Dental MCQ
Recording the occlusion · Occlusion · INBDE Patient Cases

Articulation & Articulators INBDE Patient Cases

By Dr. Isaac Sun, DDS

7 ADA INBDE-format patient cases on articulation & articulators. Each case is a shared patient box (chief complaint, history, medications, allergies, exam) followed by linked multiple-choice questions with full distractor explanations. Practice the way the real exam is structured.

7 patient cases35 linked questionsADA INBDE formatFull distractor explanations

Seven ADA INBDE-format patient cases on articulation and articulators: choosing the right articulator class (Class I-IV) for case complexity with the semi-adjustable Class III as the prosthodontic workhorse, facebow transfer of the maxillary cast to the hinge axis with Frankfort horizontal reference and the arbitrary (~13 mm anterior to the tragus on the canthus-tragus line) vs kinematic (terminal hinge axis) distinction, setting condylar inclination from a protrusive interocclusal record (~30-40° average with steeper inclination demanding steeper posterior cusps), setting Bennett angle from lateral interocclusal records (~7-15° average with Hanau's formula L = H/8 + 12 as the alternative estimate), chair-side articulating paper and shimstock verification at light and heavy bite forces with selective grinding for high spots, T-Scan digital occlusal analysis providing sequence and intensity over time for refractory cases, and lab communication that includes mounted casts plus prescription plus preferred occlusal scheme plus anterior guidance plan plus provisional reference to translate the articulator-mounted plan into an acceptable definitive restoration. Topics include articulator classes, the facebow, CR record, condylar inclination, Bennett angle, articulating paper, shimstock, and the T-Scan.

Case Coverage Map
What each case is testing
Choosing the right articulator class for the case:
Class I-IV trade-off of precision vs practicality; Class III semi-adjustable as prosthodontic workhorse; Class IV for complex full-mouth rehab.
Facebow transfer using Frankfort horizontal:
Maxillary cast to hinge axis with Frankfort (Porion-Orbitale) reference; arbitrary (~13 mm anterior to tragus) vs kinematic (terminal hinge axis).
Setting condylar inclination from a protrusive record:
Protrusive ~4-6 mm + PVS captures jaw position; average inclination 30-40° to Frankfort; steeper inclination demands steeper posterior cusps.
Setting Bennett angle from a lateral record:
Lateral interocclusal records; average 7-15°; Hanau's formula L = H/8 + 12 estimates; steeper Bennett demands wider lingual cusps + embrasures.
Chair-side articulating paper and shimstock verification:
Paper at light + heavy bite forces (different colors for centric vs excursions); shimstock confirms firmness; selective grinding for high spots.
T-Scan digital occlusal analysis:
Sequence + intensity over time; identifies premature contacts and non-working interferences; adjunct to articulating paper in refractory cases.
Lab communication for an articulator-mounted restoration:
Mounted casts + prescription + occlusal scheme + anterior guidance + provisional reference; chair-side return verification of fit + occlusion + comfort.
Patient case: Choosing the right articulator class for the case
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Mixed (educational case)
Chief Complaint
Selecting articulator class for a single posterior crown vs full-mouth rehabilitation.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Two parallel cases discussed: single posterior crown vs full-mouth rehabilitation
  • Different articulator class choices appropriate for each
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Articulator class selection
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    For a SINGLE POSTERIOR CROWN where the patient's existing centric stops will be matched, a reasonable articulator choice is:
  2. Question 2
    Moderate
    For a FULL-MOUTH REHABILITATION (changing VDO, anterior guidance, multiple restorations), the articulator class is typically:
  3. Question 3
    Moderate
    The trade-off between articulator classes is:
  4. Question 4
    Moderate
    The SEMI-ADJUSTABLE (Class III) articulator is the WORKHORSE of fixed and removable prosthodontics because:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of articulator selection is that:

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Patient case: Facebow transfer using Frankfort horizontal
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Female, 55 years old
Chief Complaint
Pre-prosthetic workup; facebow record planned with Frankfort horizontal reference.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Full-arch fixed restoration planned
  • Arbitrary facebow chosen with Frankfort horizontal as the reference
  • Discussion of technique
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Routine facebow transfer case
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    The facebow captures the spatial relation of the MAXILLARY arch to:
  2. Question 2
    Moderate
    FRANKFORT HORIZONTAL is defined as:
  3. Question 3
    Hard
    An ARBITRARY facebow uses an average hinge axis at approximately:
  4. Question 4
    Moderate
    A KINEMATIC facebow is used when:
  5. Question 5
    Moderate
    Without a facebow transfer:

