Clasp Assembly

Types and Indications

Types of clasp assemblies:

1. Clasps designed without movement accommodation.

2. Clasps designed to accommodate distal extension functional
movement.
Clasps designed without movement
accommodation:
• suprabulge clasp, occlusally approach clasp

1. tooth-borne partial dentures (Class III and IV) have one function to
prevent dislodgment of the prosthesis without damage to the abutment
teeth.
2. modification spaces for
tooth-tissue supported rpd (Class I and II).
Circumferential (Circle or Akers) clasp:
• simplest one.
• (occlusally approaching clasp)?
• (suprabulge clasp)?
• pull clasp?
• Aker clasp.
Indications:
• It is a most logical clasp to use with all tooth-supported rpd because of
its retentive and stabilizing ability.
• On free end extension when minimal undercut is utilized.

Contraindication:
• When the retentive undercut may be approached better with a bar clasp
arm.
• When esthetics will be enhanced by using bar clasp arm.
Advantages:
• Excellent bracing qualities.
• Easy to design and construct.
• Less potential for food accumulation

Disadvantages:
• More tooth surface is covered
• may increase the width of the occlusal surface of the tooth.
• In the mandibular arch, more metal may be displayed than with the bar
clasp arm.
• Its half-round form prevents adjustment to increase or decrease retention.
1. Ring-type clasp:
• Usually used with mesially and lingually tilted mandibular molars or
the undercut is on the same side as the rest seat (i.e. adjacent to
edentulous span).
Indications:
• when a proximal undercut cannot be approached by other means.
• It may be used in reverse on an abutment located anterior to a tooth-
bounded edentulous space when a distobuccal or distolingual undercut
cannot be approached directly from the occlusal rest area and/or tissue
undercuts prevent its approach from a gingival direction with a bar
clasp arm.
Contraindication:
• Excessive tissue undercuts prevent
the use of a supporting strut.
Advantages:
a. Excellent bracing (with supporting strut).
b. Allow the use of an available undercut adjacent to the edentulous area.
Disadvantages:
• Covers a large area of the tooth surface, requiring meticulous hygiene.
• Very difficult to adjust due to the extreme rigidity of the reciprocal arms.
• The lower bracing arm should be at least 1mm from the free gingival
• Ring clasp (s) encircling nearly the entire tooth from its point of
origin.
A- Clasp originates on the mesiobuccal surface and encircles the tooth
to engage the mesiolingual undercut.
B- Clasp originates on the mesiolingual surface and encircles the tooth
to engage the mesiobuccal undercut.
2. Embrasure (double Akers) clasp:
• used with double occlusal rests. This is done to avoid interproximal
wedging by the prosthesis, which could cause separation of the
abutment teeth and result in food impaction and clasp displacement.
• occlusal rests also serve to shunt food away from contact areas.
• 2 retentive clasp arms and 2 reciprocal clasp arms, either bilaterally or
diagonally opposed.
Indications:
Used in a quadrant where no edentulous area exists, In an unmodified
Class II or Class III partial denture, where there are no edentulous
spaces on the opposite side of the arch to aid in clasping.
Disadvantages:
• Extensive interproximal reduction is usually required.
• Covers large area of tooth surface – hygiene considerations.
Other less commonly used
modifications of the cast
circumferential clasp are:
1. Back action clasp:
• a modification of the ring clasp.
• It is used on premolar abutment anterior to edentulous space.
• The undercut can usually be approached just as well using a conventional
circumferential clasp, with less tooth coverage and less display of metal.
• Its use is difficult to justify???
2. Multiple clasps:

