Articulators in complete dentures by #asiandentalacademy

ARTICULATORS
Asian Dental Academy
www.asiandentalacademy.org
Above KFC Restaurant main Road Hyderabad

INTRODUCTION
In the fabrication of indirect dental prosthesis a
mechanical device is used to relate opposing casts called
an articulator
DEFINITION
An articulator is mechanical device which represents TMJ
and jaw members to which maxillary and mandibular casts
may be attached
Primary function of articulator is to simulate patient
in the absence of patient.
An articulator can simulate but they can not
duplicate all mandibular movement

History of Articulators
THE PLASTER ARTICULATOR
1st described by Philip Pfaff in 1756
A plaster extension on distal portion of mandibular cast
was grooved to serve as guide for a plaster extension on
the maxillary cast this constitutes an articulator called slab
articulator
BARN DOOR HINGE AXIS
ADAPTABLE BARN DOOR HINGE
KERR ARTICULATOR 1902
NEW CENTURY AND MODIFIED NEW CENTURY
ARTICULATORS GORGE B SNOW 1906
THE ACME ARTICULATOR

HANAU HANAU MODEL H 110 ARTICULATOR IN 1926
EVOLVED FROM HANAU MODEL115 MANUFACTURED
IN1922
MODEL110 MODIFIED IN 1927 WITH INCISAL GUIDANCE
TABLE
THE HAGEMAN BALANCER
PHILIPS STUDENT ARTICULATOR By PHILIPS IN 1926
STRANSBERY TRIPOD By STRANSBERY IN 1929
HOUSE ARTICULATOR By M M HOUSE 1930
PHILIPS OCCLUSOSCOPE By PHILIPS 1938
STEPHEN ARTICULATOR (modified) 1940

STUART ARTICULATOR By CHARLES STUART IN 1955 -56
HANAU MODEL H2 SERIES 1958
PANKY MANN ARTICULATOR IN 1955 By LINDSAY PANKEY
HANAU H2-O; HANAU H2-X; HANAU H2-PR
DENTATUS ARL By DENTATUS IN 1958
VERTICULATOR WILLIAM WINDISH IN 1960
WHIPMIX ARTICULATOR By CHARLES STUART IN 1964
SIMULATOR By EARNST R GRANGER IN 1968
DENAR MODEL D4A By NILES GUICHET IN 1968
DENTATUS ARO IN 1971
PANADENT ARTICULATOR

Articulators: Minimal Requirements
 It should hold casts in the correct horizontal
and vertical relationship
 It should provide positive anterior vertical
stop
 It should accept a face bow record
 It should open and close in a hinge
movement
 The moving parts should move freely and be
machined accurately
 The non-moving parts should be a rigid
construction
 It should allow protrusive and lateral jaw
motion Asian Dental Academy

Additional desirable features
Adjustable horizontal and lateral condylar guide
elements
The condylar elements as a part of the lower frame
and the condylar guides a part of the upper frame
A mechanism to accept a third point of reference
from a face bow transfer.
A terminal hinge position locking device
Removable mounting plates that can be
repositioned accurately
An adjustable incisal guidance table
Adjustable intercondylar width of the condylar elements

Articulator : uses.
To open and close in a hinge manner
Hold opposing casts in a predetermined manner
To produce border and intraborder movements like in
the mouth
To diagnose dental occlusal conditions in natural and
artificial conditions
To plan dental procedures
To aid in the fabrication of the prostheses
To correct and modify complete restorations
As a teaching aid to study occlusion and mandibular
movements

Articulators: Advantages over mouth
On patients co-operation
To rely No need Allow operator to view patients occlusion from
the lingual side
Refinement of patients occlusion can be easily be done on the
articulator than in the patients mouth
Saves a lot of chair side time
More procedures can be delegated to auxiliary personals when
using an articulator
The patients saliva, tongue and cheek are not factors when using
an articulator.

