Dental articulator

A dental articulator for simulating the occlusal displacement of a particular condylar structure, said displacement being recorded by no more than two styli secured with respect to the maxillary structure of a patient, and receptacles corresponding in number with the number of styli;

• each receptacle being filled with impressionable material, fixed with respect to the mandibular structure of a patient and positioned in communication with a stylus so that said displacement records an impression by a stylus in each said receptacle's material, said articulator comprising,
• a one-piece face bow having an anterior bar and a pair of spaced rearwardly extending arms, means for detachably securing said face bow in a fixed position with respect to the maxillary structure of the patient and means for supporting at least one stylus,
• a base having means for receiving each said receptacle in a fixed position at which said receptacle is aligned in the same position with respect to respective stylus as during communication when displacement is being recorded,
• and means for detachably mounting the at least one receptacle in registration with the at least one stylus to form the sole condylar guidance means for said articulator at said fixed position,
• wherein said means for detachably mounting comprises means for locking each said receptacle to said base only when said receptacle is seated on said base in said fixed position,
• wherein each said receptacle includes an aperture, and wherein said means for locking comprises a pin adapted to be received in said aperture and means carried by said base for slidably displacing said pin longitudinally along said base into and out of said aperture when said aperture is aligned in registration with said pin,
• wherein said aperture is aligned with said pin only when said receptacle is seated on said base in said fixed position.

An articulator for simulating occlusal displacement of a particular condylar structure, said displacement being recorded by at least one stylus, each of said at least one stylus being fixedly secured with respect to the maxillary structure of the head of a patient, receptacles corresponding in number to the number of styli, each receptacle being filled with impressionable material, fixed with respect to the mandibular structure of the patient and positioned so as to be in communication with one of said styli so that displacement of each said at least one stylus records an impression by said stylus in said material, the articulator comprising;

• an upper arm formed by a one-piece face bow having an anterior bar and means for receiving an incisal pin and spaced apart, rearwardly extending arms, means for supporting an upper dental cast on said upper arm,
• a base having means for supporting a lower dental cast, and
• means for displaceably mounting said arm to said base comprising said at least one stylus, said at least one receptacle, and means for supporting said at least one receptacle in registration with said at least one stylus, whereby said stylus rides in said impression and wherein said stylus and impression form the sole condylar guidance means for controlling displacement of said upper arm with respect to said base,
• and wherein said means for supporting an upper dental cast comprises a bracket secured to and extending across said arms having means for mounting a dental cast.