A virtual articulator is a computer software tool that is capable of reproducing the relationship between the jaws and simulating jaw movement. It has gradually gained research interest in dentistry over the past decade. In prosthodontics, the virtual articulator should be considered as an additional diagnostic and treatment planning tool to the mechanical articulator, especially in complex cases involving alterations to the vertical dimension of occlusion. Numerous authors have reported on the available digital methodologies used for the assembly of virtual arch models in a virtual articulator, focusing their attention on topics such as the virtual facebow and digital occlusal registration. To correctly simulate jaw movement, the jaw models have to be digitalized and properly mounted on the virtual articulator. The aim of this review was to discuss the current knowledge surrounding the various techniques and methodologies related to virtual mounting in dentistry, and whether virtual articulators will become commonplace in clinical practice in the future. This review also traces the history of the virtual articulator up to its current state and discusses recently developed approaches and workflows for virtual mounting based on current knowledge and technological devices.

Mounting casts accurately on an articulator is a prerequisite for the treatment planning/execution of complex dental cases that require occlusal rehabilitation. A full digital approach to transfer the position of maxillary dentition to a virtual articulator, by using intraoral scans and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) files is presented. This technique offers reduced chairside time and the flexibility of choosing the orientation plane. It can be used in orthognathic surgeries, complex interdisciplinary treatments requiring a CBCT scan with a large field of view, or treatments that already have the head CT or CBCT scans from previous diagnosis/treatment.

Purpose To investigate the trueness and precision of virtual facebow records using a smartphone as a three‐dimensional (3D) face scanner. Material and Methods Twenty repeated virtual facebow records were performed on two subjects using a smartphone as a 3D face scanner. For each subject, a virtual facebow was attached to his/her maxillary arch, and face scans were performed using a smartphone with a 3D scan application. The subject's maxillary arch intraoral scan was aligned to the face scan by the virtual facebow fork. This procedure was repeated 10 times for each subject. To investigate if the maxillary scan is located at the right position to the face, these virtual facebow records were superimposed to a cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) head scan from the same subject by matching the face scan to the 3D face reconstruction from CBCT images. The location of maxillary arch in virtual facebow records was compared with its position in CBCT. The “trueness” of the proposed procedure is defined as the deviation between maxilla arch position in virtual facebow records and the CBCT images. The “precision” is defined as the deviation between each virtual facebow record. The linear deviation at left central incisor (#9), left first molar (#14), and right first molar (#3), as well as angular deviation of occlusal plane were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Differences between two objects were also explored with Mann Whitney U test. Results The 20 virtual facebow records using the smartphone 3D scanner deviated from the CBCT measurements (trueness) by 1.14 ± 0.40 mm at #9, 1.20 ± 0.50 mm at #14, 1.12 ± 0.51 mm at the #3, and 1.48 ± 0.56° in the occlusal plane. The VFTs deviated from each other by 1.06 ± 0.50 mm at #9, 1.09 ± 0.49 mm at #14, 1.11 ± 0.58 mm at #3, and 0.81 ± 0.58° in the occlusal plane. When all sites combined, the trueness was 1.14 ± 0.40 mm, and the precision was 1.08 ± 0.52 mm. Out of eight measurements, three measurements were significantly different between subjects. Nevertheless, the mean difference was small. Conclusions Virtual facebow records made using smartphone‐based face scan can capture the maxilla position with high trueness and precision. The deviation can be anticipated as around 1 mm in linear distance and 1° in angulation.

Mounting dental casts in an articulator is an important prerequisite for prosthodontic rehabilitation cases where the design of an accurate static and dynamic occlusion is needed. Virtual mounting can be achieved through the superimposition of various 3D images acquired from the hard and soft tissues of the patient. The purpose of this technical report is to describe a digital cross‐mounting technique for patients undergoing implant‐supported fixed prosthetic treatment. Through the use of face scanning, intraoral scanning, and cone beam computed tomography, this technique enables creation of a 3D virtual patient with occlusal registration in centric relation. Ultimately, the described methodology allows for the fabrication of definitive full‐mouth implant‐supported fixed prostheses.

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