Articulators : Classification
Based on theories of occlusion
Based on type of inter occlusal records
Based on ability to simulate jaw movements
(IPWS classification)
(Heartwell and rahn classification)
Based on the adjustability of articulators

Bonwill theory articulators
Designed by WGA Bonwill
The teeth moves in relation to each
other as guided by condylar and incisal
guidance
Also known as theory of equilateral
triangle
Distance between the two condyles
is equal to the distance between
midpoint of the mandibular incisors
and condyle

Theoretically the dimension of equilateral triangle is 4 inches
These articulators allow lateral movements and permits the
movement of the mechanism only in horizontal plane

Conical theory articulator
Lower teeth move over the surface of the upper teeth as over the
surface of the cone generating an angle of 45° with the central axis
of the cone tipped 45° to the Proposed by RE Hall
occlusal plane.
Hall automatic articulator. Asian Dental Academy

Spherical theory articulator
Lower teeth move over the surface of the upper teeth as over the
surface of the sphere with a diameter of 8“ with the center located
at the glabella
The surface of the sphere moved over the glenoid fossa &
articulating eminences.

Disadvantages of articulators
based on the theory of occlusion
These are based on theoretical concepts
There is no provision for variations from the theoretical relationships
that occur in different persons

Articulators based on the type of
record used for their adjustment.
Inter occlusal record adjustment
Made of base plate wax, zinc oxide eugenol, POP & acrylic resin
Graphic record adjustment.
Records of extreme border positions of mandibular movements.
Face bow pantograph can be attached
Hinge axis location for adjusting articulators

HEARTWELL AND RAHN CLASSIFICATION
Class I
These are instruments that receive and reproduce stereogram
These articulators can be adjusted to permit individual
condylar movement in each of the three planes they are capable
of reproducing the timing of the side shift of the orbiting
(balancing) side and its direction on the rotating side
 Hence these articulators are called as four dimensional
instruments.
Eg: McCollum gnathoscope, Granger gnathoscope, Hanau
kinoscope, Cosmax, Aderer simulator, Ney articulator, Stuart
gnathoscopic computer, TMJ streographer, Denar D5A

CLASS II
These instruments will not receive stereogram
Some have fixed controls, others are adjustable but usually in no more
than two planes a close approximation of condylar movements patterns
can be determined quickly and the information permits better
adjustments to the condylar control or the selection of a guidance fossa
that will closely match the condylar element movement gained from
stereograms
Gnathology is defined as the science which deals with the masticatory
apparatus as a whole including morphology anatomy histology
physiology pathology and therapeutics
Referred as `gnathalogic’ instruments
o Stuart Articulator - Charles Stuart 1955
o Denar D4A - Denar D5A
o Simulator
Has four types Asian Dental Academy

TYPE I (HINGE)
Capable of opening and closing in hinge movement
Some permits limited non adjustable excursive like movements
eg: The barn door hinge, Trubite, Gariot, Twinstage occluder, Hageman
balancer, Bonwill, Gysi simplex and adaptable, The centric relator
Stephens models, Crescent models, Gysi, Acme
TYPE II (ARBITRARY)
Depends on specific theories of occlusion
eg: Monson, Handy II, The correlator, Transgraph, The gnathic relator,
Verticulator

TYPE III (AVERAGE)
Designed to provide condylar element guidance by means of
average positional records or mini recorder system
Horizontal or lateral guidance can be adjusted
Accepts face bow transfer
eg: House, Dentatus, Hanau, Whip mix ,Denar mark II and omni
TMJ, Panadent
TYPE IV ( SPECIAL)
Designed primarily for complete denture
eg : Stansberry tripod, Kile Dentograph, Irish Duplifunctional.

