Designed By:
Claude J. Stansbery
Manufactured By:
Walter J. Terry & Sons (T.D.S.), Seattle, Washington
US Patent:
Unknown
Description:
The Stansbery “Dental Orient” is based on the “positional” concept of recording mandibular movement. “Positional” articulators are intended to record the relational positions of the mandible and maxilla without regard to the condylar hinge. These are the border positions, centric relation and right and left lateral, and in addition, protrusive position. Stansbery assumed that within the limits of a tooth, a straight line is as accurate as a curved path. The “Dental Orient” has three guide slots on the mandibular member and three corresponding vertical rods that travel within the slots on the maxillary member. Each articulator guide slot is maintained in position by adjusting a vertical and horizontal disc to a specific number for each position to be utilized. The positions of the guide slots are recorded by utilizing the Stansbery check-bite appliance. This tracing device has intraoral recording plates with a central bearing point and an extra-oral upper stylus and lower graph-plate. Quick setting plaster is injected between the recording plates, creating a record wafer for each position. The “Dental Orient was the model that preceded the “Tripod” (See Stansbery “Tripod”) Both of these articulators had rotary grinding devices on the lower member. They produced an elliptical pattern when milling the occlusion of the denture teeth. There were only about 50 "Dental Orient" Articulators produced.
Dr. Edgar N. Starcke's articles in the Journal of Prosthodontics have more information on the history of articulators.