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Rests and Rest Seats

3RD GRADE

LEC. 9

DR. Luma Nassrat

Assistant Lecturer, Department of Prosthodontics
College of Dentistry
Tikrit University

RPD LEC.8 | PROSTHODONTICS | 31-12-2018

Rests and Rest Seats:

Forces that are applied to a

removable partial denture must be transferred to the supporting teeth and tissues in

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an atraumatic fashion.

The components of a removable partial denture that transfer forces down the
long axes of the abutment teeth are called rests.

The prepared surfaces of the teeth into which rests fit are called rest seats.

The relationship between a rest and a rest seat must be such that forces
transmitted from the prosthesis to an abutment are directed apically down the long
axis of the tooth. In this manner, stress can be absorbed by the fibers of the
periodontal ligament without damaging the ligament or the supporting bone.

In the case of a tooth-supported removable partial denture, all the stresses

are transferred to the abutment teeth. In a tooth-tissue-supported removable partial
denture, only a portion of the stresses are transferred to the teeth, while the
edentulous ridge must absorb the remainder of the load.

In addition to transferring forces, each rest should serve as a vertical stop for
the prosthesis. Firm, positive contact between a rest and rest seat minimizes
vertical displacement of the prosthesis and prevents injury to the soft tissues.

A rest also must maintain the retentive clasp in its proper position. If the clasp
is not supported, it will lose its ability to retain the prosthesis in its intended
position.

A rest that is part of a retentive clasp assembly is referred to as a primary

rest. A rest that is responsible for additional support or indirect retention is called
an auxiliary rest or secondary rest.

Primary rests prevent vertical movement of a prosthesis toward the tissues

and also help transmit applied forces to the supporting teeth. The transmission of

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lateral forces may be increased by deepening the accompanying rest seats, but this
should be done only for entirely tooth supported prostheses. In all other
applications, rest seats should be shallow saucer shaped and should function as
ball-and-socket joints. This geometry permits dissipation of potentially harmful
lateral forces.

Auxiliary or secondary rests are used as indirect retainers in extension

base removable partial dentures (Class I, Class II, and long-span Class IV
applications). These rests are placed anterior or posterior to the axis of rotation to
prevent the extension bases from lifting away from the underlying ridges.

Primary rest secondary rest

Types of rests are:

1. Occlusal rests—so named because they are seated on the occlusal

surfaces of posterior teeth.

2. Lingual or cingulum rests—those seated on the lingual surfaces of

anterior teeth, usually maxillary canines.

3. Incisal rests—those seated on the incisal edges of anterior teeth.

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Occlusal rests and rest seats
It is essential that a rest seat be prepared in the occlusal surface of each
tooth that is to receive an occlusal rest. A rest should never be placed on a tooth
that has not been adequately prepared.
The outline form of an occlusal rest seat should be roughly triangular, with
the base of the triangle located at the marginal ridge and the rounded apex directed
toward the center of the tooth. If there is one descriptive phrase that can be
applied to occlusal rest seats, it is “smooth gentle curves.” Sharp angles, walls, and
ledges must be avoided. Any portion of the rest seat that restricts movement of the
rest may transmit undesirable horizontal forces to the tooth.

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The shape of the rest seat should follow the outline of the mesial or distal
fossa for the chosen abutment. The rest seat should occupy one-third to one-half
the mesiodistal diameter of the tooth and approximately one half the buccolingual
width of the tooth measured from cusp tip to cusp tip.

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The floor of the occlusal rest seat must be inclined slightly toward the center
of the tooth. The enclosed angle formed by a line dropped down the proximal
surface of the tooth parallel to the long axis of the tooth and the floor of the rest
seat must be less than 90 degrees so that the transmitted occlusal forces can be
directed along the vertical axis of the tooth. An angle greater than 90 degrees will
not yield the desired axial loading and will produce an inclined plane effect. This
inclined plane effect can produce slippage of the prosthesis away from the
abutment teeth. In addition, it can cause orthodontic movement of abutment teeth,
with concurrent pain and bone loss.

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When viewed in cross section, the deepest part of an occlusal rest seat should
be located near the center of the mesial or distal fossa. From its depth, the floor of
the rest seat should rise gently toward the marginal ridge. The most common
mistake in occlusal rest seat preparation is insufficient reduction of the marginal
ridge. This leads to construction of a rest that is extremely thin and subject to
fracture. An occlusal rest must be at least 0.5 mm thick at its thinnest point and
should be between 1.0 and 1.5 mm thick where it crosses the marginal ridge.
Occlusal rests on amalgam restorations:
Placing occlusal rests on large amalgam restorations is hazardous at best. The
primary reason for attempting this is economics, since an amalgam restoration costs
less than a complete coverage restoration (ie, crown).
The loads from the rest increases the amalgam’s tendency to flow leading to
failure of restoration.

