Articulators1/prosthodontic courses

ARTICULATORS
INDIAN DENTAL ACADEMY
Leader in Continuing Dental Education
www.indiandentalacademy.com

 DENTAL ARTICULATOR IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT DUPLICATES CERTAIN
IMPORTANT DIAGNOSTIC AND BORDER MOVEMENTS OF MANDIBLE
 IN THE FABRICATION OF THE INDIRECT PROSTHESES A MECHANICAL
DEVICE IS USED TO RELATE THE OPPOSING CASTS SUCH A DEVICE IS
CALLED AN ARTICULATOR
 GPT-7: IT IS A MECHANICAL DEVICE WHICH REPRESENTS THE
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT AND JAW MEMBERS TO WHICH MAXILLARY
AND MANDIBULAR CASTS ARE ATTACHED TO SIMULATE SOME OR ALL OF
THE MANDIBULAR MOVEMENTS
www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

IS AN ARTICULATOR NEEDED ?
 PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ARTICULATOR IS TO ACT AS A PATIENT IN
THE ABSENCE OF THE PATIENT
TO PRODUCE BORDER AND INTRABORDER DIAGNOSTIC SLIDING
MOTIONS OF THE TEETH SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE MOUTH
 TO MOUNT THE CASTS FOR DIAGNOSIS, TRETMENT PLANNING AND
PATIENT PRESENTATION
 FABRICATION OF THE OCCLUSAL SURFACES FOR DENTAL
RESTORATION
 ARRANGEMENT OF TEETH FOR COMPLETE DENTURE AND PARTIAL
DENTURES

CONTENTS
 HISTORY OF ARTICULATORS
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICULATORS
 REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICULATORS
 TYPES OF ARTICULATORS
 EVOLUTION OF ARTICULATORS
 LIMITATION OF ARTICULATORS
 SELECTION OF ARTICULATORS
 SUMMARY
 CONCLUSION

HISTORY OF ARTICULATORS
 PLASTER ARTICULATOR BY PHILLIP.
PHAFF IN 1756
 IN 1805, GARIOT DESIGNED HINGE
JOINT ARTICULATOR. IT CONSISTED OF
TWO HINGE JOINT AND SET OF SCREW
IN POSTERIOR
 IN 1840, CAMERON AND EVANS
DESIGNED PLANE LINE ARTICULATOR

 ADAPTABLE BARN DOOR
ARTICULATOR IS CAPABLE OF OPENING
AND CLOSING ONLY.IT HAD AN
ANTERIOR VERTICAL STOP WHICH WAS
CARRIAGE OR MACHINE BOLT
IN 1858, BONWILL DEVELOPED AN
ARTICULATOR BASED ON HIS THEORY
OF OCCLUSION
 IN 1906 GEORGE.B.SNOW DEVELOPED
NEW CENTURY ARTICULATOR IT WAS
BASICALLY GRITTMAN INSTRUMENT TO
WHICH ADJUSTABLE CONDYLAR PATH
AND TENSION SPRING WERE ADDED

IN 1920 SECOND CONGRESS OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF DENTURE
PROSTHODONTICS WAS ORGANISED IN BOSTON
 MAIN AIM OF THE CONGRESS WAS TO HAVE A UNIVERSAL
ARTICULATOR WHICH COULD BE USED BY ALL
 IT WAS A RESOUNDING FAILURE AS THE CONGRESS WAS DIVIDED
BY TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
 ONE WAS HEADED BY RUPERT. HALL OF HOUSTON …..RUPERT. HALL OF HOUSTON …..
 THE OTHER WAS HEADED BY ALFRED. GYSI OF ZURICH…ALFRED. GYSI OF ZURICH…

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE BEFORE THE
CONGRESS
IN 1890 ANATOMIST GRAF SPEE OF BERLIN
FOLLOWED THE ANTEROPOSTERIOR CURVE OF
MANDIBULAR TEETH THAT BEARS HIS NAME
IN 1896, W.E.WALKER SAID THAT THE
DENTURES WHICH WERE BALANCED IN
BONWIIL ARTICULATOR DID NOT BALANCE IN
THE MOUTH ….
HE DEVISED CLINOMETER WHICH HAD
PROVISION TO RECORD MOVEMENTS OF
MANDIBLE
 IN 1896,N.G. BENNETT HELPED BY HIS
BROTHER, RECORDED THE MOVEMENT OF THE
CONDYLE ,USING A FACIAL ARC CARRYING A
SMALL PROJECTOR

IN 1866, F.H. BALKWILL HAD
ALREADY RECORDED THIS
DISPLACEMENT AND HENCE IT
WOULD THUS BE RIGHT TO CALL IT
“ANGLE OF BALKWILL- BENNETT”
DURING THIS SAME YEAR 1866, F.H.
BALKWILL HAD CHARACTERIZED THE
MANDIBULAR DENTAL ARCH BY AN
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE THAT
W.G.A. BONWILL EXTENDED IN 1899
TO THE WHOLE OF THE MANDIBLE.
THIS LAST DESCRIPTION IS FOUND
IN THE THEORY OF THE SPHERE
WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY
GEORGE S. MONSON DURING THE
SAME YEAR AND WHICH GOVERNS
THE DEVELOPMENT, IN 1923, OF A
CORRESPONDING ARTICULATORwww.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

