Face Bow

-Invented by George B. Snow (1899) -It is defined as A caliper like device which is used to record the relationship of the jaws to the temporomandibular joints and to orient the casts on the articulator to the relationship of the opening axis of the temporomandibular joint. (GPT)

-It is defined as a caliper like device which is used to record the relationship of the maxilla and /or the mandible to the temporomandibular joints.

Structure
A face bow consists of basically three sections 1.U-shaped frame-represents the plane of cranium 2.Bite fork-represents the plane of maxilla 3.Locking device-it locks the first two sections without altering their plane.

Parts of a face bow

Component parts of a face bow are1.U- shaped frame -A U-shaped metallic bar that forms the main frame of the face bow. -All other components are attached to the frame with the help of clamps. -This assembly is large enough to extend from the region of TMJs to a position 5 to 7.5cm in front of the face and wide enough to avoid contact with the sides of the face . -this records the plane of cranium

2.Condylar rods
-These are two small metallic rods on either side of the free end of the u shaped frame that contacts the skin over the TMJ -They help to locate the hinge axis or the opening axis of the temporomandibular joint . -Face bows that have a condylar rod ,to record the true hinge axis and hence they are called kinematic face bows -Face bows that do not have the condylar rod thus do not record the true hinge axis are called as arbitrary face bows.

3.Bite Fork U shaped plate ,which is attached to the occlusal rims while recording the orientation relation .

It is attached to the frame with the helpof a rod called the stem The bite fork should be inserted about 3mm below the occlusal surface within the occlusal rim 4.Locking device -Helps to attach the bite fork to u shaped frame -Also supports the face bow ,occlusal rims and the casts during articulation -It consists of a transfer rod and a transverse rod -The u shaped is attached to the vertical transfer rod .the position of this transfer rod can be locked with a thumb screw. -The horizontal transverse rod connects the transfer rod with the stem of the bite fork

-Autoadjusting /self centering assembly In this type of assembly the transverse rod gets automatically positioned when tapped.

5. Orbital pointerIt is designed to mark the anterior reference point (infraorbital notch) and can be locked in position with a clamp (present only in arbitrary face bow)

Types of face bows

1. Arbitrary face bow -Most commonly used face bow in complete denture construction -The arbitrary face bows are placed on the face, approximately over the condyle -Position the condyle rods on a line extending from the outer canthus to the top of the tragus and approximately 13mm in front of the external auditary meatus . -This placement generally locates the rods within 5mm of the true center of opening axis of the jaws .

-The rods of another commonly used model are designed to fit into the external auditary meatus.

-On the articulator, location of these rods approximately compensates for the distance that the meatuses are posterior to the transverse opening axis of the mandible.

-The fork of arbitray face bow is attached to the maxillary occlusion rim so the record is a simple measurement from the jaws to the approximate axis of the jaws.

-Examples of arbitrary face bows

Facia type
hinge axis /posterior reference point is 13mm anterior to the external auditary meatus anterior reference point is the orbitale .

Earpiece type -Posterior reference point external auditary

meatus - Anterior reference points-orbitale

Hanau face bow the most commonly used

face bow

Slidematic type it has an electric device that

can be seen in the anterior region.

This reading denotes one half of the patients interring condylar distance. -Posterior reference point external auditary meatus -Anterior reference point -43 mm superior to the incisal edge of upper cental incisor.

Twirl bow- Relates maxillary arch to Frankfort

horizontal plane

Whipmix bow automatically locates the hinge

axis when earpiece are placed in the external auditory meatus .

2.Kinematic face bows

They are so designed that the opening axis of the mandible in principle can be located more accurately. However the inevitable ,movement of the recording base on the jaws ,especially the edentulous mandible, makes determining the exact center of the opening axis quite difficult ,therefore the kinematic face bow is seldom used for edentulous patients.

Recording Orientation Jaw Relation

Using an Arbitrary Face Bow(Hanau Face bow) -The patient seated in a comfortable position with head upright and supported by headrest. -A point is marked 13mm in front of auditary meatus on a line running from the outer canthus to superior border of tragus. -Guidelines for anterior teeth placement are marked on the maxillary occlusal rim. -A notch index about 2mm deep is made in the first molar region; it helps in position of the face bow. -The mandibular occlusal rim is placed in the patients mouth and reduced such that sufficient

space is available between the rims to accommodate the bite fork. -The u-shaped frame and the condylar rods are positioned on the patient. -The condylar rods are moved and placed on the posterior reference points marked 13mm in front of the auditory meatus on the canthotragus line.after positioning the poterior reference points the condylar rods are lockedto the u-shaped frame. -Aluwax is softened and shaped in the form of a horse shoe .the bite fork is embedded into this soft wax .thickness of bite fork and the wax together should not be more than 6mm.

-A thin layer of petroleum jelly is applied on both the occlusal rims to facilitate easy separation. -The maxillary and mandibular occlusal rims are inserted in patients mouth. -The bite fork with the wax is inserted into the patients mouth.midline of bite fork should coincide with the midline of maxillary occlusal rim.the stem of bite fork should be parellel to the sagittal plane. -The patient is asked to close his mouth till both the occlusal rims get embedded into the bite fork. -Stem of the bite fork is locked to the transverse rod of the face bow. -Any alteration in the position of the condylar rod should be checked.

-The infraorbital notch is palpated and marked.the orbital pointer is made to touch the infraorbital notch and locked in the position to the u frame with an orbital clamp. -The entire face bow assembly alongwith the occlusal rim is removed from the mouth and positioned (transferred)in the articulator .

Face bow

Index
1. Definition 2. Structure 3. Parts of a face bow -U- shaped frame -Condylar rods -Bite fork -Locking device -Orbital pointer with clamp 4.Types of face bows 1.Arbitrary face bow -Facia type -Earpiece type -Hanau face-bow(spring bow) -Slidematic face bow -Twirl bow -Whipmax bow 2.kinematic bow or Hinge bow 5. Recording the orientation jaw relation using a face bow

Reference 1. Prosthodontic Treatment For Edentulous Patients - Zarb Bolender,12th Edition 2. Essentials Of Complete Denture Prosthodontics - Sheldon Winkler, 2nd Edition 3. Textbook of Prosthodontics- Deepak Nallaswamy

Reference 1. McCrackens Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics, 11th edition

D-E hinge-type stress-breaker using vertical stop to limit movement of denture base away from tissues.

Kennedy Class II, modification 1, removable partialdenture using hinge stress-breaker of Baca design. Hinge and vertical movements are permitted by fact that action is protected by metal sleeve.

A, Dalbo extracoronal retainer. Limited vertical and hinge movements of denture Base are permitted by sleeve-and-spring design of retainer. B, Crismani intracoronal retainer design permits limited vertical movement of denture base

Stress-breaking effect of split bar major connector.Vertical and diagonal forces (arrow) applied to tissue supported base must pass anteriorly along lower bar and then back along more rigid upper bar to reach abutment tooth.Thus tipping forces that would otherwise be transmitted directly to abutment tooth are supposedly dissipated by flexibility of lower bar and distance traveled
.

A. ASC-52 retainer B. Assembled ASC-52 retainer C. Occlusal view of framework and abutments on cast. d. Removable partial denture with wax-up bases and replacement teeth, Containing the ASC-52 attachment.