A new fully adjustable articulator system and procedure

Oswaldo de Toledo de Carvalho, DDSa

Sao Paulo, Brazil
This article presents a simple and efficient articulator to help with the registration of maxillomandibular relationships, mounting casts, and subsequent perfection of the occlusal scheme for various types of
prosthodontic restorations. The system (Individual Anatomo-Physiological system), which is composed
of the articulator and recommended procedures, allows for registration of positions and trajectories of
the mandible at the level of the patients occlusal plane. It is used to accurately transfer the records to
the articulator. A luminous signal shows the correct centric occlusal relationship and vertical dimension, in both clinical and laboratory procedures. Interocclusal records are used for semiadjustment of
the articulator for provisional restorations and stereographic records are used for full adjustment of
the articulator for definitive treatment. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;80:376-86.)

orrect prosthodontic procedures enable both the

dentist and the technician to produce restorations compatible with the physiology and anatomy of the patient
by using reliable materials, devices, and adequate and
precise instruments.1 Extensive prosthodontic procedures should begin only after the mouth has resumed a
healthy condition through necessary periodontal, operative, surgical, and equilibration procedures. Thus,
prosthodontic procedures will not be compromised by
such entities as gross occlusal interference, tooth
mobility caused by periodontal disease, or condemned
teeth.

THE ARTICULATOR
The idea for the Electronic Anatomo-Physiological
fully adjustable articulator (SEM Limites Ltda., Sao
Paulo, Brazil) occurred when the question of the possibility of a radical simplification of procedures and of
the existing fully adjustable articulators showed that
prosthodontic aims could easily be reached and that
other aspects, such as the precision of patient records,
would be clearly understood, seen, and repeated on a
new articulator, used in both the clinic and laboratory.1,2 The handling of this new articulator, the records
of the mandibular positions and movements, and all the
clinical and laboratory procedures follow a simple
sequence.
The creation of the articulator (Fig. 1) and the
development of procedures into a system (Fig. 2) were
based on research3,4 regarding existing and imaginary
performances of articulators that respected authors
considered ideal.5-9 Posselt9 stated that the drawing,
construction and practical use of articulators would be
dictated by factors such as: 1) Knowledge of the jaws
movements and functional anatomy of the temporomandibular joint. 2) Specification of the particular

aPrivate

376

Practice.

positions and movements to be reproduced by the

articulator. 3) Practical solution to the transfer of positions and movements to the articulator, its possibility
and limitation. Wheeler10 reminded us that all
mandibular movements have individual limitations.
Sharry11 assured us that we cannot reconstruct the
dynamic occlusal form unless we understand pathways
as well as positions. There is a contact trajectory from
position through movement to position. Hobo1 stated
that no existing articulator will reproduce all
mandibular movements exactly nor is this its primary
objective. The goal is to make a restoration with an
occlusal morphology compatible with the movement of
the mandible. Bennett12 affirms, with an anatomical
articulator, something can be done, and if we had an
articulator in which the exact condyle paths of the individual could be faithfully reproduced, then by moving
the artificial mandible in various directions while maintaining occlusal contact, we should get something very
near the ideal requirements (Fig. 3).
The Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator
can be used immediately to satisfy these ideal requirements and old aspirations of dentistry. An analysis of
the theories about mandibular movements, records and
occlusion,1-3,9,13 and an examination of the basic principles that led to the invention of a considerable number of articulators,8,14-20 led to the successful fabrication of an efficient, simple system that harmonizes in
essence with the most reasonable theories presented
about the matter.21
To attain maximum advantage of every positive
aspect of all theories,22-28 it was necessary to systematize and rationalize the articulator.12 By applying this
to the clinical and laboratory procedures, unnecessary
steps were eliminated with the objective of saving time
and work, thus decreasing the cost and improving the
accuracy of the completed prosthesis.
The important positions and mandibular movements to be recorded24 are defined. (1) Centric relaVOLUME 80 NUMBER 3

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Fig. 1. Schematic drawing of Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator and its components. A, Lateral view; B, posterior view.