RUPERT. HALL AND HIS GEOMETRIC
CONCEPTS
 RUPERT HALL INITIALLY TRIED TO
ASSOCIATE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE OF
BONWILL AND THEORY OF THE SPHERE
OF MONSON (1914) AND DEVELOPED A
SERIES OF ARTICULATORS CALLED "
ALLIGATOR " BECAUSE OF THE
PARTICULAR SHAPE OF THE
INSTRUMENT (1916-1917)
NOT BEING ABLE COMPLETELY TO
REJECT THE MOVEMENT OF BALKWILL-
BENNETT, RUPERT HALL ADOPTS AN
AXIS OF ROTATION OF MANDIBLE
AROUND A POINT LOCATED AT THE
MIDPOINT OF THE BASE OF THE
TRIANGLE OF BONWILL AND
DEVELOPED AN ARTICULATOR CALLED
“SIMULATOR”

 THE EVOLUTION OF THIS CONCEPT LEAD R. HALL TO HIS
DEVELOPMENT IN SPACE BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO PYRAMIDS
OPPOSED BY THEIR BASE WHICH THEN LOCATES THE CENTRE OF
ROTATION AT THE BASE OF CRANIUM CLOSE TO THE PITUITARY PIT
(1918).
THIS CONCEPT GAVE RISE TO WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED THE "
THEORY OF THE CONE " .
IN 1918, RUPERT HALL DEVELOPED “AUTOMATIC ANATOMICAL
ARTICULATOR”

 LATER RUPERT HALL WORKING ALONG WITH J.W.NEEDLES AND
C.I.STRANSBERRY DEVELOPED “THREE DIMENSIONAL ARTICULATOR”
AND “ STRANSBERRY TRIPOD”

ALFRED. GYSI AND HIS GEOMETRIC
CONCEPTS
 GYSI WAS INFLUENCED BY BONWILL
TRIANGLE BUT WANTED TO
IMPLEMENT EXTRAORAL RECORDING
IN HIS ARTICULATOR “ADJUSTABLE”
 BETWEEN 1912-13 SEVERAL ARTICULATORS KNOWN AS “ADAPTABLES”
WERE FABRICATED ALONG WITH MULLER, SHRODER, RUMPLE AND
FISCHER

 GYSI’S WORK PAVED WAY FOR GNATHOLOGY
. MCCOLLUM A DEVOTED STUDENT OF
GNATHOLOGY ALONG WITH WADSWORTH
DEVELOPED AN ARTICULATOR THAT HAD
ADJUSTABLE INTERCONDYLAR WIDTH
GRANGER DEVELOPED – GNATHOLATOR
STUART DEVELOPED GNATHOLOGIC
COMPUTER-IT NOT ONLY RECORDS AND
REPEATS THE POSITION IN THREE PLANES IT
ALSO RECORDS THE FOURTH DIMENSION -TIME

TRANSOGRAPH (1952)
 IS A HINGE AXIS FACEBOW THAT CAN BE MODIFIED LATER
TO SERVE AS AN ARTICULATOR-- IS A SPLIT AXIS
INSTRUMENT.
 IN THIS ARTICULATOR EACH CONDYLAR AXIS IS
INDEPENDENT OF THE OTHER. THE ROTATION AND OPENING
MOVEMENTS CAN TAKE PLACE THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT
AXES
THE NEY ARTICULATOR (1962)
DESIGNED BY ANTHONY J. DEPIETRO IN 1962.
THE CONDYLAR ELEMENTS CONTAIN METAL INTER
CHANGEABLE CONDYLAR PATHS WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED
IN ALL THREE PLANES TO ACCEPT ALL POSITIONAL
RECORDS.
THE TMJ ARTICULATOR(1965)
DESIGNED BY KENNETH SWANSON IN 1965.
A CUSTOM ANALOG FOSSA FORMED FROM INTRA ORAL
STEREOGRAPHIC TRACINGS IS NEEDED
 A SERIES OF 5 PREMADE FOSSA ANALOGS ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE.

CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICULATORS
 WEINBERG (1963)
I. ARBITRARY – MONSON ARTICULATOR
II . POSITIONAL – STRANSBERRY TRIPOD
III. & IV. SEMI ADJUSTABLE AND FULLY ADJUSTABLE –
SEMI ADJUSTABLE – FOLLOWED HANAU H CONCEPT
FULLY ADJUSTABLE – FOLLOWED HANAU KINOSCOPE CONCEPT
 JOHN J. SHARRY (1974)
1. SIMPLE HINGE TYPE
2. FIXED GUIDE TYPE
3 ADJUSTABLE INSTRUMENTS
 BOUCHER
(1) THE THEORIES OF OCCLUSION AND
(2) THE TYPES OF RECORDS USED FOR THEIR ADJUSTMENT.
I. Those utilizing the Inter occlusal records.
II. Those using the Graphic record adjustment.
III. Those utilizing hinge-axis location for adjusting the articulator.

