The Facebow Record

Dr. Richard G. Stevenson III

THE FACEBOW THE FACEBOW RECORDRECORDTHE FACEBOW THE FACEBOW RECORDRECORD

Purpose

• To accurately mount the maxillary cast to articulator

Upper Bow

BiteforkTransfer Jig Assembly

Articulator Index

Incisal Pin

Fossa

Centric Latch

Mounting Plate (ring)

Facebow Transfer

• Establishes the relationship between the maxillary arch and the horizontal plane.

• Transfers this this relationship to the articulator.

• Provides for an accurate mounting of the maxillary cast to the articulator.

Articulator

• (ar tik ye la ter), n. 3. Dentistry. a mechanical device, representing the jaws, to which casts may be attached: used in the making of dentures. [1770-80; ARTICULATE + OR2]

Slidematic Measuring Bowcomponents

• Earplug

• Anterior reference pointer

• Intercondylar distance scale

• Finger lockscrew

• Center lock wheel

• Sight

• Reference plane locator and marker

EAR PLUGS

ANTERIORREFERENCE POINTER

SLIDEMATIC FACEBOW

CENTER LOCKWHEEL

FINGER LOCKSCEREW

SIGHT

INTERCONDYLARDISTANCE SCALE

ANTERIORREFERENCE POINTER

Transfer Jig Assemblycomponents

• Bitefork

• Vertical shaft

• #1 and # 2 clamps

• Finger screws

• Articulator index

BITEFORK

ARTICULATORINDEX

VERTICALSHAFT

CLAMP #2 CLAMP #1

FINGER SCREWS

TRANSFER JIG ASSEMBLY

ProcedureProcedureProcedureProcedure

Facebow Landmarks

• External auditory meatus– Arbitrary hinge axis location

• Anterior reference point

• Maxillary arch

Procedure

• Mark anterior reference point– 43 mm above incisal edge of tooth # 7 or #8

43 mm

Procedure

• Cover bitefork with 2 layers of softened baseplate wax– Use warm water (135 degrees)

Procedure

• Insert fork in mouth with the arm to the patient’s right– Align midline with index notch– Keep fork horizontal

Procedure

• Press wax against maxillary teeth to index– Have patient secure the bitefork by biting on

fork supported below by cotton rolls between the mandibular teeth and the fork

Procedure

• Attach the vertical shaft to the measuring bow– #2 clamp to patient’s right– Tighten finger screw

Procedure

• Prepare bow and transfer jig – Loosen screws #1 and #2 on clamps– Loosen bow center wheel with thumb– Slide bow open

Procedure

• Assemble facebow on patient– Slide bitefork arm through hole in clamp #2– Place earpiece in ears– Tighten center wheel– Loosen anterior reference pointer screw and

points towards reference mark on face

Procedure

• Assemble facebow on patient– Raise or lower bow to align with anterior

reference mark– Tighten clamp #1– Tighten clamp #2– Record intercondylar distance

Care must be taken to support vertical arm while tightening clamps

Procedure

• Remove facebow and transfer jig assembly from patient– Loosen center wheel and open bow

Procedure

• Remove facebow and transfer jig assembly from patient– Remove from patient

Procedure

• Remove facebow and transfer jig assembly from patient– Loosen finger screw on bow and detach transfer

jig assembly from bow

Procedure

• Remove facebow and transfer jig assembly from patient– Keep in safe place for mounting cast later