tion (CR) is the maxillomandibular relationship in

which the condyles articulate with the thinnest avascular portion of their respective disks with the complex in
the anterior-superior position against the shapes of the
articular eminence. This position is independent of
tooth contact and is clinically discernible when the
mandible is directed superiorly and anteriorly. It is
restricted to a purely rotary movement about the transverse horizontal axis.22 While CR is called the centered relationship of the mandible, it is the retrusive
position relative to the maxilla and is therefore a
mandibular position. (2) Centric occlusion (CO) is
the occlusion of opposing teeth when the mandible is
in centric relation. This may or may not coincide with
the maximum intercuspation position. CO is by definition the centered contact position of occlusal surfaces
of the opposing teeth and is therefore a dental position,
specifically an occlusal position. (3) Maximum intercuspal contact (MIC) is tooth contact in the maximum intercuspal position.22 (4) Vertical dimension of
occlusion (VDO) is the distance between two selected
points, one on a fixed and one on a movable member.22 MIC and VDO are the only mandibular positions to be recorded intraorally. The movements to be
recorded intraorally are right and left lateral and protrusive movements.13-23
The possibility of mandibular movements is enormous; however, in prosthodontic reconstruction, the
movements to be recorded intraorally are few and of
short range. Movements are influenced by the physiology of mastication, occlusion, and deglutition. Moving
a recording plate on the mandible against artificial
scribing pins or opposing natural teeth incorporates all
these movements, as influenced by the physiology in a
recording (Fig. 4).
The purpose of these brief considerations about
mandibular movements is to avoid tiresome comparSEPTEMBER 1998

isons of the results of a considerable amount of work

with slight differences or even total opposition among
them.15,24 This brief, in addition to the unfamiliarity
with the particularity of the articulators function,
could seem to be momentarily opposed to the old and
correct concepts,25-27 but this is not true.
It is suggested that any doubts that may arise should
take into account the reasons that have motivated them
by confronting them with the following statements:
1. The Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator
(Fig. 1) does not require the use of a face-bow to
mount the casts. Both casts are held together and
mounted simultaneously with the recording mechanism in contact at VDO as shown by a digital
readout (Fig. 2, B and D).
2. It does not require the use of conventional
pantography because it is built into the recording
(Fig. 3, A).
3. Because of the unique recording plate, the records
of CR, CO, MIC, and VDO are stable and easily
visualized in the patients mouth by the dentist and
in the laboratory by the technician through the
electrical digital readout (Fig. 2, B and D).
4. In this system, the intercondylar distance is neither
recorded nor used, although its equivalent and
corresponding measurements are incorporated in
the intraoral records.
5. There is no need to know the distance between the
condyles or the distance from the condyles to the
incisive point to adjust the articulator.
6. Recording the mandibular translation (Bennetts
movements) or the Fischer angle need no other
special consideration during the clinical or laboratory procedures because they are already registered
in the tracings22 (Fig. 3, A).
7. Anterior occlusal determinants, disclusion by the
posterior teeth (group function) when there is an
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Fig. 2. Recording mechanism including digital display box: A, Lower recording plate with 5 temporary
crowns and electrical lead attached, showing pattern made by 3 scribing points in recording medium.
Upper recording plate with 3 scribing points and central electronic contact point (central bearing point)
with 4 temporary crowns and electrical lead attached. Digital display box (top) to which electrical leads
attach. Signal on face of box indicates that contact points are not in proper position. B, Drawing of upper
recording plate (top) with temporary crowns and recording points superimposed over lower recording
plate with crowns attached, showing tracing through clear plastic plate. Digital display box showing lighted CO on its face indicating that recording points are in contact with lower recording plate in centric
occlusion position. C, Drawing with mouth open to show position of recording plates in mouth. D, Articulator with casts, recording assembly, and digital display.
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Fig. 3. Tracings reproduced in condylar and incisal receptacles of autopolymerizing acrylic

resin. A, Record made by incisal pin. Periodontal probe points to center of pin. B, Close-up
view of condylar ball of articulator making record in resin. C, View from above of 1 completed condylar ball record in 1 condylar receptacle.

indication, and CO, CR, and VDO records have

their positions and influence carved into intraoral
records from which they will be transferred to the
articulator receptacles and strictly kept by the articulator (Figs. 2 and 3).
8. Dimensional alteration (expansion) that may occur
with the use of plaster or any other material
between the casts and the articulators members to
fasten the casts to the articulator will not influence
SEPTEMBER 1998

VDO because it is permanently insured by this type

of intraoral record. If the upper branch is dislodged
up, even this very small difference can be easily
recovered through the adjustment knob and the
incisal pin on the articulator, before programming
the articulator (detailed in laboratory procedure).
It would be difficult to explain in detail the precise
sequence of steps for the treatment of every kind of
malocclusion. The purpose of this article is to present
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Fig. 4. Schematic draws of contact paths from centric occlusion to protrusive and right and
left lateral movements. A, Paths on all maxillary incisors made by contact of mandibular
incisors in CO and gliding contact movements. B, Schematic drawing showing paths made
by maxillary recording pins on mandibular recording plate.

