Articulator

An articulator defined as a
mechanical device that
represent the
temporomandibular joint and
jaw members to which maxillary
and mandibular casts may be
attached to simulate jaw
movement.
Function Of The
Articulator
To hold the maxillary and .Ï
mandibular casts in a determined
fixed relationship

Mounting of dental casts for .Ì

diagnosis ,treatment planning and
patient presentation.
To simulate the jaw movement like .Ó
opening and closing.

Fabrication of occlusal surfaces .Ô

for dental restoration.
 Arrangement of artificial teeth .Ò
for complete and removable partial
denture.
 Types Of Articulator
Simple hinge articulators. .Ï
Fixed or mean value articulators. .Ì
Adjustable condylar path .Ó
articulators:
a-semi-adjustable articulator.
b-fully-adjustable articulator.
 Simple Hinge Articulator
These is commonly called plan line •
articulator since its movement is
limited to simple opening and closing
or hinge-like movement.
Cast Holder
Cast Holder
 NON – ADJUSTABLE A.
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.
 Mean Value Articulator
The two members of the •
articulator are joined together by
two joints which represent the
TMJ. these joints allow opening and
closing, protrusive and lateral
movement.
The horizontal condylar path is •
fixed at angle that ranges
from 30º- 40º which is the
average of most patients.

Lateral condylar path is fixed •

also at angle that ranges from
12- 20º which average of most
patients.
Average Value
 Articulators
BONWILL 1854
4”

4”
Articulators
 BASIC COMPONENT OF AN
ARTICULATOR

Upper member – Represent maxilla

Lower member – Represent
mandible
CONDYLAR TRACK –
CONDYLAR ELEMENT-
Vertical Rod (Incisal Pin)
Incisal guide table
Components of articulator
 Relationships

Articulator Human body

Maxillary part
Mandibular part
Lateral column
Condylar ball, condylar socket
Condylar bar
Outer end of Condylar bar
Incisal guidance of incisal pin
Inclination of incisal guidance
Condylar guidance
Inclination of condylar guidance
Maxillary bone
Mandibular bone
Mandibular ascend
Condyle, joint fossa
Imagined line of two condyles
Skin surface of the condyle
Path of lower incisal teeth
Inclination of incisal path
Condylar path
Inclination of condylar path
 Differences

Articulator Human body

Open and close Maxillary part Mandible

movement upwards downwards
Protrusive Maxillary part Mandible forwards
movement backwards
Lateral Maxillary part move Mandible move in
movement in reverse direction the same direction

Nonarcon design Anatomy of TMJ

 MEAN--VALUE ARTICULATOR
MEAN
Upper member :-
:-
Triangular frame

Vertical Rod with

thumb
screw.

Two Condylar
elements
 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.
 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
established the
condylar element.
 Condylar Path
A-The lateral condylar path is •
the path followed by the condyle in
the glenoid fossa when a lateral
movement is made.
B-Protrusive condylar path is •
the path followed by the condyle when
the mandible is moved forward from
its centric position.
It varies in individuals and •
also in the same individual
from the left to the right
side. It ranges between
30°-40°.
 Vertical Rod or Incisal Pin

Helps to keep a
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.
The incisal path forms an angle •
with the horizontal plane that
differs form one person to
another with an average 10
degree. The deeper the overbite,
the more is the incisal angle.
While the wider the overget, the
less is the incisal angle.
 Incisal guide pin -
Present at the mid point of
vertical rod.

The incisal edge of the

maxillar incisors at the mid
line of the occlusal rim should
touch the tip of incisal pin
during articulation.

It present the anterior

reference point.
 -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.
 Adjustable Articulator
Semi-adjustable Articulator: •
In this articulator ,the condylar
path is adjusted by a protrusive
record obtained from the patients
. the lateral condylar path
inclination is adjusted according
to Hanau′s formula
L=h/8 +12
Hanau Articulator
Hanau H Model
Hanau Wide VUE A
 Records needed for mounting
casts on semi-adjustable
articulator:
1-a maxillary face bow record to
mount the upper cast.
2-Centric occluding relation
record to mount the lower
cast.
3-Protrusive record to adjust the
horizontal condylar path.
 Movements given by semi-adjustable
articulator:

Opening and closing movements. -

Protrusive movement according to -
patient′s horizontal condylar
path.
Lateral movement as adjusted -
from Hanau formula.
 Fully Adjustable Articulator
Mounting the casts in this •
articulator is performed in the
same way as for semi-adjustable
articulator. However, lateral
condylar path inclinations are
adjusted according to records
taken from the patient.
FULLY ADJUSTABLE ARTICULATOR
Denar 5a
Pantographic recording

For fully adjustable articulator

 REQUIREMENTS
Two Types of Requirements

a. Minimal requirements
b. Additional requirements
 Minimal requirements
They are necessory for the fabrication of
complete denture to the patients centric
position.

They are –
1. It must be accurately maintain the
correct horizontal and vertical
relationship of the patient’s casts.
2. The casts should be easily removable
and attachable to the articulator
without loosing their correct
horizontal and vertical relationship

3. The articulator should have an incisal

guide pin with a positive stop, that
is adjustable and caliberated.

4. The articulator should be able to

open and closed in a hinge like
fashion.
5. The articulator should accept a face-
bow transfer utilizing an anterior
reference point.

6. The construction should be accurate,

rigid and of non corrosive material.

7. The moving parts should move freely

without any friction.

8. The non moving parts should be of a

rigid construction.
9. The design should be such that
there is adequate distance
between the upper and lower
members.

10. The articulator should be stable

on the laboratory bench and not
too bulky and heavy.
 ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENT
Should accept face bow. 
The condylar guides should allow right 
lateral, left lateral and protrusive
movement.

The incisal guide table should be 

mechanical table that can be adjusted in
the sagittal and frontal planes.
 Face bows
Maxillary face bow(arbitrary)

Mandibular face bow (kinematic , hing axis)

Facebow
Maxillary Face Bow
 Mandibular Face Bow
It consists of u- shaped bow. •
The bow is attached to the
mandible by means of a clamp
that fit under chin and fixes
the lower occlusion block in
place.