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Occlusal rests on cast restorations
When a cast restoration is planned for an abutment tooth, the wax pattern
should display ideal contours. An appropriate rest seat should be carved into the
wax pattern. Upon completion of the casting process, restoration contours should
be refined in preparation for delivery.
Lingual or cingulum rests and rest seats
Lingual or cingulum rests are used primarily on maxillary canines. The normal
morphology of a maxillary canine permits preparation of a satisfactory rest seat with
minimal tooth reduction. The thickness of enamel on the lingual surface of a
mandibular canine rarely allows a lingual rest to be used. Lingual rests on incisors
are also rare. The main indication for their use is missing canines. In this instance,
multiple incisors should receive lingual rests to distribute the stresses over a
number of teeth because a single incisor seldom offers adequate support.
Although a lingual rest may be used successfully, an occlusal rest in the mesial
fossa of the first premolar is preferred if the occlusion permits. An occlusal rest is
located in a more favorable orientation (nearly horizontal), and the accompanying
rest seat is easier to prepare.
However, a lingual rest is preferred to an incisal rest. A lingual rest is located
closer to the rotational center of the supporting tooth and does not tend to tip the
tooth. The longer lever arm associated with an incisal rest magnifies the rotational
movement of the prosthesis and may result in significant tooth movement. Since a
lingual rest is confined to the lingual surface of an anterior tooth, it permits
improved esthetics. Because of the configuration of the lingual rest, it is also less
subject to breakage and distortion.
The form of a lingual rest seat should be V shaped when viewed in cross
section. The preparation should display a relatively upright lingual wall that
originates at the level of the cingulum and extends incisally. The remaining wall
should originate at the crest of the cingulum and incline labiogingivally toward the

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center of the tooth. This wall must provide a definite seat for the rest and must
prevent the migration of the abutment away from the framework.
When viewed from the lingual aspect, the outline form of a lingual rest seat
should be crescent shaped. This geometry provides some freedom of movement in
a mesiodistal direction. Hence, the rest and rest seat may function as a ball-and-
socket assembly. Sharp line angles and corners must be avoided because they
complicate the fit of the cast framework and may serve as stress concentrators.

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Cigulum rest in a cast crown
Incisal rests and rest seats
Incisal rests and rest seats are less desirable than lingual rests and rest
seats for anterior teeth. Nevertheless, they may be used successfully if abutments
are sound and cast restorations are not indicated. If a cast restoration is planned for
an anterior abutment, an incisal rest is never indicated. A lingual rest should be
incorporated into the restoration instead. Incisal rests are most frequently used on
mandibular canines but may be used on maxillary canines. They are not indicated
on incisors except under unusual circumstances. If stabilization of incisors is

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indicated and placement of a fixed restoration is not warranted, incisal rests may be
incorporated into a lingual plate to support these teeth.

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Incisal rests should be positioned near the incisal angles of abutment teeth.
Whether they are designed for mesioincisal or distoincisal angles depends on the
prescribed clasping system. If an individual tooth is not to be clasped, yet requires
an incisal rest, the rest should be placed where it will exert the least impact upon
esthetics. In most instances, this requires that the rest be placed at the
distoincisal surface of the abutment.
An incisal rest seat should appear as a small, V-shaped notch located
approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm from the proximal-incisal angle of the tooth. The
deepest part of the preparation should be toward the center of the tooth
mesiodistally. The notch should be rounded and should extend slightly onto the
facial surface to provide a positive seat for the rest. The enamel on the lingual
surface should be prepared as a shallow depression to accommodate the minor
connector and avoid annoying the tongue. Because of the greater length of this
minor connector, care must be taken to ensure its rigidity.

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Summary of Functions of the Rests:
1. Support (the main function): Resist displacement towards denture
supporting structures preventing impingement of gingival tissues adjacent to
the abutment.
2. Maintains components in their planned positions: Maintain the
components of the dentures in their positions and prevents spreading of clasp
arm.
3. Distributing the Occlusal Load: When forces are exerted on t partial
denture it will be transmitted to teeth and clasps through the rests.
4. May provide Indirect Retention: A rest can act as an indirect retainer
preventing the rotation of distal extension around the fulcrum axis.

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5. Direct food away from tooth contact and embrasure area: When

teeth are extracted and drifted apart food will accumulate and be trapped in
embrasure areas, but the presence of a rest closing this space will prevent
food entrapment and maintain the health of the supporting structures.
6. Improve the existing occlusion: Maintaining the relationship between
natural and artificial teeth.
7. Prevent extrusion of abutments.
8. Provide reference for relines or impressions. Ex: Altered cast technique
(3-finger technique)

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 9. Direct forces along long axis of abutment. the most effective resistance
can be provided if the tooth is stressed along its long axis, the prosthesis
framework should engage the tooth in a manner that encourages axial
loading.

REFERENCES: Stewart's Clinical Removable Partial Prosthodontics. Ch.2

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