Based on the adjustability of the articulator.
by Weinberg 1963
Arbitrary articulators
Can open and close only about a fixed horizontal axis
Fixed condylar paths
Incisal guide pin glide on an inclined plate on a fixed inclination
Semi adjustable articulators
They have adjustable horizontal and lateral condylar and incisal
paths, inter condylar distances. 2 types: Arcon and Non arcon
Fully adjustable articulators
Capable of adjustment in all directional movements of mandible.
Do not have condylar guidances; receptacles are present to be
contoured into customized condylar and incisal guidances.
Eg.Stuart instrument, Gnathoscope, Simulator

Based on plane of orientation
The Articulators which are based on the
Camper's line.
Kavo, Stratos,
The Articulators which are based on the
Frankfort horizontal plane.
Hanau, Dentatus, Whip-Mix,
Denar Mark II, Stuart

Based on the ability to simulate jaw
movement
The INTERNATIONAL PROSTHODONTIC WORKSHOP
on Complete Denture occlusion at the University of Michigan in 1972,
an articulator classification was developed.
This classification was based on articulator’s function, capability, intent an
registration acceptance

Class I simple holding instrument capable of accepting a single
Interocclusal record eg. Garriot’s Hinge, Barn hinge door.
Class II Instrument that permit horizontal as well as vertical
motion but don’t accept face bow transfer
Type A- eccentric motion is based on average or arbitrary values
eg.Grittman’s articulator, Gysi’s Simplex
Type B- Eccentric motion permitted is based on theories of
arbitrary motions
eg. Maxillomandibular instrument
Type C- eccentric motion permitted is determined by patient’s
engraving methods
eg. House’s articulator

Class III permit horizontal and vertical movements, do accept face
bow transfer but facility is limited. Simulate condylar pathways using
average or mechanical equivalent for the whole or part of condylar
motion but cannot allow total customization
Type A - they accept a static protrusive record and they use
equivalents for other types of motion
eg . Hanau articulators, Bergstrom articulator
Type B - accept static lateral protrusive record, use other
eg. Trubyte articulator, Hanau kinescope, Stansberry tripod,
Neys articulator, Teledyne articulator, Whipmix articulator,
Denar Mark II, Bergstrom’s arcon articulator.

Class IV accept three dimensional dynamic registration they
allow point orientation of the cast using face bow transfer
type A-the condylar path is determined by engraving registrations
produced by the patient this path can not be modified
eg. TMJ articulator by Kenneth Swanson
type B-similar to type A but they allow angulations and
customization of the condylar path
eg. Stuart articulator, Denar D4A, Denar D5A, Simulator

Class I
Simple holding instrument capable of accepting a single
interocclusal record vertical movements may or may not be possible
Slab articulator
A plaster extension on distal portion of mandibular cast was
grooved to serve as guide for a plaster extension on the maxillary
cast this constitutes an articulator called slab articulator

Hinge-joint articulator; designed by J B Gariot consists of
simple hinge with a set screw against a metal plate posteriorly
serve as a vertical stop

 Adaptable Barn- door hinge; has anterior vertical stop

Class II
Instrument that permit horizontal as well as vertical motion but
don’t accept face bow transfer
Type A- eccentric motion is based on average or arbitrary
values
eg.GRITTMAN’S ARTICULATOR,
Condyles are on the lower member
and there paths are inclined 15
degree casts are mounted according
to the Bonwill's triangle

eg.Gysi’s Simplex
Condyles are on the lower member and there paths are
inclined 30 degree Incisal guidance fixed at 60 degree

Average value articulator
30° 25°
5°

CLASS II TYPE B
Permits eccentric motion based on arbitrary theories of
motion won’t accept face bow transfer
eg. Monson’s maxillomandibular instrument
Designed by Monson based on spherical theory of occlusion
Lower teeth move over the surface of the upper teeth as over
the surface of the sphere with a diameter of 8” with the center
located at the glabella
The surface of the sphere moved over the glenoid fossae &
articulating eminences.
Upper member of the articulator moves according to Monson’s
spherical theory

CLASS II TYPE C
Permits eccentric motion determined by patients engraving
methods eg. House’s articulator
A Needle House “chew in” record
4 metal studs in the upper rim against lower compound occlusal
rim.
Diamond shaped pathways are generated the instrument.
Also employs a rotatory grinder on the upper member for milling
in a 40/1000 inch elliptical areas so as to free the occlusion in
centric occlusion

