INTRODUCTION

Removable partial denture is defined as any prosthesis that replaces some teeth in a partially
dentate arch. It can be removed from the mouth and replaced at will- also called partial
removable dental prosthesis (GPT8)
Each of the component parts of a removable partial denture contributes to specific functions of
the prosthesis and the name is often descriptive of its function.
They come in different forms or types as indicated for varying clinical situations.

Components of RPD
 Major Connectors
Definition
The part of a partial removable dental prosthesis that joins the components on one side of the
arch to those on the opposite side (GPT8).
All other components of the partial denture are attached to it either directly or indirectly.

Classification
1.Depending on where it is used:
 Maxillary
 Mandibular
2. Depending on the material used:
 Acrylic
 Metal
3. Depending on the movement of denture base.
 Rigid and non-rigid

Requirements
1) Should be rigid.
2) Must avoid impingement of free gingival margin.
3) The border of major connector should run parallel to gingival margins. If margin must be
crossed, the crossing should be at right angles to produce least contact and relief must be
provided.
4) Provide vertical support and hence, protect the soft tissue.
5) Provide indirect retention where indicated.
6) Provide for positioning of denture bases where needed.
7) Should be self-cleansing and not cause food entrapment.
 8) Maintain patient comfort and should not interfere with speech and phonation – the
following factors should be considered to achieve this:

i. Edges should be rounded and tapered toward the tissues. The anterior border of a
maxillary major connect should end in the valley between rugae crests and not on
the crest.
ii. Border outlines should be inconspicuous to tongue and hence, should be curved
and rounded.
iii. Tooth embrasures should be used to hide metal extension onto teeth from major
connectors.
iv. It should be symmetrical and cross the palate in a straight line.
v. Should not cross or cover bony prominences like tori. Relief could be given if
small, otherwise surgical excision. Design can also avoid the tori.

Maxillary Major Connectors

These are major connectors used in the fabrication of maxillary partial dentures. They should
satisfy the following additional requirements:

 Beading

The maxillary major connector should be beaded along the posterior border to form a
seal that contacts the soft tissue with a slight displacement of the tissue. This prevents
 the entry of food under the denture from the posterior aspect, provides a visible finish
line for technician to finish and polish the framework and makes the junction of metal
and soft tissue less noticeable to tongue.

 Relief

This is not provided in maxillary major connectors except in the presence of small
palatal tori and a prominent midpalatine suture. Close adaptation of connector is not
polished

Types of Maxillary Major Connectors

1) Palatal bar
2) Palatal strap
3) Anteroposterior, or double palatal bar
4) Horseshoe shaped, or U-shaped connector
5) Closed horseshoe, or anteroposterior palatal strap
6) Complete palate coverage

Palatal Bar major connector

It is a bar running the palate which is a narrow half oval in cross-section with its thickest point in
the center.

Indication
1) Interim partial denture.
2) Kennedy class III limited to replacing one or two teeth on each side of arch.

Disadvantages
1) Most difficult for patient to get adjusted as to maintain rigidity it has to be bulky.
2) Narrow anteroposterior width derives little support from palate, hence it should be
positively supported by rests on remaining teeth.
 3) Should be placed no further anteriorly than second premolar position due to tongue
interference.
4) Should never be used in a distal extension situation or in class IV.

Palatal Strap major connector

It is a wide, thin band of metal that runs across the palate unobtrusively. A minimum width of
8mm is essential to derive the palatal support and for maintaining the rigidity of the connector. It
is the most versatile major connector.
Indications
1) Unilateral distal extension partial dentures (class II).
2) Tooth supported short span bilateral edentulous areas (class III).
Advantages
1) Offers great resistance to bending and twisting forces because it is located in three planes
(horizontal-- palatal vault; vertical – lateral slopes of palate; sagittal– anterior slope of
palate).
2) Produces greater rigidity with less bulk of metal.
3) It can be kept thin, increasing patient comfort.
4) Retention through adhesion and cohesion is enhanced by intimate contact.
5) Also contributes some indirect retention.
Disadvantages
1) Patient may complain of excessive palatal coverage- borders should be properly placed to
avoid this.
2) Strap must avoid crossing a torus or a prominent midpalatine suture.
3) Can cause papillary hyperplasia.

Closed Horseshoe or Anteroposterior Palatal Strap

Basically, two palatal traps- one anterior, and the other posterior, connected by flat
longitudinal elements on each side of lateral slope of palate. The thickness of metal in the
straps should be uniform. All the requirements for placing borders anteriorly, posteriorly,
and laterally, are applicable.

Indications
1) When numerous teeth are to be replaced and torus is present.
2) Kennedy Class I and II with anterior tooth replacement

Advantages
1) Good palatal support
2) Strong, L-beam effect.

Disadvantages
1) Interference with phonetics and patient comfort in some cases.
2) Complete palate.
3) The uniform metal coverage extends over the entire palate or simulating the anatomical
replica f hard palate.
4) Posterior border extends to junction of soft and hard palate.
 5) The posterior palatal seal that is used in complete dentures should not be used in
removable partial dentures (RPD) as it is not effective. Beading of posterior borders as
with all maxillary major connectors is sufficient.

Complete palate coverage major connector

Indications
1) Kennedy’s Class I where length of span is long with anterior modification.
2) Kennedy’s Class I with anterior and posterior modification spaces.
3) When opposing arch consists of a full complement of mandibular teeth and patient has
well-developed muscles of mastication, complete palate provides the needed extra
support against vertical displacement.
4) Flat, flabby ridges or shallow palatal vault, complete palate provides best stabilization.
5) Cleft palate patients with narrow, steep palatal vault.

Advantage
1. Best rigidity, support and strength.

Disadvantages
1) Adverse soft tissue reactions because of extensive coverage.
2) Problem with phonetics.
3) If the palatal coverage is made with acrylic resin instead of metal, the removable partial
denture is a temporary, transitional or interim prosthesis, used to get the patient
accustomed to complete palatal coverage or as surgical stents when future relining is
predicted.
 Maxillary major connectors indicated for Kennedy’s classification
The following major connectors are generally used for the given
Kennedy’s classification:
1. Class I: Closed horseshoe, complete palate
2. Class II: Palatal strap, closed horseshoe
3. Class III: Palatal strap, palatal bar
4. Class IV: Horseshoe, closed horseshoe, complete palate
 Mandibular major connectors
These are major connectors used for mandibular removable partial dentures. Apart from the
general consideration for major connectors, they should satisfy the following additional specific
requirements for mandibular major connectors:
1. They should be rigid without being bulky as they have to be long and narrow because of space
limitations caused by floor of mouth, lingual frenum, tongue and mandibular tori.
2. Relief is always given. Because of the need for relief, beading is not indicated in mandibular
major connectors.
3. The inferior border should not impinge on the tissues in the floor of the mouth
 Lingual bar major connector
It is the most commonly used mandibular major connector. It is a half-pear shaped bar with the
superior border located below the gingival border and the gingival margin.
It requires at least 8 mm of vertical space between the floor of the mouth and gingival margins of
the teeth (5 mm for the connector and 3 mm space between the superior border and the gingival
margin).

Indications
1. It is always used unless others offer a definite advantage for a given situation.
2. It is indicated in Kennedy’s class III situation and its modifications.

Advantages
1. Simple, easy to design and fabricate.
2. Has minimal contact with oral tissue.
3. No contact with teeth, so no decalcification of teeth.

