25/04/2020

Connectors In Fixed Partial Dentures

Dr. Hasan Sarfaraz
Prof. Department of Prosthodontics, Yenepoya Dental College,
Yenepoya Deemed to be University, Mangalore

Specific Learning Objectives

1. Define and classify different types of connectors used in FPD
2. Enumerate the design features of rigid connectors.
3. Indications for non rigid connectors
4. Stress breaking in pier abutments by non rigid connectors
5. Contra indication of non rigid connectors as stress breakers

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DEFINITION
The portion of a fixed partial denture
that unites the retainer(s) and
pontic(s).

CONNECTORS IN FPD
Types of Connectors

Rigid connector: Non rigid connector:

a cast, soldered, any connector that
or fused union permits limited
between the movement between
retainer(s) and otherwise
pontic(s) or independent
splinted crowns. members of a fixed
partial denture

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CONNECTORS IN FPD
RIGID
CONNECTOR
a cast, soldered, or
fused union
between the
retainer(s) and
pontic(s) or
The FPD fabrication requires equal consideration to be splinted crowns.
given to the connector design .

CONNECTORS IN FPD
DESIGN

Size Shape Position

The size, shape, and position
of the connector leads to the
success of prostheses, as it
Contemporary Fixed Prosthodontics 4th Edition by prevent the distortion and
Rosenstiel, Land & Fujimoto fracture of the prosthesis.

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CONNECTOR
SIZE
These dimensions are determined or
influenced by:
1. Strength of the material
2. Effective plaque control
3. Size of the abutment teeth
4. Periodontal health
It should be sufficiently large to prevent distortion or fracture
during function

Connector size for metal -- 2-3 mm (O-G) , 3mm (F-L)

Connector size for all ceramic -- 4 mm (O-G) , 4 mm (F-L)

CONNECTOR
SHAPE
Buccolingual – convex

Mesiodistally – concave

The connectors should occupy the normal

anatomic interproximal contact areas.

Highly polished

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CONNECTOR
POSITION
Should not impinge on the gingival tissue

ANTERIORS - As lingually as possible

POSTERIORS - As much in occlusal third as possible

The connectors should be at least 1 mm above the crest

of the interproximal soft tissue

CONNECTOR
POSITION

Abnormally large proximal contact areas make

plaque removal more difficult and it has a larger
col area which is more susceptible to periodontal
disease.

Very small (point) contact areas may be weak and

allow food to wedge between the teeth

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CONNECTOR
RIGID – SOLDER JOINT

CONNECTORS IN FPD

NON-RIGID
CONNECTOR
any connector that
permits limited
movement
between otherwise
independent
members of a fixed
partial denture

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Indication for a Non rigid connectors/Stress breaker

1. The existence of Pier abutment
2. Long span, FPDs
3. The existence of malaligned abutment
4. In situation with diastema in the anterior region.
5. It could be also used in cases of osseointegrated implants.
6. The presence of mobile teeth
7. In situations where questionable distal abutment exist.

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Non Rigid Connectors

• Dovetail (key-keyway) or (Tenon-Mortise) connectors
• Loop connectors
• Split connectors
• Cross pin and wing connectors.

The existence of Pier abutment , which promote a fulcrum-like-situation

that can cause the weakest of the terminal abutments to fail and may
cause intrusion of the pier abutment

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Long span, FPDs, which can distort due to shrinkage and pull of
porcelain on thin sections of framework and thus, affect the fitting of
the prosthesis on the teeth.

The existence of malaligned abutment , where parallel preparation

might result in devitalisation. Such situations can be solved through the
use of intracoronal attachments as connectors.

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Loop connectors in the presence of diastema in the anterior region

Disadvantages of loop connectors include challenging laboratory

procedures, difficult to maintain oral hygiene, interference in tongue
movement and discomfort in speech.

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Contra-Indication for a Non rigid connectors/Stress breaker

1. It could be used in cases of osseo-integrated implants being one of
the abutment.
2. The presence of mobile teeth
3. In situations where questionable distal abutment exist.

It could be used in cases of osseo-integrated implants being one of the

abutment.

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The presence of mobile teeth , which need to be splinted together

with the fixed prosthesis. In such situations, it is not practical to
cement a splinting type restoration with numerous teeth involved.
Through the use of interlocks, smaller segments can be cemented
with the splinting effect provided by the interlocks.

In situations where questionable distal abutment exist and

fabrication of the removable partial denture is considered to be
the next treatment step, the use of the NRC may solve the
problem of repeating the restoration of the remaining
abutments.

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Summary

Define and classify different types of connectors used in FPD

Enumerate the design features of rigid connectors.
Indications for non rigid connectors
Stress breaking in pier abutments by non rigid connectors
Use of non rigid connectors in tilted teeth and anterior teeth with diastema
Contra indication of non rigid connectors as stress breakers

THANK YOU

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Referrences and further reading

Fundamental of Fixed Prosthodontics IIIrd Edition by Herbert T. Shillingburg.

Contemporary Fixed Prosthodontics 4th Edition by Rosenstiel, Land & Fujimoto.
Dental Laboratory Procedures: Fixed Partial Denture by Rudd & Marrow Volume II.
Anusavice Phillip’s science of dental materials-12th edition.

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