FIELD OF DENTAL

MEDICINE
Dental Medicine Program
Lecture :(Clasps in partial denture)

Dr :(yousra )
1- Occlusal1y Approaching 2- GINGIVALLY
clasps APPROACHING CLASP
I- OCCLUSALLYAPPROACHING
(CIRCUMFERENTIAL) CLASPS
 1-Aker’s clasp (Aker family)
Retentive arm
0.01 of an inch

Occlusal
rest

Bracing arm Minor connector

Engages the undercut from occlusal direction

 A-Aker’s clasp (circlet clasp)
 The most universally employed of all
clasps designs

 It is a double-arms clasp, relatively rigid

 Occlusal rest placed near the

edentulous area
 Engages an undercut of 0.01 inch (1/4 mm)
on the buccal (or lingual) surface of molars
or premolars.

 The reciprocal arm is a rigid arm, placed

totally above the height of tooth contour.
INDICATIONS

▪ Unilateral and bilateral tooth borne

▪ Best suited for strong abutments teeth

Advantages
▪ Provides support, retention, and the best bracing.
▪ Not distorted easily.
▪ Easily constructed.
▪ Simple to repair.
 Disadvantages
▪ More tooth surface is covered.
▪ Changes the morphology of the abutment crown.
▪ Due to its half round cross-section, the Aker clasp can be
adjusted to the tooth surface in an inward or outward
(Bucco-lingual) and not upward or downward (occluso-
gingival) direction.
▪ Cannot be used in free-end saddle cases due to its rigidity,
except with a stress equalizing design or reversed.
 TYPES
OF OCCLUALLY
APPROACING CLASPS
 1- Double aker
(Embrassure, butterfly, compound clasp)

• Two Acker clasps arising from a common

body and from the same minor connector,
Minor Connector located in the embrasure
between the two clasped teeth.
 Double aker
(Embrassure, butterfly, compound clasp)

• Used on the dentulous side of class II, III cases

having no modifications, & class IV.
• Provide bilateral stabilization, and bracing, in
addition to retention.
It also splints the two teeth
 2- RPA clasp
R. mesial occlusal rest
P. proximal plate
A. Aker retentive arm arising
from the superior portion of
the proximal plate.

Indications
• In distal extension RPDs presented with shallow
vestibule or severe tissue undercut were Gingivally
approaching clasp is contraindicated.
 Advantages
1. Mesio-occlusal rest, permitting the other components
to release from the tooth and drop into undercuts
when occlusal loads are placed on the denture base.
2. This in turn prevents tipping of the abutment.
3. Absence of a lingual rigid reciprocal arm minimizes
rotational forces falling on the abutment.
 3-RING CLASP

Provides unilateral bracing. Used for single tilted molars

More flexible than aker because it is one arm clasp.
• Originates by a rest mesially
located on the marginal ridge. And
the single arm encircles nearly all
the tooth surface resembling a ring.
• Exhibiting a mesiobuccal
undercut in case of upper molars
and a mesiolingual undercut on
lingually tilted lower molars.
• Engages a 0.02 or 0.03 of
an inch undercut.
• An auxiliary distal rest is
preferably added to prevent
further mesial tilting of the
tooth
• A reinforcing supporting
strut arm located on the
non-retentive side is usually
considered to limit the
flexibility of the clasp.
Disadvantages

1. Excessive tooth coverage that may result in enamel

decalcification and caries.
2. Easily distorted because of length and difficult to
adjust.
3. Reinforcing arm may cause marginal irritation and
inflammation and may act as a food trap.
 4- REVERSE AKER
1.Occlusal rest located away from
the edentulous area.
2. Retentive arm
3. Reciprocal arm.

Indication:
It can be used in distal extension cases
when the bar clasp is contraindicated
 5- EXTENDED ARM CLASP
When abutment tooth has insufficient undercut

Indications
Used when the undercut on the
tooth near the edentulous area
is poor, while undercut on the
adjacent tooth is suitable.
 6- Back action clasp
 Single arm clasp
 Minor connector starts
mesio-lingually
 It engages mesio-buccal
undercut.
 Some times an additional
rest could be employed on
the mesial side to improve
support
 Used in free end saddle.
Used for maxillary molars
and premolars as the teeth
have the tendency to
incline buccally
 Engage a mesiobuccal undercut
of 0.01 of an inch.

