A new articulator emphasizing centric occlusion and the anterior determinants.
A new articulator is described which has the advantages of the rigidity of a simple articulator in the upper member and the flexibility of an adjustable articulator in the lower member. A link between the members and the frame along with the posterior controls establishes a full range of functional chewing movements and defines the extreme lateral or border paths. The articulator has condylar element controls which permit releasing and remounting the mandibular cast in a manner that serves the same function as the split-cast technique, but this method is faster and shows the amount of discrepancy. The condylar element control is an improvement over existing devices for comparing interocclusal records in that it not only indicates differences in position but it also provides quick remounting of the casts in a working articulator. Other features of the articulator are: (1) a condylar lock mechanism which is activated by only a half turn, (2) adjustable spring tension, (3) precise long centric and wide centric controls, (4) an incisal pain which can be removed and replaced on the articulator without changing its setting, (5) a Bennett movement carefully selected to avoid the complication of a pantograph type of face-bow, and (6) a new sponge wall type of mounting plate which supports both casts for simultaneous mounting.
D003725:Dental Articulators; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008409:Mastication; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology