IMPORTANT PROSTHODONTICS DEFINITIONS

💠Ante’s law:  In fixed partial denture(FPD) prosthodontics for the observation that the combined pericemental area of all the abutment teeth supporting a fixed partial denture should be equal to or greater in pericemental area than the tooth or teeth being replaced; as formulated for (RPD)removable partial denture prosthodontics the combined pericemental area of the abutment teeth plus the mucous area of the denture base should be equal to or greater than the pericemental area of the missing teeth. (GPT 9)

💠Articulator: A mechanical device that represents the temporomandibular joints and jaws, to which maxillary and mandibular casts may be attached to simulate some or all mandibular movements. (GPT 9)

💠Balanced occlusion:

• The simultaneous contacting of maxillary and mandibular teeth on the right and left and in the posterior and anterior occlusal areas in centric and eccentric positions. – (Heartwell)
• Stable simultaneous contact of the apposing upper and lower teeth in centric relation position and a continuous smooth bilateral gliding from this position to any eccentric position within normal range of mandibular function. – (Winkler)