 INTERNATIONAL PROSTHODONTIC WORKSHOP ON COMPLETEDENTURE
OCCLUSION AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 1972
 CLASS I. A SIMPLE HOLDING INSTRUMENT
CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING A SINGLE STATIC
REGISTRATION. VERTICAL MOTION IS POSSIBLE.
EXGariot articulator
CLASS II. AN INSTRUMENT THAT PERMITS HORIZONTAL AS WELL AS
VERTICAL MOTION BUT DOES NOT ORIENT THE MOTION TO THE
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS.
SUBDIVISION A: ECCENTRIC MOTION
PERMITTED IS BASED ON AVERAGE OR
ARBITRARY VALUES.
Ex: Grittman articulator
SUBDIVISION B: ECCENTRIC MOTION
PERMITTED IS BASED ON THEORIES OF
ARBITRARY MOTION.
EX: Monson articulator www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

SUBDIVISION C: ECCENTRIC MOTION
PERMITTED IS DETERMINED BY THE PATIENT
USING ENGRAVING METHODS.
EXAMPLES: The House Articulator
CLASS III. AN INSTRUMENT THAT SIMULATES CONDYLAR PATHWAYS BY
USING AVERAGES OR MECHANICAL EQUIVALENTS FOR ALL OR PART OF
THE MOTION
 SUBDIVISION A: INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCEPT STATIC PROTRUSIVE
REGISTRATIONS AND USE EQUIVALENTS
FOR THE REST OF THE MOTION
 SUBDIVISION B: INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCEPT STATIC LATERAL PROTRUSIVE
REGISTRATIONS AND USE EQUIVALENTS
FOR THE REST OF THE MOTION

CLASS IV. AN INSTRUMENT THAT WILL ACCEPT THREE DIMENSIONAL
DYNAMIC REGISTRATIONS. THESE INSTRUMENTS ALLOW FOR
ORIENTATION OF THE CAST TO THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS AND
REPLICATION OF ALL MANDIBULAR MOVEMENTS.
SUBDIVISION A: THE CAM REPRESENTING THE
CONDYLAR PATHS ARE FORMED BY
REGISTRATION ENGRAVED BY THE PATIENT
EX: TMJ ARTICULATOR
 SUBDIVISION B: INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVE
CONDYLAR PATHS THAT CAN BE ANGLED AND
CUSTOMIZED EITHER BY SELECTION FROM A
VARIETY OF CURVATURES, BY MODIFICATION,
OR BOTH.
EX: STUART GNATHOLOGICAL COMPUTER,
DENAR MODEL 5A

REQUIREMENTS OF AN ARTICULATOR
 THE ARTICULATOR MUST ACCURATELY MAINTAIN THE CORRECT
HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP
 THE ARTICULATOR SHOULD HAVE AN INCISAL GUIDE PIN WITH A
POSITIVE STOP
THE ARTICULATOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE IN A HINGE-
LIKE FASHION
SHOULD ALLOW PROTRUSIVE AND LATERAL MOVEMENTS
THE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE ACCURATE,RIGID AND THE MOVING
PARTS SHOULD RESIST WEAR.
THERE IS ADEQUATE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER
MEMBERS AND THAT VISION IS NOT OBSCURED FROM THE REAR

ADDITIONAL ARTICULATOR REQUIREMENT
 A MECHANISM TO ACCEPT A THIRD REFERENCE POINT FROM A FACE-
BOW TRANSFER RECORD
 THE CONDYLAR GUIDES SHOULD ALLOW RIGHT LATERAL, LEFT
LATERAL, AND PROTRUSIVE MOVEMENTS
 ADJUSTABLE INTERCONDYLAR WIDTH OF THE ELEMENTS,
 THE ARTICULATOR SHOULD HAVE PROVISIONS FOR ADJUSTMENT OF
BENNETT MOVEMENT
 THE INCISAL GUIDE TABLE SHOULD BE A MECHANICAL TABLE THAT
CAN BE ADJUSTED IN THE SAGITTAL AND FRONTAL PLANES
 A TERMINAL HINGE POSITION-LOCKING DEVICE.
 REMOVABLE MOUNTING PLATES THAT CAN BE REPOSITIONED
ACCURATELY.

TYPES OF ARTICULATORS
 AWNI RIHANI PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE IN 1980 DISCUSSING THE
CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICULATORS WHICH WERE BASED ON THE
ACCEPTABILITY OF THESE FOLLOWING RECORDS:
1. FACE-BOW RECORD
2. CENTRIC JAW RELATION RECORD
3. PROTRUSIVE RECORD
4. LATERAL RECORDS
5. INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE RECORD
 A NONADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR: CAN ACCEPT ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING RECORDS
 A SEMI ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR :CAN ACCEPT THREE OF THOSE
RECORDS.
 A FULLY ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR: CAN ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING
FIVE RECORDS: FACE BOW, CENTRIC JAW RELATION, PROTRUSIVE,
LATERAL RECORDS, AND INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE RECORD.

NON ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS
FOR COMPLETE DENTURES
 SIMPLEST TYPE AVAILABLE
CANNOT ADJUST TO SPECIFIC CONDYLAR MOVEMENTS OF THE
PATIENTS
ALLOW ECCENTRIC MOVEMENTS BUT ONLY AVERAGE VALUES
ONLY OCCLUSAL CONTACT POSITION CAN BE ACCURATELY
REPRODUCED
ACCURATE DUPLICATION OF ECCENTRIC MOVEMENTS FOR SPECIFIC
PATIENTS IS IMPOSSIBLE
 REFINING NONWORKING SIDE CONTACTS FOR BALANCED OCCLUSION
IS THUS NOT POSSIBLE ON THIS TYPE OF INSTRUMENT.

