The Pantograph Method was introduced into dental surgery for the first time in 1929 by Dr. B. B. McCollum, the father of gnathology.
Until nowadays we have been applying this method to the dental clinic as the technics of catching the mandibular movement more correctly in combination with the Fully Adjustable Articulator, which was devised later.
The schools which deny the Pantograph Method say that the mandible doesn't function on the bordermovement-path. Some clinicians doubt transferring the value, measured at the time the vertical dimension is risen, to the articulator. But it is known widely that the Pantograph Method has many advantages which no other methods of recording mandibular movement have.
Recently, with the progress of electronic engineering, many electric apparatuses have been under development for the measurement of the mandibular movement. So the Pantograph Method seems to want improving.
But now that we have seen the appearance of the TMJ Simplex Mandibular Movement Indicator, a simplified form of Pantograph Instrument, Denar's Mini Recorder and others, we can't discard the technics of the Pantograph Method.
So far, the Pantograph Method has been apt to be regarded as the technics of catching the stromaborder. This, however, is nothing but a misunderstanding.
The author found that the Pantograph-survey-line changes when we use this gnathology method which, by using the mutually protected occlusion, can centralize the patient's chewing cycle through changing his chewing cycle.
The author will give his opinion on this matter and the interrelation of the form of the central bearing plate and the incisal path.

View full abstract

Condylar points are very important as posterior reference points which determine the oosition of the maxilla in relation to the cranium, and also as the starting point for mandibular movements. Arbitrary points, hinge axis and kinematic axis as these condylar points, were studied in regard to the relationship of location and to clinical significance.
1) Arbitrary Points (AP) were so located as to be at the points 13 mm anterior to the posterior margin of the tragus on that line connecting the posterior margin and the external angle of the eye (Figs. 1 and 5) .
2) Hinge Axis (HA) was determined by means of stylus as the immobile point of the rotation center, when hinge movement was performed with the condyles at the most posterior and most superior position in the fossa of the temporomandibular joint (Figs. 2 and 11) .
3) Kinematic Axis (KA) was so located as to be the posterior end of the path of movement on which the path of protrusive translatory movement and anterior border movement, and the path of posterior border movement of the mandible in the sagittal plane come closest to each other, that is, within less than 1.0 mm, when determined through a trial-and-error method (Figs. 3, 4 and 12) .

View full abstract

The requisites for an articulator are:
1. It is as large as the human skull.
2. It is an arcon type similar to the temporomandibular joint.
3. It possesses a strong incisal pole.
4. Anatomical positional relationship can be reproduced with a face-bow.
5. The centric can be accurately reproduced.
6. It possesses the necessary adjustable mechanism.
The author has developed four types of articulators which have basic structures meeting these requisttes. The features of each articulator are as follows.
Occlusomatic, a non-adjustable articulator, was first developed in 1972 to put an overcompensatory reproduction theory into practice.
In 1975, a semi-adjustable articulator New Occlusomatic was developed on the basis of Lundeen's finding on immediate side shift. This articulator have adjustability of immediate side shift and sagital condyler angle a progressive side shift is fixed at the angle of 7.5°. It is capable of fitting to almost all types of face-bow. For hinge axis transfer, high-axis transfer iig is available.
Dental Hoby was developed in 1978 for daily simple prosthetic. This articulator is also suitable for dental students. Speed Bow, were devised especially designed for this articulator. Analysis the functions of a face-bow into numerical figures.
In 1979, Gnathomatic was developed. This semi-adjustable articulator capable for minor reconstruction. It has a number of advantages: 1) it possesses a positive centric latch 2) a Slidematic Face-bow can be used. In addition, the development of Mini Pantograph is now under way. This articulator may be a practical one which is suitable for both denturous and edenturous prosthetic cases.

View full abstract

It is not alway s easy to discriminate immediate side shift from the tracing line which appears on the pantograph. Guichet did not sufficiently explain how to interprete early side shift and distributed side shift. However, Lundeen in 1973 stated that all the shifts other than progressive side shift contain immediate side shift.
As a method to quantitatively determine immediate side shift, the conventional method of adjusting the Denar D5A articulator with Denar pantograph was slightly modified. Specifically, the author first adjusted progressive side shift and the immediate side shift. Thus, immediate side shift was quantitatively determined from the conventional line representing distributed side shift.
During the adjustment, the opposite sylus was kept on the working line. When it is difficult to read immediate side shift in the non-working line, you can carefully observe the initial movement of the working line. Then a non-smooth blending will be observed and immediate side shift can be read.
The author has experienced several cases in which early side shifts changed into progressive side shifts in the course of follow-up after mouth rehabilitations. In the case of a patient with distributed side shifts, early side shift also changed into progressive side shift when slide in centric was removed. When side shift is small, it may be possible to eliminate immediate side shift by the removal of premature contact, modification of incisal guidance, assurance of centrice stop, and establishment of vertical stop.

