Transferring anterior occlusal guidance to the articulator.

Anterior disclusion has become accepted as an optimal therapeutic model in the restoration of the anterior dentition. The ability to achieve anterior disclusion is influenced by the anterior determinants of esthetics, phonetics, skeletal relation, tooth position, abutment distribution, and alveolar bone support in addition to the posterior condylar determinants. Temporary restorations are made to incorporate these factors and it becomes necessary to transfer the information to working models of the articulator. A technique is described whereby a wax or silicone index fixed partial denture is made at chairside, duplicating the temporary restoration that is directly transferable to the working casts of the articulator. This technique allows the technician to make final restorations according to the index fixed partial denture, thus incorporating the anterior determinants of occlusion in conjunction with the posterior condylar determinants specific to each patient.