FOR FIXED PROSTHESIS
 IT IS USUALLY A SMALL INSTRUMENT THAT IS CAPABLE OF ONLY A
HINGE OPENING.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TEETH AND THE AXIS OF ROTATION ON
THE SMALL INSTRUMENT IS CONSIDERABLY SHORTER THAN IT IS IN
THE SKULL
THIS TYPE OF ARCING MOTION ON THE NONADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATOR RESULTS IN STEEPER TRAVEL THAN OCCURS
CLINICALLY, RESULTING IN NON-WORKING SIDE PREMATURE
CONTACTS ON FABRICATED RESTORATIONS ….

SEMI ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS
 PROVIDES MORE VARIABILTY IN DUPLICATING CONDYLAR
MOVEMENTS THAN THE NONADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR
 CERTAIN INFORMATION HAS TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE PATIENT TO
MAKE PROPER ADJUSTMENT IN THE ARTICULATOR
 1) FACE BOW TRANSFER
PRIMARY USED IS TO ACCURATELY MOUNT THE MAXILLARY CAST TO THE
ARTICULATOR
 2) CENTRIC RELATION RECORDS
THE DESIRED MANDIBULAR POSITION IS TRANSFERED TO THE ARTICULATOR
HANAU STATES THAT THE GYSI’S GOTHIC ARCH TRACING IS MOST ADMIRED
METHOD
 3) ECCENTRIC RELATION RECORDS
USED TO ADJUST THE ARTICULATOR SO THAT IT WILL FOLLOW THE MOST
APPROPRIATE CONDYLAR MOVEMENT OF THE PATIENT

NOTE
THE NORMAL FORM OF THE SKULL IS CURVED , BUT MOST OF THE
ARTICULATORS PROVIDE STRAIGHT PATHWAY
IF LATERAL INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD IS TAKEN BEYOND ENE-TO-END (7-10MM)
POSITION (POSITION C) – SMALLER BENNET ANGLE
IF RECORD IS TAKEN 3-5MM FROM CR – IT WILL MORE CLOSELY RECORD THE
IMMEDIATE AND PROGRESSIVE SHIFT OF PATIENT (POSITION B)
PROTRUSIVE INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD IS TAKEN AT 6MM

 SEMIADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR USUALLY HAS 3 TYPES OF
ADJUSTMENT THAT CAN LEAD TO CLOSE ADAPTATION OF CONDYLAR
MOVEMENTS
1) CONDYLAR INCLINATION
 IT IS THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE CONDYLE DESCENDS ALONG THE
ARTICULAR EMINENCE
IT IS RECORDED BY PROTRUSIVE INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD
TO RECORD THE CONDYLAR DROP THE MAXILLARY CAST IS INTO
PROTRUSIVE RECORD AND CONDYLAR SLOT IS ROTATED…
 IN SAGITTAL PLANE IT CAN HAVE GREATER EFFECT ON THE FOSSA
DEPTH AND CUSP HEIGHT
STEEPER THE GUIDANCE – TALLER THE CUSP

2) BENNET ANGLE
 IT IS THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE ORBITING CONDYLE MOVES INWARD IN
LATEROTRUSIVE MOVEMENT
MOST ARTICULATORS ALLOW BENNET ANGLE TO BE IN STRAIGHT LINE -SOME
ALLOW FOR IMMEDIATE SHIFT AND PROGRESSIVE SHIFT
BENNET ANGLE IS CALCULATED BY L= H/8 + 12
HAS SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE WIDTH OF THE CENTRAL FOSSA
GREATER THE MOVEMENT –WIDER THE ANGLE BETWEEN LATEROTRUSIVE
AND MEDIOTRUSIVE PATHWAYS
3) INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE
 IT IS MEASURED BY MEASURING THE WIDTH OF THE PATIENT’S HEAD
BETWEEN POSTERIOR DETERMINANTS OF FACE BOW AND SUBSTRACTING THE
STANDARD AMOUNT THAT COMPENSATES FOR THE DISTANCE LATERAL TO
CENTER OF ROTATION
IT IS NOT COMPLETELY ADJUSTABLE – SMALL, MEDIUM,AND LARGE
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ROTATIONAL CENTERS OF THE CONDYLES HAVE AN
EFFECT ON THE MEDIOTRUSIVE AND LATEROTRUSIVE PATHWAYS
GREATER THE DISTANCE- SMALLER THE ANGLE

 SEMI ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS ARE OF TWO TYPES
ARCON – ARticulator and CONdyle
THE TERM WAS COINED BY BERGSTROM IN 1950
ARCON ARTICULATOR, THE CONDYLAR
ELEMENTS ARE PLACED ON THE LOWER
MEMBER OF THE ARTICULATOR, JUST AS THE
CONDYLES ARE LOCATED ON THE MANDIBLE.
THE MECHANICAL FOSSAE ARE PLACED ON
THE UPPER MEMBER OF THE ARTICULATOR,
SIMULATING THE POSITION THE GLENOID
FOSSAE IN THE SKULL.
NONARCON ARTICULATOR , THE CONDYLAR
PATHS SIMULATING THE GLENOID FOSSAE
ARE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER MEMBER OF
THE INSTRUMENT, WHILE THE CONDYLAR
ELEMENTS ARE PLACED ON THE UPPER
PORTION OF THE ARTICULATOR.