CLASS III
Permit horizontal and vertical movements, do accept face bow transfer
but facility is limited. Simulate condylar pathways using average or
mechanical equivalent for the whole or part of condylar motion but
cannot allow total customization
HANAU MATE ARTICULATOR
It is an arcon instrument accept a
face bow transfer it has average
condylar guidance of 30°
Bennett angle 15° incisal guide table
is 10° in both protrusive and lateral
movement
They won’t accept a static
protrusive record

Class III TYPE A
Type A -they accept a static protrusive record and they use
eg. Dentatus, Hanau articulators,
DENTATUS
• It is Designed in Sweden 1944
•Similar to Hanau but it is unique
in that the relationship between
upper and lower can be
standardized with a gauge block
so that cast can be transferred
one to another articulator without
changing the relationship

Hanau Articulator
Hanau H2
• Designed by Rudolph Hanau
• Condylar articulator
• Fixed inter condylar distance
of 110 mm
• Accepts face bow transfer
• Face bow can be aligned to the
Frankfort horizontal plane by infraorbital pointer
• If incisal plane is used, it is adjusted at the upper notch on the
incisal pin which is 47 mm below the horizontal condylar plane
• Lateral horizontal inclinations are simulated by protrusive
Interocclusal record and vertical condylar posts are rotated
accordingly
• Incisal guide table adjusted in both sagittal and frontal planes

Incisal Guide Table
A small rectangular strip of metal,
 It can be changed in antero-posterior direction and locked with
locknut under the platform.
 It should be flat and pin should be at the center.
A pair of lateral wings are
present around the table.
Can be sloped towards the
center of the table according
to the lateral guidance
required with help of
elevating screws.

Any change in the vertical dimension will alter the position of
incisal guide pin in relation to the incisal guide table for this IGT
have to be readjusted to the vertical and horizontal overlap.
An incisal pin with an adjustable angled foot is available.
This will keep the incisal pin in exact center of the table with
change in vertical dimension of 5 mm and it doesn’t require any
adjustment of the incisal guide table.

Mounting procedure
Mounting the maxillary cast
Attach face bow to the articulator
 Maxillary cast is attached to the articulator using orientation jaw
relation record .
Support the bite plane with a cast support to carry the additional
weight..
Maxillary cast is made flat and v-shaped notches are prepared on the
mounting surface at the periphery. This surface is lubricated with thin
coating of petroleum jelly.
The cast is then securely seated in the denture base with the occlusal
rim firmly resting in bite fork imprint.
Mixture of stone is placed on the cast, the upper member is swung
back to embed the mounting plate and to bring the incisal pin into
contact with the incisal guide.

Mounting the mandibular cast
Mandibular cast is mounted after recording tentative and centric jaw
relations.
Articulator with mounted maxillary cast is inverted to aid in mounting
the Mandibular cast.
Maxillary occlusal rim is placed on the cast, mandibular occlusal rim is
positioned over the maxillary occlusal rim without using the centric
relation record and mandibular cast is placed in the lower rim measure
and note the X dimension.
Now centric relation record is interposed and maxillary and mandibular
occlusal rims with there casts are luted.
Adjust the pin so the X dimension us same.
Stone is placed on the cast and lower member is swung back to embed
the mounting plate and incisal pin touching incisal guide.

Gently guide the maxillary cast to bring the anterior teeth into
edge to edge contact.
Rotate the IGT antero-posteriorly to make contact with the end
of the incisal pin and tighten the screw.
Maxillary cast is then guided for full right lateral relation to
ensure the Bennett shift, lateral wing is elevated to contact the
corner of the incisal pin and lock nut is tightened. The same will
be done on other side.
Setting incisal guide table adjustment

Setting of horizontal condylar guidance
Incisal pin is raised out of contact.
Adjust lateral indication of the condylar posts at 15 degree.
Protrusive record is interposed between maxillary and
mandibular occlusal rims the right and left condylar guidances are
adjusted until accurate registration is evident.
Thumbnuts for horizontal inclination are then tightened to retain
there protrusive adjustment.

