Prosthodontic Al-ameed University

3th stage Part – 3 - College of dentistry

[Biomechanics and Priciples of Removable Partial Dentures]

St.n: ‫سيف عايد هاشم جوده‬

 Possible Movements of Partial Dentures

The possible movement in a partial denture do not occur independently but rather occur dynamically
at the same time across the underlying tissue. The greatest movement is found in the tooth tissue
supported partial denture ,because of the reliance on the distal extension supporting tissue to share
the functional loads.
Removable partial dentures are subject to a composite of forces arising from three principal
fulcrums:
1.transverse axis (principal fulcrum line axis)
2.vertical axis (longitudinal axis)
3. sagittal axis

B
A

1.Rotation of the extension denture base around transverse fulcrum axis The
fulcrum line (transverse axis) that extends through two principal abutments, one on each side of the
dental arch, and generally is termed the principal fulcrum line. This fulcrum controls the rotational
movement of the denture in the sagittal plane (ie, denture movement toward or away from the
supporting ridge).
 Rotational movement around this fulcrum line is
the greatest in magnitude but is not necessarily Sagittal
the most damaging.
This axis may pass through occlusal rests
or any other rigid portion of a direct
retainer located occlusally or incisally to
the height of contour of primary
abutments.

The vertical tissue ward movement of the denture base is resisted by the tissue of the
residual ridge in proportion to:
• The supporting quality of that tissue.
• The accuracy of the fit of the denture base.
• The total amount of occlusal load applied.

While movement of the denture base in the opposite direction(away from the tissue) is
resisted by:
● action of the retentive clasp arms on terminal abutments and the action of stabilizing
minor connectors in conjunction with seated.
●vertical support elements of the framework anterior to the terminal abutments acting
as indirect retainers. Indirect retainers should be placed as far as possible from the
distal extension base, affording the best possible leverage against lifting of the distal
extension base.

2-Rotation of all bases around a longitudinal axis parallel to the crest

of the residual ridge
A second movement is rotation about a longitudinal axis as the distal extension base
moves in a rotary direction about the residual ridge. There would be two fulcrums lines,
one on each side of the arch. Those axises controls the rotational movements of the
denture in the frontal plane . (ie, a rocking movement over the crest of the ridge).

This movement is resisted primarily by the rigidity B

of the major and minor connectors and their ability
to resist torque. If the connectors are not rigid, or if
a stress-breaker exists between the distal
extension base and the major connector, this
rotation about a longitudinal axis applies undue

Frontal
stress to the sides of the supporting ridge or causes horizontal shifting of the denture
base.
3-Horizontal movement (Lateral and antero-posterior)
The third fulcrum is located in the vicinity of the midline, just lingual to the anterior teeth
.This fulcrum line is oriented vertically and controls rotational movement in the
horizontal plane.
• the force resulting from this movement is almost entirely horizontal.Consequently,
these forces can be extremely damaging and should receive significant attention during
the design process
C Horizontal

• It is resisted by stabilizing components, such as reciprocal clasp arms(bracing arms)

and minor connectors that are in contact with vertical tooth surfaces.
• Proximal plates and flanges of the partial denture also resist this movement.

Reference:
McCracken's Removable Partial Prosthodontics - E-Book