 ACCORDING TO BECK AND MORRISON, in arcon instrument a constant relationship
exist between the occlusal plane and arcon guides of the instrument at any position of
the upper member, making the reproduction of the mandibular movement more
accurate
ACCORDING TO VILLA, most important thing in reproduction of protrusive
movement on articulator is to establish inclination and curvature of condylar path, its
relation to the incisal path and upper cast. The relationship should not be altered a
any time, which means that the condylar guide, upper cast and incisal guide must be
fixed to upper member as is the condition in nature
ACCORDING TO WEINBERG, both arcon and condylar instrument produce the same
motion , reversing the relationship does not change the guidance produced.
Mathematical evidence suggests that neither instrument has specific advantage
 ACCORDING TO BECK , based on clinical results , no definite superiority could be
noted in clinical evaluation of complete dentures constructed on arcon over the
condylar instrument
 ONE DEFINITE ADVANTAGE OF ARCON ARTICULATOR IS – IT IS
ANATOMICALLY “CORRECT,” WHICH MAKES UNDERSTANDING OF
MANDIBULAR MOVEMENTS EASIER, AS OPPOSED TO THE NONARCON
ARTICULATOR WHOSE MOVEMENTS ARE CONFUSINGLY “BACKWARD” .

ERRORS IN ARTICULATORS
1) AVERAGE ANATOMIC LOCATION OF HINGE AXIS
 ASSUME A MAXIMUM ERROR OF PLUS OR MINUS 5 MM
 THE RELATION OF THE JAWS TO THE HINGE AXIS OF THE PATIENT DIFFERS
FROM THE RELATION OF THE CASTS TO THE HINGE AXIS OF THE
INSTRUMENT, AN ANTEROPOSTERIOR ERROR OF APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MM
WOULD BE PRODUCED
2) ARBITARY LOCATION OF THE ANTERIOR REFERENCE POINT
 THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE MAXILLARY ARCH TO THE VERTICAL AND
SAGITTAL AXES OF THE PATIENT WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS THAT ON THE
INSTRUMENT
 AN ELEVATION OF THE ANTERIOR PART OF THE FACE-BOW DECREASES THE
PROTRUSIVE CONDYLAR READING AND VICE VERSA
 MAXIMUM OF 9 DEGREE REDUCTUION IN PROTRUSIVE READING DUE TO
ELEVATION OF FACEBOW CREATES 0.2 MM OF ERROR AT BALANCING CUSP
3) INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE
 IT AFFECTS THE MEDIOTRUSIVE AND LATEROTRUSIVE PATHWAY

4) STRAIGHT CONDYLAR PATH
 ACCORDING TO LUNDEEN, most of the condylar pathways had a curvature
of 3/8” and ¾”
 MOST ARTICULATORS USE STRAIGHT PATH- WITH STATIC RECORDS ONLY
CENTRIC RELATION AND ECCENTRIC RELATION ARE RECORDED
 THE MIDPOINT OF EXCURSION PRODUCES MAXIMUM ERROR WITH STRAIGHT
CONDYLAR PATH
 MAXIMUM ERROR BETWEEN STRAIGHT AND CURVED PATH WITH 1/2” RADIUS
PRODUCES .2MM ERROR
5) TAKING CENTRIC RELATION INTEROCCLUSAL RECORDS AT
INCREASED VERTICAL DIMENSION OF OCCLUSION
 SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCY MAY EXIST IF ARBITARY HINGE AXIS IS USED TO
MOUNT MAXILLARY CAST AND AN INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD AT INCREASED
VERTICAL DIMENSION USED TO MOUNT THE MANDIBULAR CAST – CLOSURE
OF ARC OF PATIENT AND ARTICULATOR WILL NOT BE SAME

FULLY ADIUSTABLE ARTICULATOR
 IS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED INSTRUMENT FOR DUPLICATING THE
MANDIBULAR MOVEMENT
 CAPABLE OF REPEATING CONDYLAR INCLINATION,BENNET ANGLE….
 CAN ACCEPT ALL THE FOLLOWING FIVE RECORDS :
1) FACE-BOW RECORD
2) CENTRIC JAW RELATION RECORD
3) PROTRUSIVE RECORD
4) LATERAL RECORDS
5) INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE RECORD
 CERTAIN PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED TO PROGRAM THE
ARTICULATOR
1) EXACT HINGE AXIS LOCATOR
2) PANTOGRAPHIC RECORDS
3) CR INTER OCCLUSAL RECORDS

IN COMPLETE DENTURES
 EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ACCURATE GRAPHIC RECORDS
SO FULLY ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS THAT REPRODUCE THE CURVES OF THE
BORDER MOVEMENTS ARE UNNECESSARILY COMPLEX.
- IN FIXED PROSTHODONTICS
DESIGNED TO REPRODUCE THE ENTIRE CHARACTER OF BORDER MOVEMENTS,
A HIGHLY ACCURATE REPRODUCTION OF THE MANDIBULAR MOVEMENT CAN BE
ACHIEVED.
PERMITS THE FABRICATION OF COMPLEX PROSTHESES, REQUIRING MINIMAL
ADJUSTMENT AT THE TRY-IN AND DELIVERY APPOINTMENT.
THEY CAN BE VERY USEFUL AS TREATMENT COMPLEXITY INCREASES (E.G.,
WHEN ALL FOUR POSTERIOR QUADRANTS ARE TO BE RESTORED
SIMULTANEOUSLY OR WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO RESTORE AN ENTIRE
DENTITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF ATYPICAL MANDIBULAR
MOVEMENT).