the routine procedures that permit the dentist to

approach the treatment of the most frequent occlusal
problems with and describe the use of the electronic
Anatomo-Physiological system and the Individual
Anatomo-Physiologic articulator (SEM Limites Ltda.)
(Figs. 1 and 2)

CLINICAL AND LABORATORY

PROCEDURES
First appointment
1. Make an impression of both the mandibular and
maxillary arches.
2. Make a wax interocclusal record and dismiss the
patient.

Laboratory proceduresbefore second

appointment
3. Pour impressions in dental stone to make diagnostic casts.
4. Center the articulator by looking at the condyle
spheres from the back of the articulator (Fig. 1, B)
and adjusting the 2 holding devices until the
380 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

Fig. 5. Representative scheme of arbitrary abutment preparation, in laboratory, on diagnostic cast to obtain patients provisional crown and temporary crowns used in this system. 1,
Section of diagnostic cast showing one maxillary abutment.
2, Arbitrary preparation of abutment on diagnostic cast. 3,
Two sets of resin crowns to be made on each preparation.
One for patient to wear as provisionals; other as temporary
crowns to be used with recording plates. 4, Plastic crowns
made to full contour.

spheres are in the small depression in the floors of

the condylar receptacles. The incisal pin must be
set at the 0 point as marked.
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Fig. 6. Intraoral examples of some specific system procedures. A, When all natural teeth are
prepared except 2 or more opposing teeth, opposing teeth may be used to preserve vertical
dimension (arrow). B, Plastic crown being adjusted to CO and VDO. C, Maxillary recording
plate before insertion of recording styli with temporary crowns attached to it with acrylic
resin; 1, temporary plastic crowns fastened to maxillary recording plate with autopolymerizing acrylic resin; 2, clear, 2-mm thick plastic recording plate shows contoured edged to fit
lingual surfaces of plastic crowns and natural teeth crowns with resin crowns attached.

5. Mount the casts centered in the articulator using

only the interocclusal wax record.
6. Arbitrarily, prepare all abutments on the casts and
make 2 acrylic resin crowns for each abutment.
(One set of the resin crowns [called provisional
crowns] will be used as provisional restorations for
all prepared or missing teeth. The provisional
crowns will be rebased in the mouth after the abutments preparations have been made. The other set
of crowns [called temporary crowns] will be used
to establish the mandibular position and movement records [beginning with laboratory step g]
and will be treated differently.)
7. Place separating medium on each preparation on
the cast and flow and build up inlay wax over each
arbitrary preparation. Carve it to the desired shape
SEPTEMBER 1998

and contour then flask, process, and finish each

crown in acrylic resin (Fig. 5).

Second patient appointment

8. Prepare the abutments in the usual manner; however, it is convenient, after the first abutment has
been prepared, to establish the VDO by rebasing
and articulating the corresponding provisional
crown(s).
When opposing teeth, not involved in the prosthesis, are at the proper occlusal vertical dimension, VDO will be maintained (Fig. 6, A), but
when the VDO has been lost or must be modified,
it should be determined by subjective methods as
is commonly performed for edentulous or implant
patients. When dealing with the physiologically
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Fig. 7. Schematic drawing of elements needed for each abutment preparation used with individual Anatomo-Physiological system. Top, acrylic resin crown. Coping must be adjusted to fit die accurately; crown must fit precisely over the
coping and also must be in ideal articulation with opposing
teeth in centric occlusion. Middle, thin plastic coping. Bottom, section of master cast showing die of abutment preparation made in mouth.

