When patients leave a dentist’s office with a new dental prosthetic, it should fit and function just like their dentition. Dental articulator systems are key to making this happen, and help ensure restorations provide the proper occlusion and function throughout the full range of mandibular movements.
What Types of Dental Articulator Systems Are Available for My Practice?
Different articulator systems are used depending on the type of restoration fabricated as well as personal preference of the clinician or dental technician. These different systems include
adjustable dental articulators for prosthodontic and orthodontic restorations and appliances;
dental facebow systems, which are used to measure the relationship of the jaws to the temporomandibular joints;
non-adjustable articulators for the fixation of casts of the maxillary and mandibular to show the recorded positions of the mandible in relation to the maxilla; and
disposable articulators.
What Should I Consider When Selecting Dental Articulator Systems?
When using adjustable dental articulators, keep in mind some are better for simple restorations while others are designed for more complex dental restorations. Dental facebows are connected to a dental articulator after the patient’s TMJ measurements have been recorded, so make sure the facebow you choose is compatible with your dental articulator and that it’s accurate, easy to use and comfortable for the patient. As with adjustable dental articulators, certain non-adjustable articulators are better suited for certain procedures, so keep that in mind when making your selection.
No matter which articulator you choose, it’s important to purchase the system from a reputable vendor and for the dental lab and the dental practice to work with the same articulator model.
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