Adjustment of lateral condylar guidance
Can be adjusted according to the Hanau’s equation for lateral
condylar guidance or with lateral relation record.
Hanau`s equation L=H/8+12
L=Lateral condylar guidance
H=Horizontal Condylar guidances

Mathematical Study of Hanau Articulators
Average anatomic location of hinge axis
For average anatomic location of hinge axis a Max error of 5 mm is
considered .If the relation of the jaws to the hinge axis of the patient
differ from relation of the casts to the hinge axis of the instrument,
when a 3mm wax centric record is removed and articulator is closed
an anteroposterior error of approximately 0.2mm would be produced
.

Arbitrary location of anterior point of reference
An elevation of anterior part of the face bow decreases the protrusive
condylar reading & vice versa.
Any of the commonly used arbitrary point of reference can change
vertical height of the face bow mounting not more than + 16 mm .
When the face bow mounting is oriented 16mm high , there is reduction
of 9°in condylar reading making it 31° from the lower member.

The effect of change in condylar inclination
on occlusion
Working cusp inclines
The working condylar motion of Hanau is built into the
machine & is dependent on the balancing condylar motion.
A difference of 10 degree in the working condylar inclination
produces approximately a 1.3° change in the Bennett angle the
net effect is practically immeasurable at the working condyle
and half again as much at the 2nd molar working cusp inclines

BALANCING CUSP INCLINES
The hypothetical patient
has a 40° cuspal inclines .
The 9° reduction in the
protrusive reading due to
elevation of the face bow
decreases the second molar
balancing cusp inclination
to 35.5°, this error is of 0.2
mm for 3 mm cusp.

STRAIGHT CONDYLAR PATH
The average Hanau articulator has a straight condylar slot
rather than a curved path.
condylar path follows a curvature of ¾ inch radius. With
static records , only the centric relation & eccentric positions
are recorded.

The midpoint of the
excursion produces the
maximum error with a
straight condylar slot.
The maximum difference
between a straight condylar
path & one that is having
½ inch radius is 0.4 mm a
maximum error of 0.4 mm
produces 0.2 mm error at
second molar. This is for a
3mm cusp height with a
constant incisal guidance.

Working condylar movements
This The effective condylar
movements in Hanau articulator is
upward backward and lateral
movement contains lateral
Bennett shift of 0°
The working cusp inclines at the
2nd molar would be average between
the extreme guidance namely 15°,
hence the articulator would produce
working cusp inclines at the 2nd
molar of 15° while the patient
would require 30°

When restorations are placed a 15° difference produces an
opening of 0.8mm at working cusp height

Hanau Arcon H2
 Introduced by Hanau in 1977
IGT is same as H2 mechanical table
in addition to this has ‘’ Pentacrylic”
incisal guide table and pin provided
for customization with acrylic resin
Upper and lower members are
attached to each other by condyles
and their guidances
Accepts face bow transfer primarily
earpiece face bow
For kinematic face bow it condylar
should be equipped with extendible
shaft
Quite simIntrodilar to H2 except it is an Arcon instrument

Hanau radial shift
Arcon instrument with fixed
inter condylar distance
The condylar guidance of the
articulator is designed to
incorporate a curved immediate
side shift with an adjustable
progressive Bennett angle. the
radial shift adjustment has a 3mm
radius and allow up to 3mm of
radial shift before intercepting the
pre adjusted progressive Bennett
angle
The condylar guidance is
adjustable horizontally and curved
superior wall with a 0.75” radius

Hanau wide vue articulator

CLASS III TYPE B
Accept face transfer Protrusive interocclusal records and some
interocclusal record.
Eg. Trubite articulator,
Whipmix articulator
TRUBITE ARTICULATOR
Designed by Gysi in 1926
It is an nonarcon instrument wih a
fixed intercondylar distance
Horizontal condylar inclinations are individually adjustable
Individual bennette adjustments are near the center of
intercondylar distance
Incisal guide table is adjusted acoording to the gothic arch
angle can accept lateral interocclusal records not all

