An articulator is a mechanical device used for refining the occlusion, comprising of upper and lower compartments which attaches maxillary and mandibular casts to it, helping establish the relationship of maxilla to mandible as well as for lateral and protrusive movements.
Articulators are not only used in prosthetic or restorative fields, but also in orthodontic as well as surgical field.
- Although present in different forms, these are general types of articulators:
- Simple hinge – exhibits limited movement
- Fixed or Mean value
- Semi-adjustable – adjustable partially in one or more areas.
- Fully adjustable – completely adjustable and capable of reproducing more than one movement
PURPOSE OF USING ARTICULATORS
- For arrangement of teeth setting in case of removable and complete dentures
- In acting of jaw movements like opening and closing
- Fabricating occlusal surface required for restorative purpose.
- For initial and overall treatment planning of the procedure.
- To help in modifying restorations
- For predicting the state of occlusion
- For teaching jaw relation to students
WHY DENTISTS SHOULD CONSIDER USING ARTICULATORS
- As articulators can be helpful in planning the procedure and predicting patients jaw relation, it often reduces visits made by patients and decrease the procedural time.
- Many of the problems faced during the visit like controlling tongue mobility of the patient, retraction of cheek, saliva overflow are completely bypassed through articulators.
- Prosthetic work can be done in absence of patient.
- Sometimes , visualizing the lingual side is not easy in a patient, but this situation can be coped up with the use of articulators.
- For modification and correction of restorations.
HOW TO CHOOSE FOR AN IDEAL ARTICULATOR
- Opening and closing in hinge movement.
- The parts that have to move should be in a moving motion and the parts that do not require to move should be stable.
- It should be adaptable to a face bow transfer record
- It should be able to position the cast in correct vertical and horizontal relationships.
- Lateral movements and protrusive movements should be taken into consideration.
Positioning of incisal pin should be accurate.
LIMITATIONS OF ARTICULATORS USE
- Being a mechanical model, errors are do subjected to occur.
- As the exact anatomy of oral cavity is missing, there may be slight alterations in jaw relation.
- Articulators cannot mimic complete functional movements.
