Evaluation of incisal guide calibrations.
The incisal guide calibrations of three adjustable articulators were investigated and compared to determine the significance of the different incremental markings of each. A method to use vertical changes in the anterior incisal guide of these three articulators accurately to measure jaw and tooth separation was proposed. The relationship between pin opening and incisor opening was evaluated by direct measurement and calculation. Twenty sets of diagnostically mounted casts were examined to evaluate the accuracy of the radius that generates each curved pin in relation to incisor position. Considering the as-manufactured incisal guide markings, casts mounted in a Denar D5A or TMJ articulator will bear a closer relationship between pin opening and incisor separation than casts mounted in a Stuart gnathological computer. To approximate linear incisor separation per calibration mark for each instrument, a table of values was presented for casts mounted at various positions.
D002138:Calibration; D003725:Dental Articulators / Q000592:standards; D003748:Dental Equipment / Q000592:standards; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000502:physiology*; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008297:Male; D003765:Models, Dental