for
fixed prosthodontics. J Prosthet Dent 26; 146-153; 1971
Robert C. King. Stabilizing functional chew in wax
records J Prosthet Dent 26; 601-603; 1971
Pankey L. D & Mann A.W. Reconstruction of the upper
teeth using a functionally generated path technique. J
Prosthet Dent 10; 151-162; 1960