individual system of the patient, artificial restorations created must be in strict harmony with the
natural components of the stomatognathic elements of that patient. There is no scientific means
at this time to exactly determine the VDO. However, with the skill, knowledge, and experience of
the dentist, it should be easily established and
recorded within the physiologic limits of the
patient.
9. After preparing the first abutment, try-in the
respective provisional crown, rebase it, and adjust
the occlusion to establish the selected vertical
dimension (Fig. 6, B). Complete the procedure for
the remaining abutments using the first set of
crowns called provisional crowns in step 6.
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10. Save the second set (temporary crowns) for use

with the recording plates.
Even at this early stage of treatment, the VDO
must not be disregarded and one or more of
numerous approaches may be used to make this
determination. The selection of a method or
combination of methods to determine VDO must
be precise and practical. By any means available,
the centered position of the mandible, health of
the temporomandibular joint, esthetics, phonetics, and muscle tonicity must be surveyed.24 Different situations, such as edentulous25 or partially
edentulous (Kennedy classification) 26 patients
may require different methods for establishing
and recording the occlusal vertical dimension.
The phonetic method29 is helpful in determining
VDO in complete denture fabrication and in
anterior edentulous segment fabrication when the
VDO is altered. In edentulous patients, an artificial arc or segment must be created by having the
patient produce sibilant sounds such as the s
sound.
In both dentulous and edentulous patients, the
natural or artificial teeth should be in CO. In dentulous patients, it is convenient to make the first
provisional restoration coincide with MIC to the
occlusion in CR. To produce the sibilant sound,
the patient must open the mandible slightly and
protrude it slightly. At this open protruded position, make a mark with the pencil on the facial surface of a mandibular incisor or wax occlusion rim
using the incisal edge of the maxillary central
incisors as a guide. When the occlusal vertical
dimension is established and recorded, the incisal
edge of the maxillary central incisors must not be
above this line. This combination of esthetics and
phonetics is helpful in establishing VDO for the
patient. It is more convenient to teach the patient
how to close in CO rather than for the operator try
to force the jaw back, which usually results in protrusive movement. However, there is no objection
to any procedure used to reach the correct CO
determination.
Another method for dentulous patients consists
of placing leaves of an adjustable thickness (leaf
gauge) between the maxillary and mandibular
incisors to establish the proper disclusion space
between the 2 arches.
11. After the desired occlusal relationship has been
established, remove the provisional crowns and
make an accurate impression for the master cast.
(It is recommended that a careful procedure be
followed by using custom trays and a precise elastomeric impression material, such as silicone or
polyvinyl siloxane.) Replace the provisional crowns
in the patients mouth and dismiss the patient.
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Fig. 8. Recording plate preparations. A, Plate for arches with abutment preparations; 1, sheet
of clear plastic cut to approximate shape of arch; 2, sheet trimmed with bur to fit lingual profile of abutment crowns and other teeth; 3, holes cut for insertion of scribing points and electrical contact points; 4, inserting scribing points and electrical contact point with lead
attached; 5, modified master cast with plastic copings in place on abutment dies. B, Recording plate for arches with few or no abutment preparations; 1, upper splint-type acrylic resin
appliance surrounds teeth but must not cover occlusal surface; 2 (left) recording plate in one
piece and (right) separated and attached to lingual surface of splint; 3, electrical contact point
(button) may be placed wherever it is convenient but maxillary and mandibular electrical
contacts must be opposite each other; 5, tracings made by scribing points in recording medium recording plate. C, 4, screws to clamp splint on teeth. Alternately it may be fastened to
the teeth with temporary cement, wire, or a combination of these. D, Possibility of placing
scribing point and recording material at the line of alveolar ridges, in addition to 2 other
recordings, performing three points which define plane.

Laboratory proceduresbefore third

appointment
12. Pour the cast in die stone and make removable dies
of the abutment preparations.
13. Make a thin heat-adapted acrylic resin coping for
SEPTEMBER 1998

each abutment preparation die (Fig. 7). Adapt

them carefully and perfect the margins. Make certain that the temporary crowns will fit over their
respective copings on the master cast. Do not fasten the temporary crowns to the copings at this
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excess resin and carefully adjust the VDO and CO

in the mouth to the desired positions.
20. Remove the temporary crown assemblies from the
mouth and place them on their respective abutment preparations on the master cast. Replace the
provisional crowns and dismiss the patient.

Laboratory proceduresbefore fourth

appointment

Fig. 9. Completed definitive restoration cemented in

patients mouth.

time (Fig. 2, A). Instead, leave the temporary

crowns in place over the resin copings on the master cast.
14. Hand hold the maxillary and mandibular master
cast in occlusion with the crowns and copings in
place, as near as possible, in correct centric relation
to determine whether any gross discrepancies exist
that must be removed from the inner portion of
any crown.
15. Use a sheet(s) of clear acrylic resin approximately
2 mm thick and cut 2 pieces shaped like the maxillary and mandibular arches (Fig. 8) to make the
recording plates. Contour the recording plate
blanks to fit the lingual profiles of the temporary
abutment crowns on the maxillary and mandibular
casts and for the other teeth that are not involved
in prosthesis. Do not fasten the crowns to the
recording plates at this time (Figs. 6, C, and 8).
(When no edentulous space or crown preparations
are present in one or the other arches, the recording plate for that arch must be modified and made
like a splint that covers the facial and lingual surfaces of the teeth but does not cover the occlusal
surfaces [Fig. 8, B]. In the absence of abutment
crowns, the dentist may stabilize the recording
plate in the mouth with temporary cement, wire,
clamps, or a combination of these.)

