RPD DESIGN:

CONSIDERATIONS IN
SUPPORT, STABILITY AND
RETENTION
MWANGI A. M.
MWANGI C. W.
23.10.2014


Retention
Def: the ability of the prosthesis to
resist dislodgement in a direction
opposite its path of insertion
Types of retention:
Direct retention
Indirect retention
Passive retention
Direct retention
Can be provided by:
Clasps/ extra-coronal attachments
Precision attachments/ intra-coronal
attachments.
Intra-coronal attachments are incorporated into
a crown during wax-up
Consists of a male part (on the denture) and a
female part (a slot in the crown)

Extracoronal Retainers
Prefabricated : Dalbo Clasp
Custom made:
oSuprabulge Cast or Wrought Alloy
clasps
oInfrabulge I bar, Y Bar
NB: Retainer remains passive until
activated by placement/removal.



Extra-coronal retainers.

C-CLASP I-BAR
Approaches undercut occlusally Approaches undercut gingivally
Has a rigid minor connector Has a flexible minor connector i.e.
the approaching arm
Easier to remove because only the
retentive terminal third should flex
to be removed from the undercut
Easier to sit but difficult to remove
because the minor connector
should flex along the retentive arm
Provides a pull type of retention Provides a push type of retention
because the retentive tip pushes
occlusally to engage the undercut
The continuous tooth contact
provides bracing effect
Due to the limited three-point
contact, it has less bracing effect
Less aesthetic because of more
metal exposed
More aesthetic
Has less food debris accumulation
because it adapts more closely to
the tooth
More food debris accumulation
Easier to repair because of simple
design
More difficult to repair but easy to
adjust
Can be used on tilted abutments
and where soft tissue undercuts
are present
Cannot be used in presence of soft
tissue undercuts
Wrought wire clasp
Def: A clasp made from a wrought
alloy (one shaped by cold working)
It is used in cases where the undercut
is 0.5mm and above.
It is used as part of the combination
clasp, where the wrought clasp is the
retentive arm and the cast clasp is the
reciprocal arm.
Usually made of round stainless steel
wire.

Advantages of wrought wire
clasp
Flexible: act as stress breakers on
abutments
Easy to adjust
They cover minimal tooth structure
because of line contact, thus have
less likely occurrence of fatigue failure

Indirect retention
Def: the ability of a free end saddle
prosthesis or a long-span Kennedys
class IV RPD to resist rotational
displacement along the fulcrum axis

Fulcrum axis
For maximum efficiency, the
indirect retainers are placed as far
away from the fulcrum line as
possible, and at 90
0
away from it.



Sources of indirect retention:
Auxilliary rests
Continuous bar
Lingual plate major connector
Anterior plate extensions
Anterior palatal bar

ASSIGNMENT: Which factors influence
effectiveness of indirect retention?

Passive retention
Def: It is the retention provided by
guide planes due to friction between
the framework components and guide
planes.
Guide planes are parallel surfaces of
abutment teeth that direct insertion
and removal of the RPD.
The can be on the proximal or axial
surfaces of the abutment teeth, and
are contacted by minor connectors or
other rigid elements of the RPD.
Passive retention ctd.
Proximal plates contact the guide
planes. Their roles include:
Maintain arch integrity through bracing
action
Retention through friction
Protection from food impaction
Protection from tissue hypertrophy







Guide planes: A tooth bounded
saddle.
SUPPORT
Definition: Ability of the
prosthesis to resist tissue-ward
displacement.
Elements of support resist
axially displacing forces.
Support can be provided by:
Teeth
Mucosa
Implants
A combination of the above

Elements of Support
Rest
Def: component of RPD that provides
primary vertical support on the abutment
tooth.
Function:
Provide support (primary role)
Reciprocation
Bracing
Restore occlusion
Types of rests:
Cingulum rest
Incisal rest
Circular concave rest
Occlusal rest posterior rest



Anterior rests
Design of the rest:
Should be of adequate thickness, esp. at
the marginal ridge to prevent fracture
Should not interfere with existing
occlusion
Should have positive contact
Should extend to the central fossa
Rounded; no sharp angles


Stability
Def: ability of the prostheses to resist
lateral displacement due to functional
forces (other than axial forces).
A stable denture moves little in relation
to the underlying tissue.
Stability = Retentive forces >
displasive forces + Adequate support
Can be derived from factors providing:
Support
Retention
Reciprocation
Bracing
Indirect retention
Occlusion
Connection
Can be derived from factors providing:
Support
Retention
Reciprocation
Bracing
Indirect retention
Occlusion
Connection

Reciprocation: means by which forces
acting on one part of the RPD are
counterbalanced or counteracted by
another part of the RPD.
There are two types:
Cross- tooth reciprocation provided by the
reciprocal arm of the clasp
Cross- arch reciprocation- opposing a
retentive clasp arm on one side of the arch
by a retentive clasp of equal force and
opposite direction on the opposite side of the
arch
Bracing: resistance to horizontal
forces of mastication and the tongue
Provided by:
Guide planes
The inclines of the residual ridge
Occlusion:
Conforming to the patients natural
occlusion where stable contacts are
present posteriorly.
Reorganizing the occlusion if there are no
posterior teeth to obtain balanced
occlusion
Connection:
Rigid major connectors provide cross-
arch stabilization
Minor connectors also provide some form
of stability
NB- stability also depends on how the
patient will use the prosthesis
The Clasp Assembly
Support
Stability
Retention
Encirclement
Passivity
Reciprocation
References:
A clinical Guide to Removable Partial
Denture Design J Davenport, R.M.
Basker, J.P. Ralph & P.O. Glantz.
Mc Crackens Removable Partial
Prosthodontics Allan B Carr.
Textbook of Prosthodontics- Deepak
Nallaswamy.
Thank You