CLASPS 1 / Orthodontic Courses by Indian Dental Academy

CLASPS
INDIAN DENTAL ACADEMY

Leader in continuing dental education
www.indiandentalacademy.com


Clasps are the retentive components
of the orthodontic appliances.
INTRODUCTION
The unit of removable orthodontic appliance that
holds the appliance
in position and is called clasp.
There are many types of clasps.
1. C clasp
2.Full clasp or Jacksons clasp
3.Triangular clasp
4.Adams clasp and their modifications
5.Schwarz clasp
6.South end clasp
7.Duyzing clasp
8.Ball end clasp
9.Crozat clasp
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS
Unobtrusive.
Not impinge.
Close contact to the tooth.
Usable in both deciduous
and permanent dentition.
Adequate retention.
No active force on the anchor tooth.
Rigid
Easy to fabricate and also replace if
needed.
Not interfere in the growth of jaws and
eruption of teeth.

USES
To secure the appliance in position
To prevent rolling of appliances
To resist forces of displacement
To provide retention & anchorage
For engaging elastics
MODE OF ACTION OF CLASPS
Clasp engage onto the undercuts
(constricted areas on the teeth.)

Two types of undercuts.
Buccal / Lingual Cervical undercuts.
Mesial / Distal Proximal undercuts.
CIRCUMFERENTIAL CLASP
Circumferential clasp / C-Clasp / 3/4
th

Clasp.

It uses the bucco-cervical undercut.

Single retention arm.

1mm wire used in molars.
Advantages
Good retention.
Easy to fabricate.
Single occlusal crossover wire.
Easy to replace.
Disadvantages
Not on semi-erupted tooth.
Decalcification of cervical margin.
Gingival irritation.
Plaque accumulation enhanced.
Easily distort.
JACKSONS
CLASP
Jackson 1906

Jacksons Clasp / Full Clasp / U Clasp.

Both bucco-cervical and proximal
undercuts.
Advantages
Simple design
Adequate retention.
Disadvantages
Not useful in partially erupted teeth.
Difficult to adjust.
Not on unfavorably inclined tooth.
SOUTHEND
CLASP
Most common for anterior anchorage.
Single arrowhead between Central
Incisors with wire following the gingival
margin.
TRIANGULAR
CLASP
Excellent retention by the single
arrowhead in the interproximal
area.
Free end towards distal to
facilitate the engagement of
elastics.
Advantages
Easy to fabricate.
Excellent retention.
Pre fabricated available.
Elastics can be engaged.
Disadvantages
Not useful if adjacent tooth is absent.
Used as secondary / additional retention.
BALL END
CLASP

Action and location similar to triangular
clasp.
Pre fabricated available. Can be made
by adding solder to end of a wire.
Advantages
Easy to fabricate.
Single occlusal interference.
Less gingival irritation.
Easy to replace.

Disadvantages
Short arm makes adjustment difficult.
Cannot be used for primary retention.
Cannot be used in absence of adjacent
tooth.
SCHWARZ
CLASP
Also called as ARROWHEAD
CLASP.

Mesial and distal undercuts of the teeth.
Advantages
Reliable retention.
Does not interfere in posterior occlusion.
More length of wire hence more flexible.
More easy to adjust.
Enhances eruption.

Disadvantages
Difficult to fabricate.
Needs special plier.
Irritates soft tissue.
Tends to separate teeth.
Is bulky hence less patient compliance.
CROZAT
CLASP
Along with the u clasp another curved
wire is soldered on the base.
Strong retention is possible
ADAMS
CLASP
Adams clasp / modified arrowhead
clasp / liverpool clasp / universal clasp.

C. PHILIPS ADAMS in May 1950.

Most widely used clasp.

Distobuccal and mesiobuccal undercuts.

Does not separate teeth like a arrowhead clasp.

0.7mm posteriors
0.6mm anteriors.
Parts
BRIDGE
2 ARROWHEADS
2 TAG ARMS
BRIDGE
Is 2/3
rd
the mesio-distal width of the
tooth, or slightly less then the distance
between mesiobuccal and distobuccal
undercuts, or length should be equal to
the intercuspal distance.
Is 1-2mm away from the buccal surface
of the tooth.
Is at 45
o
to the buccal surface of the
tooth.
Should be straight.
Arrowheads
They should lie in the disto and
mesio buccal undercuts.
Shaped according to the curve of the
gum margins into the interdental
papilla.
Long enough to keep the bridge at a
proper distance.
Should not touch the adjacent teeth

Tag arms
Closely fitted to the contact points,
down to the interdental embrassure.
Space between the tag arms and
palate for flow of acrylic.
No sharp bends.

Advantages
Small,neat and unobtrusive.
Any tooth.
Both deciduous and permanent dentition.
Even on semi erupted tooth.
No specialized pliers required.
Can be modified as needed.
No. of modifications are available.
Disadvantages
Unwanted palatal tipping if gets activated.
May lead to elongation of tooth if is fitting
tightly.
Can be repaired only if fractured through the
arrowheads.
Cannot be given on proclined anteriors.
Fabrication

MODIFICATIONS
OF ADAMS CLASP
Anterior Adams
0.6mm
Also called double clasp.
With distal extension/ traction hook
To engage elastics
Not given if sulcus is shallow.
Distal extension
With a soldered hook
With a soldered tube
With a single arrowhead
With accessory arrowhead

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CLASPS

INDIAN DENTAL ACADEMY

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