Does one articulator meet the needs of both fixed and removable prosthodontics?

A survey to determine the type of articulators used in teaching fixed and removable prosthodontics in the 59 United States dental schools was conducted. Of 115 questionnaires mailed, 104 responses were received. The following observations resulted from analysis of the questionnaire. Of the 81 articulators used in fixed and removable prosthodontics, 65 (76.5%) were of the arcon design. The most common articulators used were the Whip-Mix (16 schools), the Hanau 158 (14 schools), the Hanau 96 H-2 (13 schools), and the Denar Mark II (11 schools). The most common articulators used in fixed prosthodontic programs were the Whip-Mix (16) and the Denar Mark II (11), while the most common articulators for removable prosthodontics were the Hanau 158 (14) and the Hanau 96 H-2 (13). Twenty-two schools issued two articulators of different design, and three schools issued two articulators of the same design. The outstanding difference in requirements for fixed and removable prosthodontic teaching programs was that those in fixed prosthodontics desired an articulator in which the maxillary and mandibular members could be separated, while those in removable prosthodontics did not.