A dental articulating system to duplicate a patient's teeth for producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays pivotally coupled together. A plurality of registration pins is disposable in a plurality of registration pin holes formed in at least one of the trays. A thin cover is disposed across a registration pin hole to close off the registration pin hole and resist dental casting material from substantially filling the registration pin hole. The thin cover is breakable by a registration pin inserted into the registration pin hole. A stop rod opening can be formed in a tray base or model base adjacent the hinge end. A posterior stop rod can be slidable into and securably disposable in the stop rod opening. The stop rod can have an end configured to provide a physical stop between the model bases to retain a desired occlusal relationship between the model bases.