VIRTUAL ARTICULATORS: TRANSFORMING OCCLUSAL SIMULATION IN DIGITAL DENTISTRY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/hsn.v11i1.2475Keywords:
Occlusal, Mandibular, Orthognathic, Articulators, ProsthodonticAbstract
Articulators have long been indispensable in dentistry for replicating jaw relationships and occlusal dynamics.¹ Traditionally, clinicians relied on mechanical articulators to simulate mandibular movements relative to the maxilla, which served as the foundation for prosthodontic, orthodontic, and orthognathic planning.² Although these devices offered a reasonable approximation of mandibular function, their mechanical nature imposed significant limitations in simulating true patient-specific movements.³
The advent of digital technology has transformed this landscape. Virtual articulators (VAs)—software-based systems that simulate jaw dynamics in three dimensions—are increasingly replacing their mechanical predecessors.⁴ By integrating virtual reality (VR) concepts with CAD/CAM technologies, these tools allow clinicians to analyze static and functional occlusion with high precision, reducing chairside adjustments and improving treatment outcomes
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