EVOLUTION OF ARTICULATORS
HANAU ARTICULATORS
 HANAU-BRAND ARTICULATORS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1921 BY
RUDOLPH HANAU. THE ARTICULATOR WAS DESIGNATED THE MODEL H.
THE HANAU MODEL H SERIES ARTICULATOR
 THESE MODELS ACCEPT FACE BOW.
HORIZONTAL CONDYLAR GUIDANCE WAS ADJUSTED
BY PROTRUSIVE INTER OCCLUSAL RECORD.
IN THESE INSTRUMENTS, THE LATERAL SETTING
WAS CALCULATED BY L=H 8+12
 THESE WERE ARCON INSTRUMENTS HAVING
INCISAL GUIDE TABLE WHICH ALLOWED FOR
ADJUSTMENTS IN THREE DIMENSIONS THROUGH A
CONSIDERABLE RANGE.
THE HANAU MODEL M KINESCOPE (1923)
IN 1923, HE DEVELOPED ANOTHER RESEARCH
MODEL, THE HANAU MODEL M KINESCOPE
ARTICULATOR WITH DOUBLE CONDYLAR POSTS ON
EACH SIDE. BENNET ANGLE IS ADJUSTABLE.

THE HANAU MODEL H2 SERIES (1958)
 THE HANAU MODEL H2 SERIES WERE DEVELOPED IN
1958.
MODEL H2-O (WITH ORBITAL INDICATOR ATTACHMENT
H2-X (WITH EXTENDABLE CONDYLAR SHAFT)
MODEL H2-PR (WITH CALIBRATED ADJUSTMENTS TO
PROTRUDE OR RETRUDE THE CONDYLAR BALLS
 MODEL 96-H2- NON ARCON WITH ADJUSTABLE
CONDYLAR GUIDANCE AND BENNET ANGLE AND FIXED
INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE
 MODEL 130 SERIES
 IS AN ARCON ARTICULATOR
INTERCONDYLAR WIDTH ADJUSTABLE 94-150MM
CONDYLAR INCLINATION 0-60 DEGREES
LATERAL ADJUSTMENT 0- 40 DEGREES

MODEL 166 (RADIAL SHIFT)
 ARCON FIXED INTER CONDYLAR DISTANCE 100 MM
 HCG ADJUSTABLE FROM 0° - 60° AND HAS ¾ INCH
CURVATURE.
 MEDIAL WALL HAS PRECURRENT SIDE SHIFT
CURVATURE OF 3MM RADIUS WHICH IS ADJUSTABLE
FROM 0-3 MM
WIDE-VUE MODELS 183 AND 184
 HANAU MODELS 183 AND 184 ARE ARCON IN TYPE
AND HAVE SIMILAR FEATURES.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE UPPER AND
LOWER FRAMES ON THE 184 MODEL CAN BE
SEPARATED.
. THE HORIZONTAL CONDYLAR PATH ANGLE IS
ADJUSTABLE FROM —20° TO + 60°, AND THE SIDE
SHIFT ANGLE IS ADJUSTABLE FROM 0° TO 30°
ACCORDING TO NIKZAD. S. JAVID AND MYRON R.PORTER, “A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE WAS OBSERVED IN MEANS OF CONDYLAR READING WHEN
ARTICULATOR WAS ADJUSTED USING LATERAL INTEROCCLUSAL RECORD
AND HANAU’S FORMULA” www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

 WHIPMIX ARTICULATORS
1) 100 SERIES
 IS A SIMPLE NONADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR
 CONDYLAR INCLINATION OF 20 DEGREES
 INCISAL GUIDE TABLE LATERAL INCLINATION OF 15
DEGREES
 INTER-FRAME DISTANCE OF 75 MM
 2) 1000 SERIES
 OCCLUSAL ANALYZER ARTICULATOR
 IT PROVIDES ACCURATE MAXILLARY MOUNTING
REFERENCE POSITION USING THE OR HAMULAR
NOTCHES AND INCISIVE PAPILLA FOR THE
MAXILLARY MODEL RATHER THAN A FACE-BOW.
 FIXED INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE
 3) 2000 SERIES
 ACCUMOUNT MOUNTING SYSTEM
 ADJUSTABLE CONDYLAR INCLINATION WITH
CURVED EMINENTIA
- IMMEDIATE SIDE SHIFT
- FIXED INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE OF 110 MMwww.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

4) 3000 SERIES
 TRACKING FOSSAE WHICH ALLOW UPPER AND
LOWER FRAMES TO REMAIN TOGETHER DURING
EXCURSIVE MOVEMENTS
 WIDE POSTERIOR ACCESS WHICH GIVES ENHANCED
VISIBILITY AND LINGUAL ACCESS
 ACCUMOUNT SYSTEM
ADJUSTABLE CONDYLAR INCLINATION
- PROGRESSIVE SIDE SHIFT
- FIXED INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE OF 110 mm
5) 4000 SERIES
 MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MODEL 4640
ARTICULATOR AND TRADITIONAL WHIP MIX
ARTICULATORS IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE
CROSSBAR BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS ON THE LOWER
MEMBER.
TRACKING FOSSAE WHICH ALLOW UPPER AND
LOWER FRAMES TO REMAIN TOGETHER DURING
EXCURSIVE MOVEMENTS
ACCUMOUNT SYSTEM
- FIXED INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE OF 110 MM