Disadvantages
1. Causes food entrapment and patient discomfort if it is placed over an undercut.
2. Cannot be used when tori are present.
3. Chances of making it thin and flexible in cases of insufficient vestibular depth.
*Sublingual bar major connector is a modification of lingual bar. It is kidney-shaped, placed
deeper into the anterior lingual sulcus when adequate space is not available for lingual bar.
 Lingual Plate major connector
Also termed linguoplate. It is basically a pear shaped lingual bar with superior border extending
onto the lingual surfaces of teeth as a thin solid plate of metal. The superior border is scalloped,
with intimate contact on teeth above the cingula and knife-edge margins. This reduces the
wedging effect on teeth and prevents food from packing into the area.
In case of gingival recession and spacing in the anterior, cut back or step back of the plate can be
done to prevent visibility of metal.

Indications
1) When lingual frenum is high or space available for lingual bar is insufficient.
2) Kennedy class I where residual ridges have undergone excessive vertical resorption.
3) For stabilizing periodontally weak teeth.
4) When future replacement of one or more anterior teeth is predicted, addition of retention
loops to lingual plate will facilitate this.
5) Presence of inoperable mandibular tori.
6) To help prevent supraeruption of mandibular anterior in retrognathic jaws by placement
of incisal rests

Advantages
1) Most rigid and provides good support and stabilization.
2) Provides indirect retention with rests on premolars.
3) Better patient comfort and phonetics.

Disadvantages
1) Extensive coverage of teeth may cause decalcification.
2) Soft tissue irritation.
 Double Lingual Bar major connector
It is also termed as Kennedy bar or continuous bar retainer.

It differs from lingual plate in that the middle portion is removed and the remaining is a superior
and inferior bar. The lower bar is similar to a lingual bar, per-shaped in cross-section. The upper
bar should be half-oval in cross-section, 2-3mm high and 1mm thick.

Just like the lingual plate the upper bar should dip into the embrasures and if a diastema is
present, a step-back design is used.

The two bars are joined by minor connectors placed between canine and premolar. Rests must be
placed at each end of upper bar, no posterior than mesial fossa of premolars.

Indications

1) When a lingual plate in otherwise indicated but axial alignment of anterior teeth entails
excessive block out, e.g. crowding.
2) Periodontal disease resulting in large interproximal embrasures.
3) Wide diastemas in lower anterior.
Advantages
1) Provides good indirect retention.
2) Horizontal stabilization.
3) As gingival tissues are not covered, marginal gingival receives natural stimulation.
Disadvantages
1) More annoyance to tongue than lingual plate.
2) Food entrapment.
 Labial bar major connector
It is half-pear shape in cross-section similar to lingual bar, but running across the labial or buccal
mucosa. The height, thickness and length of the labial bar are greater than the lingual bar.
Indications
1. Malposed and lingually inclined teeth (Fig. 21.29).
2. Severe and abrupt lingual tissue undercuts.
3. Large inoperable mandibular tori.
Advantages
The only choice of major connector when lingual tissues do not support the prosthesis
design.
Disadvantages
1. Unaesthetic
2. Distortion of lower lip
3. Patient discomfort
A modification of the labial bar is the ‘hinged continuous labial bar’ incorporated in the
‘swing-lock’ partial denture.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. V Rangarajan-Textbook of PROSTHODONTICS second edition

2. S Lekshmi Preclinical Manual of Prosthodontics

3. Deepak Nallaswamy Veeraiyan textbook of Prosthodontics

 CONTENTS
1) INTRODUCTION
2) COMPONENTS OF RPD
3) MAJOR CONNECTORS
4) MAXILLARY MAJOR CONNECTORS

1) Palatal bar
2) Palatal strap
3) Anteroposterior, or double palatal bar
4) Horseshoe shaped, or U-shaped connector
5) Closed horseshoe, or anteroposterior palatal strap
6) Complete palate coverage

5) MANDIBULAR MAJOR CONNECTORS

1) Lingual bar major connector

2) Lingual Plate major connector
3) Double Lingual Bar major connector
4) Labial bar major connector

6) BIBLIOGRAPHY
MAJOR CONNECTORS