JawPositioner 


The missing piece of the puzzle for the transferal of digitally articulated models in their natural position into the laboratory articulator



The missing piece of puzzle for a combination of analog and digital work steps in the production of individualised dentures has been found. With the specially designed JawPositioner resin blank, Zirkonzahn is the only provider who offers the possibility to transfer digitally articulated patient models 1:1 from the virtual articulator into the physical lab articulator within a very short time. On the basis of the digital data of the patient case, a positioning pattern for the model of the patient’s maxilla can be milled out of the JawPositioner in less than 10 minutes. After having finished this positioning pattern, it is fixed and correctly positioned in the lab articulator using the PlanePositioner®. Then the maxilla is inserted into it and plastered. Prerequisite is the use of a split-cast system (Splitex®, Adesso Split, KaVo, Quicksplit®, Axiosplit®). The physical articulator allows the verification and manual modification of the virtually planned restoration. If modifications have to be made, they can be immediately digitised. As a result, the advantages of digital articulation can be combined with manual workflow. Instead of articulating the plaster models manually, which is more laborious and not as precise, the models are digitised with the S600 ARTI scanner regardless their position in the articulator. Subsequently, with only a few clicks, the models can be articulated into the Zirkonzahn.Scan software. For this purpose, 3D facial scans, realized with the Face Hunter facial scanner or other tools like photos, x-ray images etc., are used. Currently, the following methods for the articulation are available: PlaneSystem®, Frankfurter Horizontal, Camper plane, Slavicek or individually at one's own discretion.
Thanks to the integration of the JawPostitioner into the workflow, it is now possible to articulate the models in the physical lab articulator in their natural position after milling or 3D-printing them, even if only intraoral scan data of the patient’s case are available.

Necessary Software Versions:
Zirkonzahn.Scan: starting from 4623.3
Zirkonzahn.Nesting: 6243 (Installation on request)
Zirkonzahn.Fräsen: starting from 3751

For dry processing with all Zirkonzahn milling units (except from M1 Abutment) and CAD/CAM PMMA Premium milling burs
 

Wilfried Tratter (MDT and software developer) speaks about the possibilities provided by the JawPositioner:




“Analog and digital work steps do no longer exclude but complement one another. Depending on the organsation of treatment and type of restoration, both methods have their advantages and thus their reason to exist. Even if dominating the digital workflow, it is very important for us craftsmen to be able to control it with our own hands by means of the lab articulator. The aim in this working phase is to put the final touch to the job, because contact points, anterior and posterior guides and many other characterizations might deviate from the planning basis due to the manual post-processing (ceramic layering, glazing etc.) of the restoration.
 
On the other hand, the virtual world is definitely advantageous when individually aligning the patient’s maxilla and mandible. The digital alignment of the patient’s anatomy is much easier and accurate than the analog one, since individual planes like the occlusal plane or midline are digitally stored. Using the PlanePositioner and the JawPositioner in combinaion with the software, it is possible to unify information obtained in the real and digital world. Thus allowing me to refer to a unified and customized reference point in space at any time, both mechanically and virtually in the software. Like this, the dental technician is able to switch between analog and virtual working steps and the work process can be individually planned, which in return allows to achieve the best result for each case. Here a brief example of our everyday life: For the production of a standard total prosthesis, the patient is digitally captured with the facial scanner and the PlaneSystem®. On the basis of the individual planes, the prosthesis is aligned in the software. The prosthesis can now be created as usual with prefabricated teeth, due to the transferal of digital information by means of the JawPositioner and PlanePositioner into the PS1 physical articulator. To this aim, the physical PlanePositioner is exactly set according to the digital values of the virtual PlanePositioner. Like this, the adequate tooth length, the midline, tooth axis, tooth position and occlusal plane can be chosen in the phase of the common tooth set up phase.”

 

Excerpt from the interview in the Dental Dialogue5/2016

 
Advantages and applications at a glance:
  • Resin blank with specially predefined geometry for the production of CAD/CAM milled positioning patterns.
  • By means of the JawPositioner Support, this blank can be fixed into all Zirkonzahn milling units with orbit.
  • In combination with the PlanePositioner®, digitally articulated models can be transmitted in the right position into the physical lab articulator (especially suitable for the PS1 articulator). Models of the maxilla and mandible can be quickly and accurately represented in the lab articulator at any time.
  • Important component in the transferal of intra-oral scan data into articulated master models.


Advantages of the digital articulation with the Face Hunter facial scanner:
  • Articulation in various ways with the Zirkonzahn.Scan software thanks to aesthetic tools like occlusal plane, midline, images etc.
  • Articulation possible by means of the PlaneSystem®, the Frankfurter Horizontal, Camper’s plane, Slavicek or individually at one’s sole discretion.
  • Generally, it can be used in combination with all common articulator systems available in the software.
  • Data is immediately ready for further digital processing.

Workflow example with the articulation according to Plaster (PlaneSystem®) 




More images of the case in the respective gallery

accessories 


JawPositioner
Item number: ZBAC3501
Content: 1 box with 46 pcs. Resin blank with specially predefined geometry for the production of CAD/CAM milled positioning patterns.
 
JawPositioner Support
Item number: ZBAC3511
Content: 1 pc. Support for fixing the JawPositioner in the orbit of the Zirkonzahn milling unit
 
Adhesive resin for JawPositioner
Item number: ZBAC3551
Content: Adhesive resin used to fix the JawPositioner Support into the orbit of the Zirkonzahn milling unit.