Articulators, Facebows, And More - Part 1 (Session 4)

Grinding on mounted casts may be part of developing a treatment plan when using articulators. This means that when using articulators, it may be necessary to grind or adjust the mounted casts in order to develop an effective treatment plan. Grinding on mounted casts allows for precise adjustments and ensures that the treatment plan aligns with the patient's specific needs. Therefore, the statement is true.

The brass peg on the upper member of the WhipMix 2240 articulator represents the auditory canal when using the direct mounting technique. This means that the position and orientation of the upper member can be adjusted to accurately mimic the movement of the patient's jaw. By aligning the brass peg with the auditory canal, the articulator can simulate the natural movement and function of the patient's temporomandibular joint. Therefore, the statement is true.

The statement is true because laterotrusive condylar inclination refers to the movement of the jaw to the side, while protrusive condylar inclination refers to the movement of the jaw forward. In general, measurements of laterotrusive condylar inclination tend to be greater than those of protrusive condylar inclination. This is because the jaw has a greater range of motion when moving to the side compared to moving forward. Therefore, if measurements of laterotrusive condylar inclination are greater, they should be corrected to ensure proper alignment and function of the jaw.

Protrusive interocclusal records are used to set condylar guidance bilaterally, meaning they help establish the proper movement and position of the jaw joints on both sides of the mouth. On the other hand, lateral interocclusal records are used to set condylar guidance unilaterally, meaning they only focus on one side of the mouth. Therefore, the statement that protrusive interocclusal records are used to set condylar guidance bilaterally while lateral interocclusal records are used to set condylar guidance unilaterally is true.

The explanation for the given correct answer, "Both statements are true," is that the first statement states that with a semi-adjustable articulator, it is possible to nearly match the patient in replicating occlusal contacts and eccentric motions. This means that the articulator can accurately mimic the patient's natural jaw movements and occlusion. The second statement claims that the most advantageous feature of semi-adjustable articulators is that they are roughly the size of the patient's anatomy. This implies that the articulator is designed to closely resemble the patient's jaw structure and size, allowing for more accurate and realistic results. Both statements align with the advantages of using a semi-adjustable articulator.

At UAB SOD, both students and most faculty members use a semi-adjustable articulator. This type of articulator allows for some adjustment and customization to simulate the movements and positions of the patient's jaw. It provides a good balance between flexibility and ease of use, making it suitable for dental education and clinical practice.

The first statement is true because the articular eminence of the articulator should indeed be on the upper member. This is necessary for proper articulation and movement of the lower member. The second statement is also true because the semi-adjustable WhipMix articulator is indeed an ARCON type, which means it has articulating condyles. This type of articulator allows for more accurate and realistic movement of the lower member in relation to the upper member. Therefore, both statements are true.

*Intercondylar distance is not a feature on our WhipMix 2240 articulators.

If you mount casts in MICP, you cannot move condyles to a more superior-posterior position to properly evaluate patient contacts. Casts should be mounted in CR to allow the fullest range of movement to evaluate all contacts and slides.

Mounted diagnostic casts have several advantages in dentistry. They allow for visualizing pathologic tooth contacts, reproducing mandibular movement and occlusal contacts, as well as visualizing static and functional relationships of teeth. However, they do not provide a clear visualization of musculoskeletal relationships caused by the dentition. This means that while mounted diagnostic casts are useful for assessing tooth and occlusal relationships, they may not provide comprehensive information about the musculoskeletal system and its interactions with the dentition.

2nd statement: most common use is for treatment

Rubber bands are placed on hooks, while elastic ligatures (come in different colors) are the items placed around brackets to help hold the archwire in place.

While mounting is arbitrary for non-adjustable articulars (usually in MICP), any interocclusal record which separates teeth will lead to increased error as mandible and articulator move on completely different paths.

Setting the condylar guidance to "FB" is not necessary when mounting with the indirect system on a semi-adjustable articulator. The condylar guidance refers to the movement of the condyles in the temporomandibular joint, and "FB" stands for "functional bilateral." While it is a common setting for mounting models on a semi-adjustable articulator, it is not the only option. Other settings, such as "FD" (functional disclusion) or "CO" (centric occlusion), can also be used depending on the specific case and the dentist's preference. Therefore, the statement is false.

Because immediate side shift occurs in the first 1-2mm of motion, the lateral records (3-5mm of laterotrusive movement) do NOT truly capture immediate side shift.

Functional and esthetic diagnostic pre-waxing can be advantageous in several ways. It allows the dentist to visualize the final treatment goal, which helps in planning and achieving the desired outcome. Wax-ups can be adjusted based on patient expectations, ensuring their satisfaction. It also helps in visualizing esthetic outcomes and planning for various types of dental prostheses. Additionally, it allows the dentist to address any unusual inter-dental spacing, occlusion, or tissue morphology, and anticipate any problems that may arise during the course of therapy. Finally, it helps in creating wax tooth forms that have normal function and occlusal stability, which is essential in meeting the treatment goals.

2nd statment: Non-adjustable articulators do NOT reflect patient opening/closing pathways (arc is too small compared to pt) and do NOT reflect eccentric motions (cannot move left to right with these articulators).

An articulator is a mechanical instrument that is used in dentistry to simulate the movements of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the jaws. It allows for the attachment of maxillary and mandibular casts, which are replicas of the patient's teeth and surrounding structures. The articulator is designed to accurately replicate all mandibular movements, including opening, closing, protrusion, and lateral movements. This allows dentists to diagnose and treat TMJ problems by analyzing the occlusion and bite relationship of the patient's teeth.

The application of articulators in digital dentistry is still lacking 1) accurately positioning models to replicate the patient (as in a facebow) and 2) capturing eccentric records.