• two opposing circumferential clasps joined at the terminal end of the

two reciprocal arms.
Indications:
• It is used when additional retention and stabilization are needed, usually on tooth-supported partial
dentures.
• It may be used for multiple clasping in instances in which the partial denture replaces an entire half
of the dental arch.
• used rather than an embrasure clasp when the
only available retentive areas are adjacent.
Disadvantage:
• two embrasure approaches
are necessary rather than
a single common embrasure for both clasps.
 3. Half-and-half Clasp:
• circumferential retentive arm arising from one direction and a reciprocal arm
arising from another.
• The second arm must arise from a second minor connector, with or without
an auxiliary occlusal rest.
• Its design was originally intended to provide dual retention, a principle that
should be applied only to unilateral partial denture design.
• Reciprocation arising from a second
minor connector usually can be
accomplished with a short bar or with
an auxiliary occlusal rest, thereby avoiding
so much tooth coverage.
• There is little justification for the use
of the half-and-half clasp
in bilateral extension base partial dentures.
 4. Reverse-action clasp (Hairpin):
• The upper part considered a minor connector, giving rise to the tapered lower
part of the arm.
• Therefore only the lower part of the arm should be flexible. With the retentive
portion beginning beyond the turn, only the lower part of the arm should flex
over the height of the contour to engage a retentive undercut.
Advantage:
• engaging a proximal undercut (undercut adjacent to edentulous space)
Disadvantages:
• Esthetically objectionable
• The clasp covers a considerable tooth surface and may trap debris.
• Almost impossible to adjust.
• Difficult to fabricate.
• Insufficient flexibility on short crowns due to insufficient clasp arm length.
Indications:
• When a proximal undercut must be used on a posterior abutment and when tissue undercuts, tilted teeth or high
tissue attachments prevent the use of a bar clasp arm.
• When lingual undercuts may prevent the placement of a supporting strut (of ring clasp) without tongue
interference.
• on abutments of tooth-supported dentures when proximal undercut lies below the point of origin of the clasp.
Clasps designed to accommodate
distal extension functional
movement:
• Change the fulcrum location and subsequently the "resistance arm"
engaging effect (mesial rest concept clasp assemblies).
• Minimize the effect of the lever by use of a flexible arm (wrought-wire
retentive arm).
• Change the fulcrum location and subsequently the "resistance
arm" engaging effect: Mesial rest concept clasps assemblies (RPI,
RPA, and Bar clasp): These are proposed to accomplish movement
accommodation by changing the fulcrum location to prevent harmful
tipping or torquing of the abutment tooth and prevent more denture
base movement. This is concept includes RPI and RPA clasps.
RPI clasp:
• RPI clasps are referring to the:
• R = Rest always mesial,
• P = Proximal plate,
• I = I-bar.
• A mesioocclusal rest of a premolar or mesiolingual surface of a canine with
the minor connector placed into the mesiolingual embrasure, but not
contacting the adjacent tooth (prevents wedging).

• The buccolingual width of the guiding plane is determined by the proximal

contour of the tooth.
• The proximal plate (essentially a wide minor connector) is located on a guide
plane on the distal surface of the tooth. The plate is approximately l mm thick
and joins the framework at a right angle.
• The I-bar in conjunction with the minor connector supporting the rest
provides the stabilizing and reciprocal aspects of the clasp assembly
• cast ,below the height of the contour line.

• On the canine, the I-bar is located in

the mesiobuccal undercut and is reciprocated
directly by the proximal plate.

• at least 4 mm from the gingival margin

• The bar clasp arm has been classified by the shape of the retentive
terminal. Thus it has been identified as T, Y, L, I, U and S. I shape bar
is preferred than other shapes because this shape being biologically
and mechanically sound
• If the abutment teeth demonstrate contraindications for a bar-type
clasp a modification should be considered for the RPI system (the RPA
clasp; Akers clasp).
Contraindications:
• Deep cervical undercuts food trap or impingements result.
• Severe soft tissue or bony undercuts
• Insufficient vestibular depth for approach arm, because this reduces the
advantageous length of the arm and made the clasp too close to the gingival
margin it (requires 4 - 3 mm from the free gingival margin, 1 mm for the
thickness of the approach arm).
• Pronounced frenal attachments area
• The excessive buccal or
lingual tilt of the abutment tooth.
RPA clasp; Akers clasp:
• R=mesial occlusal rest
• P=proximal plate
• A=wrought wire circumferential clasp
(Akers) used instead of the I-bar.
• This clasp arises from the proximal
plate and terminates in the mesiobuccal
undercut. It is used when there is
insufficient vestibule depth or when a severe tissue undercut exists.
 Infrabulge clasp:
• bar arm arises from the border of the denture base, either as an extension of a
cast base or attached to the border of a resin base. It is made more flexible
Advantages:
• Its interproximal location, which may be used to esthetic advantage. And
Increased retention without tipping action on the abutment.
• Less chance of accidental distortion
• Minimize the effect of the lever
by use of a flexible arm
(wrought- wire retentive arm).
 Combination clasp:
• Another strategy to reduce the effect of the
Class I lever in distal extension situations is to
use a flexible component in the "resistance arm,
• consists of a wrought-wire retentive clasp arm
and a cast reciprocal clasp arm.
• The retentive arm (wrought-wire) is almost
always circumferential, but sometimes as a bar
• Same as for the cast reciprocal arm
Advantages:
o The flexibility.
o The adjustability.
o The esthetic
o Minimum of tooth surface covered
o A less likely occurrence of fatigue failures.

Disadvantages:
o It involves extra steps in fabrication
o easily distorted
o less stabilization in the suprabulge
portion.
o It may distort with function and not
engage the tooth.
Indications:
oWhen maximum flexibility is desirable
o It may be used for its adjustability
o When esthetic required overcast clasps
Any Questions???