Partial Dentures Question Bank

Design Principles
Diagnosis
Distal extensions
Major connectors
Materials
Miscellaneous
Surveying
Tooth loss etc

Design Principles

“Our objective should be the preservation of what remains rather than the restoration of
what is missing”. Discuss this principle in relation to the design of a partial denture and its
components, replacing the four maxillary incisor teeth

a) Referring to any denture, what is retention?

b) What types of retention apply to partial dentures, and how are they achieved?

a) Referring to any denture, what is support?

b) What is the preferred support for a partial denture, and why?
c) How is the preferred support achieved?

What is active retention, and how is it achieved in partial dentures?

What information can you obtain by surveying a partially dentate model, and how does the
information assist you in designing the partial denture?

Describe the factors which influence the retention of partial dentures.

Discuss the general principles governing the retention of partial dentures.

Discuss the concept of active retention in the design of removable partial dentures.

Discuss the concept of indirect retention in the design of removable partial dentures.

Define indirect retention and make a labelled drawing to illustrate indirect retention

Draw and label a diagram to illustrate the principle of indirect retention in metal-based partial
dentures. How would you obtain indirect retention when planning your design?

Describe how retention may be achieved in acrylic partial dentures

Define Path of Insertion and Guide Planes. Discuss their importance in the construction of partial
dentures.

What do you understand by the term reciprocation applied to partial dentures?

Explain the concept of reciprocation with reference to clasps

Discuss the different types of support for acrylic partial dentures.

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Define Retention, Stability, and Support. How is each of these properties provided in a
Circumferential clasp?

In a lower Kennedy Class I partial denture replacing the four molar teeth, which components of
the denture provide support and what oral structure do they contact?

List the parts of the mandibular Kennedy Class I denture that

1. make the partial denture retentive
2. make the partial denture stable
3. give the partial denture support

Define:
Retention
Stability
Support
Reciprocation
Major connector

Explain how stability can be enhanced in an acrylic partial denture

Discuss support for partial dentures

Describe the steps taken to establish a favourable path of insertion.

Briefly describe the requirements for an ideal clasp

In a Kennedy Class IV partial denture, on which teeth and into which undercuts should the clasp
arms be placed, and why?

Diagnosis

When and why would you construct an acrylic partial denture for a patient, in preference to a
metal-based partial denture?

What are the indications for providing a patient with a partial denture? What measures would you
take in planning and fabricating an acrylic partial denture so as to reduce trauma to the
supporting tissues?

Discuss the indications for using acrylic partial dentures

List the disadvantages of a spoon denture

Discuss acrylic partial dentures with reference to the preservation of oral health.

List the circumstances in which you would provide a patient with an interim acrylic partial
denture.

Describe how acrylic partial dentures (in general) can be designed to preserve the remaining oral
structures.

Discuss your approach to treatment of a patient who presents with an acrylic partial upper
denture with underlying denture stomatitis of Newton Type III, severe pain in 26 and 27 requiring
extractions, and advanced periodontal breakdown in 18, 17, 16, 15, 25. There are no other natural
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teeth standing. The opposing arch has an ill-fitting complete mandibular denture with which the
patient is completely dissatisfied

Describe the indications and contra-indications for the use of the spoon denture.

Discuss the possible harmful effects of wearing partial dentures, and how these can be minimised
by using various partial denture designs and components

List the advantages and disadvantages of acrylic-based and metal- based partial dentures.

What factors influence your choice of base for partial dentures?

Distal extensions

Distal extension removable partial dentures need to be supported by both residual ridge and
teeth. How does this requirement affect the design and construction of the denture?

Describe the altered cast technique in the construction of a Kennedy CI I partial lower denture,
also indicating the rationale for performing this procedures on a patient.

What are the principles on which the altered cast technique is based? List the steps to be taken to
carry out the altered cast technique.

In which clinical situation would you use the altered cast technique, and why?

Discuss the problems associated with distal extensions partial dentures with particular reference
to their support, occlusal aspects and the maintenance they require

Major connectors

Name the major connectors that can be used in a mandibular metal-based partial denture design,
and state the indications for using each one of them.

Name two types of major connectors that can be used for mandibular partial dentures. List the
advantages and disadvantages of one of these major connector (indicate which one you are
describing).

Discuss the factors which might influence your choice of major connector for a mandibular
bilateral distal extension (Kennedy Class I) metal-based partial denture

Discuss the factors which should influence your choice when deciding upon what major connector
to use while designing a mandibular bilateral distal extension metal-based partial denture.

List all the types of major connections which could be used in the fabrication of a metal-based
partial denture in a Kennedy Class I situation. Briefly describe the indications for the use of each
type of major connector you have listed.
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Materials

What are the ideal properties of impression materials to be used for making partial dentures?

What factors influence the flexibility of retentive clasps?

Discuss the use of stellite alloys in partial dentures.

Miscellaneous

Describe the construction of special trays using self-curing acrylic for partial dentures

Describe in details the steps taken in making a maxillary special tray on a partially edentulous cast.

With the aid of diagrams, describe:

The ideal occlusion rest seat preparation on a maxillary premolar
The ideal cingulum rest seat preparation on a maxillary canine

Describe the dimensions and preparation procedures of rest seats for occlusal rests and cingulum
rests.

Describe the clinical procedures at the delivery of a partial denture when occlusal interferences
are too great to be adjusted at the chairside

Write short notes on:

occlusal rests
requirements of an ideal clasp
uses for acrylic dentures

Define
1. Major connector
2. Indirect retainer
3. Reciprocation

Write short notes on the following:

1. The clinical and laboratory procedures for adding a tooth to an acrylic partial denture
2. The problems which might arise when a denture has been fabricated at an excessive
occlusal vertical dimension
3. The reason for recontouring natural teeth in preparation for a partial denture.

Surveying

Describe the importance of (i) surveying; (ii) clasps and occlusal rests

Discuss the purposes and importance of surveying

Discuss the importance of surveying

For what purpose is the surveyor used in partial denture fabrication

Discuss the use of the Ney surveyor when designing metal-based partial dentures.
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Enumerate the reason for surveying partially edentulous models. How do these factors help us in
partial denture construction?

List the reason for surveying partial denture models

Discuss the importance of surveying partial denture models

Tooth loss etc

List the possible consequences of partial edentulousness

What are the changes that may occur in the mouth after some teeth are extracted?

Describe the consequences of tooth loss