facebow
Pronunciation: /ˈfeɪs.boʊ/
A caliper-like instrument used to record the spatial relationship of the maxillary arch to the temporomandibular joints, enabling accurate transfer of that relationship to an articulator.
Full Definition
A facebow (also written as 'face-bow' in some style guides, though the closed form is now preferred by most dental publishers) is a rigid U-shaped device that is positioned in the patient's mouth and against anatomical landmarks on the face to capture the three-dimensional orientation of the upper jaw relative to the axis of jaw rotation. The resulting facebow record is sent to the dental laboratory along with the cast, allowing the technician to mount the maxillary model on the articulator in a position that mirrors the patient's true anatomy. Without a facebow record, articulator mounting relies on an arbitrary average setting, which may introduce errors in the arc of closure. Editors should note that 'facebow transfer' refers to the act of using the facebow record to mount the cast, not to a separate instrument.
Usage
Usage note: Contemporary dental publishing favours the closed form 'facebow.' If a manuscript uses 'face-bow,' query the author unless following a journal style guide that mandates the hyphenated form.
In Context
- "The prescription specified a facebow record using the Denar earbow transferred to a semi-adjustable articulator." — Laboratory Prescription
- "When editing prosthetics protocols, standardise the spelling to 'facebow' (one word) unless the house style specifies otherwise." — Editorial Style Memo