Disadvantages
• Excessive tooth coverage.
• Easily distorted
• Excessive display of metal,
• The occlusal rest is supported by the clasp arm and not by a rigid
minor connector, hence the rest cannot function adequately.
• Poor bracing and reciprocation.
• Food trap
 7- Reverse back action clasp

Minor C.
originating Retentive arm
Mesio-
buccally
engage
Mesio-lingual
undercut

• The minor connectors originates mesiobuccal line angle from the

saddle and ends to engage a mesiolingual undercut of 0.01 or 0.02 of
an inch
• The clasp is used on lower lingually tipped molars and premolars.
• It also provides single bracing only.
• Excessive metal display
 Back action clasp

Reverse Back action

clasp
GINGIVALLYAPPROACHING
CLASPS
 1- RPI clasp
R. mesial occlusal rest .
P. proximal plate
The base of the I bar
I. I Bar retentive arm Should be 3mm away
From the gingival margin

Provides unilateral bracing.

commonly used for tooth tissue
partial dentures. retentive
clasp arm
Requirements of gingival clasps
▪The clasp must be tapered uniformly from its origin
▪The clasp should cross the gingival margin at right
angle to avoid irritation of the marginal gingiva and
should be relieved
▪The tissue side of the clasp should be smooth and
polished
 Contraindications for the use of
gingivally approaching clasps

Contraindications

• Shallow vestibule.
• Severe tissue or tooth undercut to avoid food or
tissue trap.
• Root exposure
• High frenum attachment
• High survey line
RECESSION

Soft tissue
undercut
High frenal attachment
2- THE I-BAR CLASP (ROACH CLASP ARM):

The I - bar clasp consists of

• A retentive I bar arm
• A rigid reciprocal arm
• An occlusal rest and a
minor connector
• The tip of the retentive arm
may be in the form I, T, modified
T or Y.
INDICATIONS
• Tooth-mucosa supported RPD when
there is distobuccal undercut.
 Modified T clasp

T clasp

I clasp
THE I AND Y RETENTIVE CLASP ARMS PROVIDE
TRIPPING ACTION ??

Y I bar
THE T AND MODIFIED T CLASPS DID NOT HAVE
TRIPPING ACTION…..WHY??

T modified T
THE T AND MODIFIED T CLASPS DID NOT HAVE TRIPPING
ACTION, SINCE THE RETENTIVE TERMINAL ACTUALLY
ENGAGE THE UNDERCUT FROM AN OCCLUSAL
DIRECTION.
CRITERIA FOR CLASP SELECTION
• The selection of the clasp depends
mainly on
- Type of support
- Undercut areas
- Esthetics.
 1- For bounded saddle
• The retentive undercut present is
used with any acceptable clasp type
(clasping for convenience).
2- For distal extension base
Stress releasing clasp that distribute
the force between the abutment and
the ridge is used:
A- IF A MESIOBUCCAL UNDERCUT IS AVAILABLE

• Combination clasp with the wrought wire

- RPI
- RPA clasps.
-Back action clasp.
 B- RETENTIVE UNDERCUT
DISTOBUCCALLY

- I Bar clasp,
- Reverse Aker (the minor connector
and the occlusal rests are placed
mesially)
- C-clasp .
Clasps with splinting action

Double Aker clasp

Extended arm clasp
Multiple Aker clasp
Clasps with stress breaking action
 Gingivally approaching clasps except Devan clasp

 Occlusally approaching clasps

 Reverse Aker clasp
 Back action clasp
 Reverse back action clasp
 R.P.A.
 RLS
 Ring (bounded sad., isolated molar)

 Combination clasps (wrought wire + casted)

 Combination clasps (I bar+ half aker)

 Occlusally Gingivally
Retention Due to tripping
action
Bracing 2 Arms above Only lingual arm
survey line provide above survey line
bracing
Esthetics less visible due to
gingival position
Tolerance Gingivally approaching clasp arm relieved
from gingiva may create space accumulating
food and causing discomfort
Caries More tooth coverage
increasing the risk for
caries
Gingival health Trauma may occur
due to distortion or
inadequate relief