Retention of Removable Partial Denture

A- Retention of Removable Partial
Dentures
By:
Prof. Amal Kaddah
Retention of
Prof. Amal Kaddah

Dr. Mohamed Farouk
Dr. Amro Abdullah
Prosthodontic Department,
Faculty of Oral &Dental Medicine,
Cairo University
Retention
Is the resistance
of the partial
denture to vertical
displacement
away from the
tissues
The effect of physical forces is
less applicable to lower dentures
than upper because:
1. Have less surface area.

2. Are bathed in saliva.
3. Lower major connectors are
relieved.
contrary to upper m. c. that are well adapted and their borders
are beaded against the underlying tissues.
4. Strong movements of the tongue

Retention
Mechanical Physical Physiological

• Direct retainers
1-Adhesion -The physiologic
• Indirect R.
2-Cohesion molding of the
• Frictional fit
tissues around
• Parts of the 3-Interfacial s.t. the polished
denture
4-At. pressure surfaces
engaging tooth
- neuromuscular
and tissue 6-Gravity
control
undercuts.
Mechanical
means of
retention
Intracoronal Extracoronal
Clasp retainer
Attachment
Attachment
Intracoronal attachments
Extracoronal attachments
Mechanical means of
Retention
Parts of the denture

Direct engaging tooth and
retainers tissue undercuts.
Indirect R.
• Frictional fit
• Clasps
• Attachments
Clasp Retainers
Components of a clasp
A minor connector
A rest
A retentive clasp arm
A Reciprocal arm
Clasp Retainer
Retentive arm
Occlusal
rest
Bracing arm Minor connector
Occlusal view
Occlusally
Approaching
clasp
Gingivally
Approaching
clasp
Basic Principles of a Properly
Designed Clasp
1- Encirclement
Each clasp assembly must encircle more than 180 degrees

of abutment tooth
180 ENCIRCLING TOOTH
continuous intermittent
Tooth can't move horizontally away from the clasp

Basic Principles of a Properly Designed Clasp
2- Retention
For a clasp to be
retentive its arm must
flex as it passes over
the height of contour
of tooth and engage
undercut in infrabulge
area of the teeth
DESIRABLE UNDERCUT
UNDESIRABLE UNDERCUT
3- Support
1- Occlusal rest support prevents clasp from being

displaced in gingival direction. 2- lack of support
4- Reciprocation
Each retentive terminal should be opposed by a

reciprocal arm to resist any orthodontic pressure
exerted by the retentive arm during placement and
removal as it flexes about the height of contour
5- Bracing 6-Stabilization
All rigid parts of
clasps contribute
to this property
and resist
displacement of
clasp in horizontal
direction
7- The clasp should be designed on
biologic as well as mechanical bases.
3-4mm
The clasp should not interfere with normal

gingival stimulation and its terminal should be
away from the gingival margin
8- There should be a minimum of 5-mm space between
any two neighboring minor connectors
9- Minor connector (or proximal plate)
must contact a definite guiding plane to
dictate path of insertion
What are the functions of guiding planes
??????
1…. 3……
4…..
2…. 5…..
6….
Post Is More Readily Removed by Application of Force Near Its Top
Than by Applying Same Force Nearer Ground Level
10- Undercut is better be found within the GINGIVAL1/3 for

better esthetics & mechanics
Bracing arm better located In the apical portion
of the Middle 1/3
11- Passivity:
The retentive clasp arm should

be passive and should not
exert any pressure against
the tooth until a dislodging
force is applied.
When you lose, don't
lose the lesson
Factors Determining the
Retentive Force of a Clasp
1- Amount of undercut used

2- Angle of cervical convergence
3-Angle of approach
4- Flexibility of clasp arm
Amount of retention depends on
1-Depth of undercut
The greater the distance we go into the undercut the greater will
be the retention considering the same rigidity.
2- Angle of cervical convergence
Undercut depth depends on cervical convergence of

the tooth rather than on distance below the survey line.
3-Angle of approach
According to the way of approaching the undercut

Gingivally approaching clasp Occlusally approaching clasp
3-Angle of approach
Occ. approaching clasps are pulled up to

move occlusally. Ging. approaching
clasps are pushed up to move occlusally
(Trip action of the clasp)
4- Flexibility of clasp arm
The more flexible the clasp
arm, the less will be the
retention (but don’t forget the trip
action of the clasp !!!!!)
More rigid clasps can be used

in tooth supported partial
dentures
The degree of Flexibility of the clasp
arm depends on the following factors
a. The length of the clasp arm
b. The diameter of the retentive arm
c. Tapering
d. The cross sectional form

e. The material of alloy
f. The type of alloy

Factors affecting the Flexibility of clasp arm
a- The length of the clasp arm

Increasing arm length increases the
flexibility ,thus decreasing the retention
Flexibility of clasp arm:
b. The diameter of the retentive arm
The greater the length and tapering and

the less the diameter, the greater will
be the flexibility of the clasp arm
C- Tapering
Degree of taper , the retentive arm should be

uniformly tapered in such a way that the diameter at its
origin is twice that at its tip.
d- Cross sectional form
Round clasps are the
most flexible as they flex
in all direction thus
lowers the retention than
½ round and flat clasps
e- The material of alloy:

Gold alloys are more flexible than
cobalt chrome alloys.
f-The type of alloy

The wrought form is more resilient than
the same alloy of identical diameter in
cast form, because of its internal structure
The wrought form is more
resilient than the same alloy of
identical diameter in cast form,
because of its internal structure
Every moment,
every situation,
every issue and
every concern has a
positive side. Find it
and bring it to life....

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A- Retention of Removable Partial

Prof. Amal Kaddah

1. Have less surface area.

4. Strong movements of the tongue

Mechanical Physical Physiological

Parts of the denture

Bracing arm Minor connector

Each clasp assembly must encircle more than 180 degrees

Tooth can't move horizontally away from the clasp

1- Occlusal rest support prevents clasp from being

Each retentive terminal should be opposed by a

The clasp should not interfere with normal

10- Undercut is better be found within the GINGIVAL1/3 for

The retentive clasp arm should

1- Amount of undercut used

Undercut depth depends on cervical convergence of

According to the way of approaching the undercut

Occ. approaching clasps are pulled up to

More rigid clasps can be used

a. The length of the clasp arm

b. The diameter of the retentive arm

d. The cross sectional form

f. The type of alloy

a- The length of the clasp arm

b. The diameter of the retentive arm

The greater the length and tapering and

Degree of taper , the retentive arm should be

e- The material of alloy:

f-The type of alloy

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