View full abstract

It is a welcome phenomenon that gnathology has, at long last, begun to spread in the dental world.
The systmatization of gnathology by B. B. McCollum marked a milestone in promoting the scientific value of dentistry. About 60 years have passed since then, and today few dentists doubt the scientific value of gnthology, although a heated discussion continues. This means that gnathology has been recognized as basic science to explore the nature of the gnathostomatological system.
The terminal hinge-axis (hereafter abbreviated to hinge-axis) exists only when the condyle is in the centric relation and serves as a starting point of all the mandibular movements. And it plays the most important role supporting gnathology.
We need to reproduce the mandibular position and mandibular movements on the articulator for a diagnosis or a construction and adjustment of the dental prosthesis. The three-dimensional simulation of the mandibular position of individual patient on the adjustable articulator is possible only when the hingeaxis in the centric relation is used as a datum point. The importance and high clinical value of hinge-axis and centric relation are accepted even by researchers who criticize gnathology. Locating the true hinge axis at the firest visit however, is not yet prevalent among gnathologists. The anatomical mean value is substituted as the so-called anatonicla average hinge-axis, and the study casts for diagnosis are transferred to the articulator by utilizing the average hinqeayis.
The author has focussed his attention on the keeness of the human tactile sense, and has attempted it to apply to hinge-axis locating. He has named this attempt hinge-axis locating method with tactile sense. Basically utilizing the sharp human tactile sense, the hinge-axis locating is done with fingers instead of styli. A conventional hinge-axis locator with flag and styli is used in a supplementary role to verify the located hinge-axis. With this method, the true hinge-axis can be tatooed in S to 10 minutes.
This has been already proven in the author's daily practice and in clinical studies by dentists and technicians who have attended the gnathologincal seminar held by the author. The author believes that this hinge-axis locating method using the tactile sense contributes to elimi ating the fixed idea that ganthology is unpractical, or that hinge-axis locating is very complicated and requires a lot of time. He also wishes that many clinicians and dental students, who hesitate to adopt the concept of gnathology into their daily practice because of its complexity although they understand the scientific value of gnathology, adopt this simple, accurate method.

View full abstract

Dental techniques in daily practice include many important steps, such as endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics. Also, at the time of making a crown, good preparation, clear and perfectly fitted margin and precise impression are important. However, the most fundamental part of daily practice is diagnosis. Correct diagnosis is the basis of the treatment, while fates diagnosis will have an adverse effect on the result and success cannot be achieved.
For the practitioner, the basis of initial diagnosis is occlusion and the consideration and checking of the harmony among stomatognathic organs. We should begin by checking the condition of the intercuspal occtusal position in centric relation. Attention should be paid to how the positional relation of the mandible is in centric relation, to what the direction and quantity of the gap is between the centric relation and the intercuspal position, and lastly to how the intercuspal occlusal position will be changed if occlusal adjustment is made. After checking these points, the next diagnosis will be determined.
The diagnosis in centric relation is essential not only for gnathologists but for all dentists. Thus, the author believes that daily diagnosis starts with centric relation and ends with remounting.

View full abstract

As is generally known, oral rehabilitation based on the idea of gnathology has the denturus as an object. Therefore, the health condition of a patient's teeth and periodontum has an immense effct on treatment and prognosis. Initial treatments should be done without mistake in minor tooth movement, periodontic treatment, or endodontic treatment. Although oral hygiene has spread remarkably recently, thorough pervasion still seems distant.
The author shall report on a case in which the patient needed endodontic treatment for 15 teeth. Some of the teeth had been replaced with prostheses, though not on the basis of a comprehensive plan of treatment but as the necessity arose. Therefore, the occlusal plane of the patient had been lacking in continuity. Many unfavorable conditions existed; for example, regular sittings were almost impossible for the patient. However, after four years of mutual reliance and patience, the difficulties that had lain ahead were overcome. Some may evaluate the treatment of this case as behind the times.

View full abstract

The author will discuss the disadvantages of the Stuart articulator from the standpoint of a clinician supporting gnathology. Tracing a Gothic arch is indispensable for gnathologists. It is no exaggeration to say that the simplification of the tracing technique would lead to the spread of gnathology. In the beginning, the pantograph was traced as a diagnosis of the patient's occlusion prior to treatment. The data obtained were used repeatedly, even to fabricate a metal temporary and a final restoration. The temporomandibular joint of the patient, however, changes during the process of treatment and restoration. The repeated tracing of the Gothic arch of the same patient shows that the traced line becomes simplex. This indicates that the temporomandibular joint has been improved.
Therefore, the Gothic arch first obtained should be observed for a diagnosis, and treatment should be delayed until the patient's temporomandibular joint improves to a favorable condition. Data finally obtained should be utilized for final restorations.
The author found the adjustment of the clutch increasingly troublesome as his use of the pantograph increased. In order to simplify the attachment to the patient of the clutch contained in a Stuart articulator kit, the Denar's clutch construction procedure has been adopted. This saved a lot of time and was more convenient.

View full abstract