 If you've ever attended a restorative dentistry course, prosthodontic programme, implant training event, or denture course, you've almost certainly come across a facebow. More specifically, if you've worked with Bremadent Dental Laboratory, there's a good chance we've asked you to provide a Denar facebow record for a case. What often surprises us is not how many clinicians haven't used a facebow recently, but how many have been shown how to use one without ever fully understanding why they're using it. We regularly receive cases where the bite fork is upside down, components have been assembled incorrectly, records have become distorted, or the facebow has been used simply because it was listed on a prescription form. Once we explain its purpose, the lightbulb usually comes on and everything suddenly makes sense. This article is designed to be the definitive guide for dentists, therapists, implant clinicians, prosthodontists, dental students, and dental teams who want to understand what a Denar facebow is, how to use it correctly, and why it remains one of the most valuable tools available for achieving predictable restorative outcomes. What Is a Denar Facebow?
A Denar facebow is a transfer device used to record the relationship between a patient's maxillary arch and their temporomandibular joints. In simple terms, it allows a dental laboratory to accurately transfer the position of the upper jaw from the patient to a Denar articulator. Without a facebow, models can still be mounted on an articulator using average values. However, average values are exactly that, averages. They are not specific to your patient. A facebow provides patient-specific information, allowing the laboratory to reproduce anatomy and jaw relationships more accurately. Think of it like satellite navigation. You can drive somewhere using a rough description of where it is and eventually arrive. Alternatively, you can use exact coordinates and arrive far more efficiently. The facebow provides those coordinates. Why Was the Facebow Invented? The facebow was developed to solve a simple problem. When patients are sitting in the dental chair, their jaws move in a specific way based on their individual anatomy. When those models arrive in the laboratory, the patient is no longer present. Without a facebow transfer, laboratories must estimate where the upper jaw should be positioned relative to the articulator. The facebow reduces that guesswork. Its purpose is not to make dentistry more complicated. Its purpose is to make restorations more accurate before they ever reach the patient's mouth. What Does a Facebow Actually Record? A facebow records: • The position of the maxillary arch • The relationship of the maxilla to the hinge axis • The spatial orientation of the upper jaw • Anatomical information used for articulation This information allows the laboratory to mount models more accurately and simulate jaw movements more realistically. The result is often improved occlusal accuracy and reduced adjustment time. How to Use a Denar Facebow The exact protocol may vary slightly depending on the system being used, but the principles remain the same.
It sounds straightforward because it is. The challenge is not the process itself but understanding the importance of accuracy throughout each step. The Most Common Mistakes We See After processing thousands of Denar articulated cases, certain mistakes appear again and again. The most common issue by far is receiving the bite fork upside down. We see this more often than most clinicians would probably expect. Other common issues include: • Loose locking screws • Distorted registration material • Incorrect bite fork positioning • Missing components • Facebows disassembled before shipping • Inadequate support within the registration material • Failure to verify stability before removal • Damage during transport One practical tip is to take a clear photograph of the assembled facebow before sending it to the laboratory. If there is ever any uncertainty, the image provides valuable reference information. The Difference Between Average Value Articulation and Facebow Articulation This is one of the most important concepts to understand. Average value articulation uses predetermined measurements based on average anatomical relationships. Facebow articulation uses information specific to the individual patient. An analogy we often use is clothing. Average value articulation is like buying a suit off the rack. Facebow articulation is like having that suit tailored specifically to your measurements. Both may work. One is simply more customised. As case complexity increases, the benefits of customisation become increasingly apparent. Which Cases Benefit from a Facebow? One of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry is that facebows are only used for complete dentures. In reality, facebows can provide valuable information across a wide range of restorative and prosthetic treatments. Cases where we commonly recommend a Denar facebow include: • Complete dentures • Immediate dentures • Implant retained dentures • Implant supported overdentures • Full arch implant restorations • All-on-X restorations • Implant bridges • Implant crowns • Crown and bridge cases • Multiple unit bridgework • Full mouth rehabilitation • Full mouth reconstruction • Severe tooth wear cases • Cases involving increased vertical dimension • Occlusal rehabilitation • Occlusal reorganisation • Veneer cases involving occlusal changes • Diagnostic wax-ups • Smile design cases • Michigan splints • Stabilisation splints • Occlusal splints • Bruxism appliances • Night guards • Temporomandibular disorder appliances • Cases involving altered occlusal planes • Patients with complex occlusal relationships • Complex aesthetic restorative cases • Patients with significant functional concerns The common factor is simple. The more important occlusal accuracy becomes, the more valuable a facebow becomes. Why We Use Facebows for Michigan Splints Many clinicians associate facebows with dentures but forget their value when constructing Michigan splints. A Michigan splint is not simply a piece of acrylic covering the teeth. It must interact correctly with the patient's occlusion, guidance pathways, and functional movements. When mounted accurately on a Denar articulator, the appliance can be designed with greater precision, helping to improve fit, comfort, and function. Why Facebows Matter in Implant Dentistry Implants do not have a periodontal ligament. Natural teeth possess a degree of proprioception and adaptive capability that implants simply do not. This means occlusal accuracy becomes increasingly important. Whether restoring a single implant crown, implant bridge, overdenture, or full arch rehabilitation, transferring accurate jaw relationships can help improve predictability. For larger implant cases, facebow records often become particularly valuable. Why Facebows Matter in Crown and Bridge Work For a single crown, average value articulation may often be sufficient. However, as the number of units increases, the complexity increases. Multiple crowns, bridgework, full arch restorations, and rehabilitative cases all benefit from accurate articulation. The more extensive the treatment, the greater the value of accurate patient-specific information. Do Facebows Still Matter in Digital Dentistry? This is one of the most common questions we receive. The short answer is yes. Digital scanners, CAD software, virtual articulators, facial scanning technology, and digital workflows have transformed dentistry. However, digital technology does not eliminate anatomy.
