RESD 702

Introduction to Occlusion

a mechanical instrument that represents the

temporomandibular joints and jaws, to
which maxillary and mandibular casts may
be attached to simulate some or all
mandibular movements.
Glossory of Prosthodontic Terms, 2005

 arcon

\ar-kon\ n:

a contraction of the words

ARTICULATOR andCONDYLE, used
to describe an articulator containing the
condylar path elements within its upper
member and the condylar elements within
the lower member

 Arcon

articulator
an articulator that applies the arcon design;
this instrument maintains anatomic
guidelines by the use of condylar analogs
in the mandibular element and fossae
assemblies within the maxillary element

 nonarcon articulator:
1: any articulator which

broadly replicates the

three dimensional motions of the left and right
condylar compartments

2:

any articulator design in which the condylar

element (analog) is not part of the lower
member of the articulator and may be used to
simulate the three dimensional motions of the
left and right condylar compartments

 Non-Adjustable
Semi-Adjustable
Fully-Adjustable

 Divided

into four classes.

 Class

I articulator: a simple holding

instrument capable of accepting a single
static registration; vertical motion is possible

Horizontal
Also

movement is limited or nonexistent

called a Non-Adjustable Articulator

Snake

Bite or Barn Door Hinge

 Class
an

II articulator:

instrument that permits horizontal as

well as vertical motion but does not orient
the motion to the temporomandibular joints

 Class
an

III articulator:

instrument that simulates condylar

pathways by using averages or
mechanical equivalents for all or part of the
motion; these instruments allow for
orientation of the casts relative to the joints
and may be arcon or nonarcon instruments
Semi-adjustable Articulator

 Class

IV articulator:

an

instrument that will accept three

dimensional dynamic registrations; these
instruments allow for orientation of the
casts to the temporomandibular joints and
simulation of mandibular movement

Fully

Adjustable Articulator

 Horizontal
An

axis

imaginary line passing

through the both
condyles

As the mandible pivots on

its Hinge Axis, the cusp of
each mandibular tooth
moves along an arc

simple holding instrument capable of

accepting a single, static registration

Horizontal
Hinge

motion is limited

opening is the primary function

The dissimilarity between the

hinge axis of the nonadjustable articulator and
the hinge axis of the
mandible produces a
discrepancy in the arc of
closure between the
articulator and the mandible

A MAJOR
DISCREPANCY
EXISTS BETWEEN
THE NON-WORKING
CUSP PATH ON A
NONADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATOR AND
THAT FOUND IN THE
MOUTH

SIMULATES CONDYLAR PATHWAYS

BY USING AVERAGES OR
MECHANICAL EQUIVELANTS FOR
ALL OR PART OF THE MOTION

ALLOWS FOR ORIENTATION OF

THE CASTS RELATIVE TO THE TMJ

APPROXIMATES PATIENTS
MANDIBULAR MOVEMENTS

MAY BE ARCON OR NONARCON

INSTRUMENTS

THE DISSIMILARITY
BETWEEN THE HINGE AXIS
OF THE SEMI-ADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATOR AND THE
MANDIBULAR HINGE AXIS
WILL CAUSE A SLIGHT
DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE
ARC OF CLOSURES OF THE
ARTICULATOR AND THE
MANDIBLE

THERE IS ONLY A SLIGHT

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
CUSP PATHS ON A SEMIADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATOR AND
THOSE IN THE MOUTH
EVEN THOUGH THE CAST
MOUNTING EXHIBITS A
SLIGHT DISCREPANCY

THE CONDYLE
TRAVELS A CURVED
PATH IN MANDIBULAR
MOVEMENTS

THIS REPRODUCED IN
SEMI-ADJUSTABLE
ARTICULATORS AS A
STRAIGHT PATH

AN INSTRUMENT THAT WILL ACCEPT THREE

DIMENSIONAL DYNAMIC REGISTRATIONS

THESE INSTRUMENTS ALLOW FOR

ORIENTATION OF THE CAST TO THE TMJ AND
REPLICATION OF ALL MANDIBULAR
MOVEMENTS

ARTICULATOR HINGE AXIS IS EQUAL TO

MANDIBULAR HINGE AXIS
NO DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ARC OF
CLOSURE OF ARTICULATOR AND MANDIBLE
CONDYLAR PATHWAYS ARE CURVED AS
THEY ARE FOR THE PATIENT
NO DISCREPANCY IN WAX-UP