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Patient case: Setting condylar inclination from a protrusive record
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Male, 62 years old
Chief Complaint
Pre-prosthetic workup; protrusive interocclusal record planned to set condylar inclination on a semi-adjustable articulator.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Full-arch fixed restoration planned
  • Protrusive record to be taken in PVS at 4-6 mm of protrusion
  • Articulator condylar element to be adjusted to seat the record
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Routine protrusive record case
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    Condylar inclination is set on a semi-adjustable articulator from:
  2. Question 2
    Moderate
    Average condylar inclination is approximately:
  3. Question 3
    Moderate
    On the articulator, the protrusive record is used to:
  4. Question 4
    Hard
    Steeper condylar inclination DEMANDS:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of condylar inclination is that:

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Patient case: Setting Bennett angle from a lateral record
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Female, 50 years old
Chief Complaint
Pre-prosthetic workup; lateral interocclusal records planned to set Bennett angle on the semi-adjustable articulator.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Full-arch fixed restoration planned
  • Lateral records to be taken in PVS for each side
  • Articulator Bennett-angle element to be adjusted
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Routine Bennett-angle setup case
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    Bennett angle is set on a semi-adjustable articulator from:
  2. Question 2
    Moderate
    Average Bennett angle is approximately:
  3. Question 3
    Hard
    HANAU'S FORMULA L = H/8 + 12 estimates:
  4. Question 4
    Hard
    Steeper Bennett angle DEMANDS:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of Bennett angle is that:

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Patient case: Chair-side articulating paper and shimstock verification
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Male, 48 years old
Chief Complaint
Verification of a newly cemented posterior crown chair-side.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Posterior crown cemented this visit
  • Articulating paper at light + heavy bite forces in different colors
  • Shimstock for contact firmness verification
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Routine chair-side occlusal verification
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    ARTICULATING PAPER chair-side verifies:
  2. Question 2
    Moderate
    SHIMSTOCK verifies:
  3. Question 3
    Hard
    On the new posterior crown, shimstock should:
  4. Question 4
    Moderate
    If the crowned tooth shows a HIGH mark on light articulating paper, the response is:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of chair-side verification is that:

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Patient case: T-Scan digital occlusal analysis
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Female, 58 years old
Chief Complaint
Refractory bite imbalance after multiple selective grinding attempts; T-Scan digital analysis planned.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Multiple selective grinding attempts have not resolved bite imbalance
  • T-Scan planned for digital occlusal analysis
  • Discussion of what the T-Scan adds
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Refractory bite imbalance; digital analysis indicated
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    T-SCAN provides information that articulating paper alone cannot:
  2. Question 2
    Hard
    A T-SCAN can identify a PREMATURE contact by:
  3. Question 3
    Moderate
    A T-SCAN can also identify:
  4. Question 4
    Moderate
    The T-Scan is BEST used as:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of T-Scan is that:

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Patient case: Lab communication for an articulator-mounted restoration
0 of 5 answered, 0 correct
Patient
Male, 55 years old
Chief Complaint
Articulator-mounted casts sent to lab for a posterior fixed-partial denture.
Background and/or Patient History
  • Articulator-mounted casts (facebow + CR + protrusive/lateral records) sent to lab
  • Posterior fixed-partial denture planned
  • Discussion of lab communication content
Allergies
NKDA
Medications
  • None
Current Findings
  • Lab communication for a fixed-partial denture
  1. Question 1
    Moderate
    Lab communication should include:
  2. Question 2
    Easy
    Preferred OCCLUSAL SCHEME for a dentate adult is typically:
  3. Question 3
    Hard
    PROVISIONAL restorations sent to the lab as a reference allow:
  4. Question 4
    Moderate
    On RETURN of the lab work, chair-side verification confirms:
  5. Question 5
    Easy
    The teaching point of lab communication is that:

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Keep studying
Articulation & Articulators core recall

Refresh the anatomy facts these cases depend on: nerve numbers, foramina, functions, and lesion findings.

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