Third patient appointment

16. Remove the provisional crowns and save for reuse
at the end of this appointment. Fit and adjust the
copings to their respective abutment preparations
in the mouth.
17. Fit the abutment temporary crowns over the copings in the mouth and grossly adjust the occlusal
surfaces to VDO and CR. (Fig. 6).
18. Connect the temporary crowns to the copings
with autocuring acrylic resin.
19. After the autocuring resin polymerizes, remove any
384 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

21. Use soft solder to connect the electrical lead wires

to the maxillary electrical contact point and the
mandibular contact point (button) (Figs. 2, B, and
8, D). (The electrical contact point should not be
confused with the central bearing point even
though there is a similarity in appearance and often
in position. The electrical contact point bears no
weight and is used only to make electrical contact
between the maxillary recording assemblies. In the
illustrations in Figures 2 and 8, it occupies the
same space usually reserved for a central bearing
point. However, because its only purpose is to
make electrical contact, it may be placed in any
position on the recording assembly even outside of
the arch when space is a problem [Figs. 6 and
8, B].)
22. Cut 4 holes in the maxillary recording plate for the
3 recording points and the electrical contact point
(Fig. 8).
23. Assemble the recording plates on the casts and
adjust them as well as possible by hand holding the
casts in centric occlusion. (All temporary crowns
were adjusted to the proper VDO and CO in the
mouth during steps 17 through 19, so it is relatively easy to articulate the 2 casts and hold them
in centric occlusion.)
24. When the recording plates and temporary crowns
are aligned on the master cast, connect the temporary crowns to the recording plate with autocuring
acrylic resin.
25. When the resin has polymerized, insert the 3
recording points and the electrical contact point
with the electrical lead attached in the holes prepared for them in the maxillary recording plate.
Adjust them to touch the lower recording plate
and secure them with autopolymerizing acrylic
resin (Figs. 2, B, and 6, C).
26. Mark the spot on the lower recording plate
touched by the maxillary electrical contact point
and cut a hole in it. Insert the mandibular bearing
point (button) in the hole so it is direct below the
upper bearing point and stabilize it with autopolymerizing acrylic resin. Verify the correct contact by
the occluso test. (This test is important because,
when the wires and electrical contact point are in
the proper position, an uninterrupted signal of the
digital readout is illuminated.)
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Fourth patient appointment

27. Remove provisional crowns and save them.
Remove the recording assembly from the casts and
secure it to the respective arches in the mouth.
28. Make certain that when the patient is in CO at the
desired VDO, the points on the upper recording
plate all touch the lower recording plate simultaneously. (This is important because it is the basis of
the occluso test [step 26] and is the repeatable
position in which the casts will be mounted in the
Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator.)
29. When certain that this position is correct and that
the recording assembly is solidly in position in the
mouth, place a recording material on the lower
recording plate opposite the 3 tracing points (Fig.
2, B and C).
Use a diameter of recording material opposite each
tracing point that will encompass the recording
points as they move into the protrusive and right
and left lateral positions. The movement of the
mandible should be limited to and end-to-end
position of the teeth in each direction (Fig. 4, A
and B), usually less than one quarter inch or
6.35 mm in most mouths. (Suggested recording
materials are autopolymerizing acrylic resin or
some of the impression materials.)
30. Start each excursion of the mandible from the CR
position. Record the mandibular movements by
having the patient close in CR, keep the points in
contact, then slide into protrusive until the incisal
edges of the anterior teeth are end-to-end, then
open and return to close again in CR. When making the lateral excursions, have the patient move
jaw to the right or left until the respective working
side teeth are in a buccal tip-to-tip relationship.
Open and close in CO (this assumes that CO is or
has been made coincident with CR), then repeat
for the other side. The tips of the posterior teeth
may or may not be in contact depending on
whether the patients teeth are in group function
or are separated by the anterior teeth (anterior protection). When all movements are recorded, allow
the recording material to harden.
31. Check the results by using the occluso test to see if
the digital read out and the CO position of the
points on the plates in the mouth coincide. Correct irregularities that may appear, such as the loss
of contact in the CO position as a result of excess
recording material under the recording points.
32. When everything is corrected, remove the recording assemblies from the patients mouth, replace
the provisional crowns, and dismiss the patient.