WHIPMIX ARTICULATOR
It is semi adjustable Arcon type of articulator
It is designed by Charles Stuart in 1955
Its intercondylar distance is adjustable at three positions small(S)
96mm medium(M) 110mm, large(L) 124mm by means of removable
condylar guidance spacers along the instruments horizontal axis
Accepts face bow transfer
Horizontal condylar inclinations are set by means of lateral or
protrusive intercondylar record
It is available with either mechanical guide table adjustable in both
frontal and sagittal plane
Or with plastic incisal guide table that can be individually customized

Maxillary cast is transferred to the articulator with the help of face
bow transfer.Mandibular cast is related to the maxillary cast by
centric interocclusal record
 Horizontal condylar inclination is determined either with the help
of protrusive interocclusal record or lateral interocclusal record
Horizontal condylar inclination obtained with protrusive
interocclusal record will slightly steeper than that obtained from
lateral interocclusal record
Theoretically if protrusive interocclusal record is used to simulate
lateral intercondylar inclination then occlusion developed in the
laboratory may be heavy on the working side and light on the
balancing side

Bennett angulation is set with lateral interocclusal record
the casts are seated in the LI record and medial wall of the condylar
housing is adjusted until they contact the condyles
Incisal guide table
Provided with either with mechanical incisal guide table or plastic
incisal guide table that can be individually customized with auto
polymerizing resin the mechanical guide table has single sagittal table
adjustment right and left frontal adjustment
Incisal guide pin is straight has a one flat end used with mechanical
guide table and one rounded end used with plastic IGT

MODIFICATIONS OF WHIPMIX
ARTICULATOR
Condylar thumb lock screw
For stabilization of condyles during hinge movement
Optional immediate side shift guides available from 0.25 mm to 1mm
size is determined by amount of Bennett movement
Curved condylar guides horizontal or medial are designed to reflect
average relationship between condyles and fossa

HANAU KINOSCOPE
Has double condylar posts on each side inner condylar post have
the horizontal condylar guides and are adjusted mediolaterally to
produce mechanical equivalent of intercondylar distance Bennett
angle is adjusted by rotating centric cones against the horizontal
axis shaft

CLASS IV
Accept three dimensional dynamic registration and allow
point orientation of the cast using face bow transfer
Type A-The condylar path is determined by engraving
registrations produced by the patient, this path can not be
modified
Eg. TMJ articulator
Designed by Kenneth Swanson in 1965
Intraoral registration is generated by Studs in auto polymerizing
resin called as stereographic recording this record is placed on the
articulator and used to mold the fossa in auto polymerizing resin
which produces accurate analog of patients TMJ

CLASS IV TYBE B
These instruments will accept three dimensional dynamic records
and utilize face bow transfer. The condylar pathways can be
selectively angled and customized

Arcon vs non arcon
Condylar articulator or non arcon articulator has
Condylar element attached to the upper member of the
articulator & condylar guidance attached to the lower member
of the articulator. Eg. Hanau H series, Dentatus, Gysi
.

Term coined by Bergstrom in 1950
Arcon means ARticulator and CONdyle
 An Arcon articulator has Condylar
element attached to the lower element of the
articulator and condylar guidance attached to
the upper member of the articulator
Resembles the TMJ eg. Hanau University
series, Whip mix
Arcon provides greater accuracy in the
transfer of angle of condyle descent by the
protrusive positional record But in non arcon
instrument the condyle will move distally in
protrusion so this distance will be doubled

Weinberg concluded that this doesn’t cause any significant difference
Logically in complete denture construction while balancing the
occlusion the incisal angle will appear steeper on the non arcon
articulator which is normal in patients mouth
a b
x x
2
x
2x

SUMMARY
The frequently asked question is which articulator to be used can be
best answered vaguely that how much do you know about it…..
Amount of information required from your patient
Amount and type of restoration planned
Availability of equipments
Late Carl O Boucher stated that it must be recognized that the
person operating the instrument is more important than the
instrument used.
Success or failure of a final restoration us more depends on dentist
rather than the articulator used

www.asiandentalacademy.org
Above KFC Restaurant main Road Hyderabad

Articulators in complete dentures by #asiandentalacademy

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