6) 8500 SERIES
 BASED ON RESEARCH BY RENOWNED GNATHOLOGIST
DR. CHARLES STUART, THE ORIGINAL WHIP MIX
ARTICULATOR
- ADJUSTABLE INTERCONDYLAR WIDTH
 A SPRING LATCH ASSEMBLY HOLDS THE UPPER AND
LOWER MEMBERS OF THE ARTICULATOR TIGHTLY
TOGETHER AND RETURNS THE UPPER MEMBER TO
CENTRIC POSITION
7) 8300 SERIES
 INTROUDUCED TO REFLECT THE WORK OF LUNDEEN,
WRITH AND LEE
 CONDYLAR GUIDES HAVE ¾” CURVED SUPERIOR WALL
AND MEDIAL WALL
IMMEDIATE SIDE SHIFT ADJUSTMENT FROM 0-4MM WITH
PROGRESSIVE SIDE SHIFT ANGLE OF 6 DEGREE
 FIXED INTERCONDYLAR DISTANCE OF 110MM

PANADENT ARTICULATORS
 DESIGN WAS INTRODUCED IN 1978
 THE PRINCIPLE IS BASED ON THE WORK OF LEE
AND OTHERS
 A SERIES OF STATISTICALLY SELECTED THREE-
DIMENSIONAL ANALOGS OF CONDYLAR AXIS
MOTION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
 THE ANALOG FOSSAE FEATURE CURVILINEAR
PROTRUSIVE AND MEDIOTRUSIVE PATHWAYS OF
APPROXIMATELY ¾-INCH RADIUS
 THERE ARE FIVE PAIRS IN THE SET WITH
PRECURRENT SIDE SHIFTS OF 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,
AND 2.5MM AND A 6° PROGRESSIVE ANGULATION
THE CURRENT MODELS WERE INTRODUCED IN
1983LATEST MODELS HAVE MECHANICAL LATCH.
THIS KEEPS THE UPPER AND LOWER
ARTICULATOR FRAMES JOINED TOGETHER .
THERE ARE THREE MODELS—SL, PSL, AND PCL
 THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO SELECT THE
CORRECT ANALOG AND TO DETERMINE THE
CONDYLAR PATH INCLINATION www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

DENAR ARTICULATORS
THE DENAR MODEL D4A ARTICULATOR
(1968)
ARTICULATOR WAS DEVELOPED BY NILES
GUICHET IN 1968.
IT IS PROGRAMMED FROM TRACINGS MADE WITH
A PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLED PANTOGRAPH.
DENAR D5A
THE SIDE SHIFT (BENNETT MOVEMENT)
ADJUSTMENT IS IN THE MEDIAL WALL AND HAS
PROVISIONS FOR BOTH IMMEDIATE AND
PROGRESSIVE SETTINGS.
 A PRECURRENT (ANGULAR) INSERT IS AVAILABLE
FOR THE MEDIAL WALL.
THERE ARE ALSO NYLON OR ACRYLIC RESIN
INSERTS AVAILABLE FOR THE SUPERIOR WALL.
AN ADJUSTABLE METAL INCISAL TABLE AND A
CUSTOM INCISAL PLATFORM ARE AVAILABLE FOR
THE D5A. www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

DENAR MARK II (1975)
A TWO-PIECE INSTRUMENT
INCORPORATING A POSITIVE LOCKING
MECHANISM THAT CAN HOLD THE TWO
MEMBERS TOGETHER AND PERMIT 85
DEGREES OF HINGE MOVEMENT.
HORIZONTAL CONDYLAR INCLINATION CAN
BE ADJUSTED FROM 0 TO 60 DEGREES
AN IMMEDIATE SIDE SHIFT (BENNETT)
ADJUSTMENT OF 0 TO 4 MM PLUS A
PROGRESSIVE SHIFT ADJUSTMENT OF 0 TO
15 DEGREES.
THE CONDYLAR ELEMENTS ARE AT A FIXED
110 MM
THE POSTERIOR FOSSA WALL IS INCLINED
POSTERIORLY 25 DEGREES TO ALLOW FOR
A BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ROTATING
CONDYLE AS IT MOVES OUTWARD DURING
LATERAL SIDE SHIFT.

SAM
THE SAM 2 ARTICULATOR HAS THREE INTERCHANGEABLE CONDYLAR
HOUSINGS THAT INCORPORATE DIFFERENT CURVATURES TO THE SUPERIOR
WALL.
THE MEDIAL WALL HAS FOUR INSERTS, ONE RECTILINEAR AND THREE
CURVILINEAR, WITH INCREASING AMOUNTS OF SIDE SHIFT,
THE PIN IS ATTACHED TO THE LOWER FRAME AND TABLE TO THE UPPER
FRAME.
 AN ACCESSORY IS THE SAM MANDIBULAR POSITION INDICATOR (MPI). THE MPI
CONSISTS OF A MODIFIED UPPER FRAME WITH SLIDING CUBES INSTEAD OF
CONDYLAR HOUSING.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE SAME
REFERENCE PLANE AT THE CENTER OF ROTATION. THE DATA OBTAINED CAN
BE COMPARED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER TREATMENT.

