Dental Prosthetics Connectors Quiz

Major Connectors

• Part that connects other denture parts
• Connects two sides of the denture
• Important for removable partial dentures
• Provides cross-arch stability, resisting displacement
• Supports and braces the denture, distributing functional loads to teeth and mucosa
• Contributes to indirect retention
• Design guidelines:
  • Relief beneath to prevent settling
  • Avoid gingival tissue impingement
  • Avoid bony and soft tissue prominences during placement/removal
  • Should be free of movable tissue
• Requirements:
  • Rigidity and strength
  • No interference with tongue
  • Maintains natural contour of palatal vault/alveolar ridge
  • No oral tissue impingement during insertion, removal, and function
  • Minimal coverage
  • Support
  • Hygiene (decrease food trapping)

Minor Connectors

• Connects major connector to other parts of prosthesis
• Includes clasps, indirect retainers, and occlusal rests
• Joins major connector to other components
• Functions:
  • Joins parts of the RPD to the major connector, acting as a single unit
  • Transmits forces applied to one part of the RPD to other parts, dissipated by all teeth and tissues
  • Transfers effects of retainers, rests, and stabilizing components to the rest of the denture

Maxillary Major Connector Forms

• Anterior-posterior palatal bars (most rigid)

  • Used in almost any maxillary partial denture design, especially when palatal torus is present
  • Anterior component: flat bar at least 6mm from gingival margin
  • Posterior component: half-oval cross section, positioned as far posteriorly as possible
  • May cause patient discomfort/interference with phonetics

• Palatal strap

  • Wider and thinner than palatal bar
  • More tolerated by patient
  • Better distribution of stresses
  • Increases retention by increasing surface tension
  • Minimum width: 8mm
  • Primarily used in class III cases, requiring wider strap in distal extension cases.

• Horseshoe design

  • Thin metal band along lingual surfaces and cingula of remaining teeth
  • Maintained at least 6mm from gingival margin
  • Primarily used when palatal tori are present

• Complete palatal coverage

  • Maximum coverage, support, and retention
  • Maximum load distribution
  • Posterior border extends to hard and soft palate junction
  • Anterior border kept 6mm from gingival margin or covering tooth cingula
  • Used with:
    • Class I Kennedy (decreases stress on abutments)
    • Six remaining anterior teeth
    • Class III with modifications (poor abutment conditions, wide coverage, no clasp retention)
    • Patients with cleft palate

Mandibular Major Connector Forms

• Lingual bar (simplest)
  • Convergence, better tolerance
  • Used when indirect retainer or stabilization of remaining teeth is not needed
  • Half-pear shape in cross section (thicker at inferior border)
  • Requires 8mm sulcus depth

Minor Connector Requirements

• Beveled and smooth borders
• Rigid and not bulky
• Rounded junction between minor and major connectors
• Not located on convex surfaces
• Relieved gingival margins crossed by minor connectors

Proximal Minor Connectors

• Often referred to as proximal plates
• Connect rest and clasp arms to major connectors

Surface Minor Connectors

• Located on the lingual surface of incisors and canines
• Connect lingual rests to major connectors

Embrasure Minor Connectors

• Located between two teeth
• Triangular shape for fit
• Used for denture base retention

Lingual Plate

• Used when lingual tori, abnormal lingual frenum, heavy calculus formation, addition of anterior teeth, need for indirect retention, stabilizing and horizontal stabilization in flat residual ridge are present
• Gingival margin should be relieved to avoid irritation