Why Anatomical Articulation Costs More Occasionally we are asked why Denar articulated cases attract an additional fee. The answer is straightforward. Additional materials and procedures are required, including: • Base plates • Registration materials • Articulating plaster • Facebow transfers • Denar articulators • Technician time • Quality control procedures • Calibration and maintenance The process requires more resources than average value mounting. However, the goal is to provide improved predictability and accuracy. Why We Regularly Calibrate Our Denar Articulators This is something many clinicians never consider. Articulators are precision instruments. Over time, components can wear, loosen, and drift from their original settings. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, our Denar articulators are regularly calibrated and maintained to ensure consistency and accuracy. After all, there is little value in taking an accurate facebow record if the articulator itself is inaccurate. Need a Denar Facebow? We Can Help We appreciate that not every practice owns a Denar facebow, and for clinicians who only undertake a small number of complex restorative, implant, denture, or occlusal cases each year, investing in the equipment may not always be practical. To support our clients, Bremadent Dental Laboratory can, subject to availability and location, provide access to one of our Denar facebow systems for cases being prescribed to our laboratory. In certain circumstances, a member of our team may be able to visit your practice to assist with the facebow transfer or provide guidance on how to take the record correctly. This service is intended to help clinicians obtain the most accurate records possible and maximise the predictability of the final restoration. As a laboratory, we believe the best results are achieved when the clinical and technical teams work together. If a facebow transfer could benefit your case but you do not currently have access to the equipment, simply contact our team and we will be happy to discuss the options available. This service is offered on a complimentary basis for laboratory work prescribed to Bremadent Dental Laboratory, subject to availability, location, scheduling, and case requirements. After thousands of articulated cases across dentures, implants, crown and bridge restorations, Michigan splints, full mouth rehabilitations, and complex restorative treatments, one thing has become clear. The more accurately information is transferred from the patient to the laboratory, the more predictable the outcome becomes. Does every case require a facebow? No. Can excellent dentistry be delivered without one? Absolutely. However, when case complexity increases, when occlusion matters, when function matters, and when predictability matters, the value of a facebow becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. Ultimately, a facebow is not about making life harder for the clinician. It is about giving the laboratory the information needed to replicate the patient's anatomy as accurately as possible. And that helps everybody. The dentist spends less time adjusting. The laboratory produces more predictable restorations. Most importantly, the patient receives a restoration that looks better, functions better, and integrates more naturally into their oral environment. And if you're ever unsure whether a case would benefit from a facebow, or you find yourself staring at a bite fork wondering which way is up, the team at Bremadent Dental Laboratory is always happy to help. Trust us, we've seen enough upside-down bite forks over the years to write a separate article about them. We provide a trusted laboratory service delivering consistent quality, saving chairside time, and supporting predictable patient outcomes. Let's Talk, Contact us today! 📞: 0208 520 8528 📧: [email protected] 📍: 25A St James Street, London, E17 7PJ
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Private Dental Laboratory in London
 Kash Qureshi - Managing Director, Clinical Dental Technician
About the author:
Kash Qureshi is a Clinical Dental Technician (Denturist) in the U.K who oversees and quality controls over 3000+ fixed and removable prosthesis including implant cases from a clinical and technical aspect monthly at Bremadent Dental Laboratory & Swissedent Denture Clinic in London. www.swissedent.co.uk www.bremadent.co.uk [email protected] Categories
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