Laboratory proceduresbefore fifth

appointment
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THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

tive casts, hand hold the casts and assemblies

together in position. (They will be aligned in CO
just as recorded in the mouth as can be seen on the
digital display. If correctly aligned, the digital display will show CO just as it did in step 31.) Fasten the casts together in this position.
34. Make certain the Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator is in the centered position (when it
is centered, the green light will be on), and
mount the casts with gypsum. (The incisal pin of
the articulator should be locked in a position that
makes the upper and lower members parallel to
each other when the condylar balls are seated in
their respective condylar receptacles.) After the
mounting gypsum sets, if the green lights goes
out, adjust the screw of the upper branch electric
contact until it is turned back on. Then separate
the casts but do not remove any part of the
recording assembly.
35. Program the articulator with the following procedure. (A) Remove the upper member of the articulator with the cast and its part of the recording
assembly attached. (B) Place a small amount of a
fresh mix of autopolymerizing acrylic resin in each
of the two condylar receptacles and in the incisal
receptacle. (C) Replace the upper member of the
articulator, seat it in the receptacles until the
recording pins on the upper recording plate on the
maxillary cast touch the recording plate in the CO
position on the mandibular cast. The CO readout
will light up. (D) Hold the upper member down
with one hand so the recording pins on the upper
recording plate do not separate from the lower
recording plate as the other hand grasps the incisal
pin and moves it distally to make the protrusive
record. Open the articulator slightly and return it
to the CO position. (E) Immediately repeat the
procedure for the right and left lateral positions.
All movements start from the CO lighted position
and proceed until the incisal edges and/or the
cusps are tip to tip. Before each movement begins,
check to see if the digital display is lit, as an indication that the recording points are in the CO position. Make certain that the scribing points remain
in contact to the end of the excursion.
36. After it is determined that the recording points
remain in CO and that the electric contact points
are in CO after each excursion, remove the recording assembly from the master cast(s) and proceed
with making the definitive prosthesis.

Fifth appointment
37. Remove the provisional restorations and place the
definitive restoration in the patients mouth. Usually it is not necessary to adjust the completed
restoration in the patients mouth; however, it
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must be examined critically and adjustments made

if necessary before cementing it in place (Fig. 9).
It is possible to use the Electronic Anatomo-Physiological articulator for semiadjustment programming by
using 3 independent jaw movements with wax recordings, protrusive and right and left lateral, and avoid
using the recording assembly.

DISCUSSION
The recording made in the mouth incorporates all
the guidance given to the mandible by the muscles,
joints, ligaments soft tissues, and various soft and hard
tissue surfaces and contours. When these records are
transferred to the articulator through the recording
assembly and are established in the condyle and incisal
receptacles in autopolymerizing acrylic resin, it seems
reasonable to assume that the condylar balls will be
positioned on the articulator in the same relative relationship as the patients condyles are in the patients
glenoid fossae.24,28 Therefore any prosthesis made on
that programmed articulator will be positioned in the
appropriate 3-dimensional space when placed in the
patients mouth and will function properly and
smoothly.28
With the individual Anatomo-Physiological system,
it is easy to look at the digital display and see whether
the records made in the mouth have been transferred
properly to the articulator. Information incorporated in
the registration consists of CO, CR, extension and limit
of the contact movements, the influence of the intercondylar distance, the influence of the lingual surfaces
of the maxillary teeth, and any influence of the occlusal
determinants.

SUMMARY
The individual Anatomo-Physiological system
enables the dentist to record intraoral positions and
mandibular movements stereographically or by interocclusal records and personalized anterior guidance. This
system provides a means whereby the information can
be transferred to the articulator. Every step can be
checked by mechanical or electrical apparatus, so accumulated mistakes can be avoided. Each dentist has the
opportunity to check the success or failure of each step
in the clinic or laboratory. This system does not intend
to oppose any school of thought or philosophy but is
only a means to reach the stated goals in an easier and
more precise manner.
REFERENCES
1. Hobo S, Shillingburg HT Jr, Whitsett LD. Articulator selection for restorative dentistry. J Prosthet Dent 1976;36:35-43.
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