LIMITATION OF AN ARTICULATOR
ARTICULATORS ARE MADE PRIMARILY OF METAL-ARE SUBJECT TO ERROR IN
TOOLING AND TO ERROR RESULTING FROM METAL FATIGUE AND WEAR
ANY ARTICULATOR DOES NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDYLAR MOVEMENTS-CREATE
EQUIVALENT- LIKE MOTION IN THE AREA OF THE TEETH.
THE MOVEMENTS SIMULATED ARE SLIDING MOTIONS, NOT FUNCTIONAL
MOVEMENTS-- MAY NOT EXACTLY REPRODUCE INTRABORDER AND FUNCTIONAL
MOVEMENTS
 STEEL INSTRUMENTS ARE RIGID AND PRECISE WHEREAS THE
MUSCLES,LIGAMENT AND BONE HAVE SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL TOLERANCE-
PERMITS NECESSARY COMPENSATION OR “GIVE”
MOST INSTRUMENTS ARE LIMITED IN VARIOUS DEGREES IN THEIR ADAPTABILITY
TO ALL POSITIONS OF MANDIBLE...
 WORKING CONDYLAR MOTIONS IS NOT IS NOT 3DIMENSIONAL MOTION ON THE
ARTICULATOR

SELECTING THE ARTICULATOR FOR FABRICATING COMPLETE DENTURES
THE TYPE WILL SOMEWHAT DEPEND ON
(a) THE TYPE OF OCCLUSION TO BE DEVELOPED,
(b) THE TYPE OF POSTERIOR TOOTH FORM
(c) THE TYPE OF EXCURSIVE TOOTH GUIDANCE AND
(d) THE TYPE OF JAW RELATION RECORD
 AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ACCURATE GRAPHIC RECORDS, SO
FULLY ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATORS THAT REPRODUCE THE CURVES OF THE
BORDER MOVEMENTS ARE UNNECESSARILY COMPLEX.
 AT THE OTHER EXTREME, THE SIMPLE HINGE ARTICULATOR CAN BE RELIED ON
TO PRESERVE THE CENTRIC RELATION POSITION
 BETWEEN THE EXTREMES IS THE SEMI ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR, WHICH
WILL ACCEPT AN ARBITRARY FACE BOW RECORD AND INTEROCCLUSAL
RECORDS. THIS INSTRUMENT HAS INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE CONDYLAR
GUIDANCES BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY

SELECTING THE ARTICULATOR FOR FIXED
PROSTHESES :
IF OCCLUSAL CONTACTS ARE TO BE PERFECTED IN CENTRIC
OCCLUSION ONLY, A SIMPLE, STURDY, HINGE TYPE OF ARTICULATOR
IS SELECTED
FOR MOST ROUTINE FIXED PROSTHESES, THE USE OF A
SEMIADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR IS SUFFICIENT BECAUSE OF THEIR
ACCURACY AND THE EASE WITH WHICH THEY DISASSEMBLE TO
FACILITATE THE OCCLUSAL WAXING
IF COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE OCCLUSION IS DESIRED, LIKE IN
EXTENSIVE TREATMENT REQUIRING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AN
ENTIRE OCCLUSION A FULLY ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR IS DESIRED

SUMMARY
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ARTICULATOR DEPENDS ON
1) HOW WELL THE OPERATOR UNDERSTANDS ITS CONSTRUCTION AND
PURPOSE
2) HOW WELL THE DENTIST UNDERSTANDS THE ANATOMY OF THE
JOINTS,THEIR MOVEMENTS AND NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM
3) HOW MUCH ACCURACY AND PRECISION ARE USED IN REGISTERING
JAW RELATION
4) HOW SENSITIVE THE INSTRUMENT IS TO THESE RECORDS

CONCLUSION
 “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 IN ADEQUACIES”

REFERENCES
 Beck Ho, Morrison We : Investigation of an Arcon Articulator, J Prosthet
dent 1956 ; 6 : 359 – 372.
 Beck. Heinz- selection of an articulator and jaw registration J.Prosthet Dent
1960:10:879-885
 CHARLES .M. HEARTWELL-Syllabus Of Complete Dentures
 Donald. Mitchell- articulators through the years- part I –upto 1940 J.Prosthet
Dent 1978:39:451-458
 JEFFERY. OKESON -Management Of Temporomandibular joint Disorders
and Occlusion
 Rihani A. “Classification of Articulators”. J.Prosthet Dent 1980 ; 43:344-47.
 SHELDON,WINKLER--Essentials of Complete Denture Prosthodontics
 Shillingburg H. T. “Fundamentals of fixed prosthodontics”. 3rd Edition,
 Wein Berg La: Arcon principle in the Condylar mechanism of Adjustable
Articulator J Prosthet dent 1963 ; 13 : 263 – 268
 Weinberg L.A. “An Evaluation of basic articulators and their concepts, Part I,
basic Concepts.” J.Prosthet Dent 1963 ; 13:622-43.www.indiandentalacademy.comwww.indiandentalacademy.com

 Weinberg L.A. “An Evaluation of basic articulators and their concepts, Part II,
Arbitrary, Positional, Semi adjustable Articulators”. J.Prosthet Dent 1963 ;
13:645-663.
 Weinberg L.A. “An Evaluation of basic articulators and their concepts, Part III,
fully adjustable Articulators”. J.Prosthet Dent 1963 ; 13:873-88.
 Weinberg L.A. “An Evaluation of basic articulators and their concepts, Part IV,
fully adjustable Articulators”. J.Prosthet Dent 1963 ; 13:1038-54.

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