Accuracy of Dynamic Virtual Articulation: Trueness and Precision.

Area of Science:

• Dental Technology
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Articulators are essential tools in dentistry for simulating jaw movements and fabricating dental prostheses.
• Virtual articulators offer a digital alternative to traditional mechanical articulators, promising enhanced efficiency and accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the trueness and precision of virtual articulators against mechanical articulators.
• To evaluate the impact of altering condylar settings and pin openings on articulator performance.

Main Methods:

• Maxillary and mandibular typodonts were mounted on a mechanical Artex-CR articulator.
• Digital relationships were captured via scanning; resin records were made on the mechanical articulator at varying condylar inclinations and pin openings.
• Fixed dental prostheses were designed on a virtual articulator using identical parameters, and both datasets were analyzed for interocclusal separation.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in trueness or precision were found between virtual and mechanical articulators with altered pin openings for most measurements.
• A minor significant difference in precision (<100 µm) was noted at a 5 mm incisal opening.
• Altering condylar settings showed no significant difference in trueness or precision, except for one trueness measurement (<100 µm) at a 10° setting.

Conclusions:

• Virtual articulators provide trueness and precision comparable to mechanical articulators during dynamic movements.
• Observed deviations between virtual and mechanical articulator performance are minimal (<100 µm) and likely clinically insignificant.