Fabrication of Adams clasp

Dr. Ramy Ishaq

BDS, MSc, PhD Orthodontics Cairo University
Morth RCSED UK
• Adam’s clasp is now known,
was devised by CP Adam as a
modified arrowhead clasp in
1948.
Parts of Adam’s clasp
1. Horizontal bridge: It connects the mesial and distal arrowheads of
clasp. It serves to facilitate the removal of appliance.
2. Arrowheads: 2 arrowheads, one mesial and other distal to engage
the mesial and distal undercut and provide resistance to
displacement.
3. Flyovers: part that extends from the arrowheads extending over the
contact areas of the teeth and end with the retentive tags
4. Retentive tags: Two tags connect the above 3 components to acrylic
base plate of the appliance.
Horizontal bridge

Arrowheads
Flyovers
Retentive Tags
Pliers and auxiliaries required
• Adams clasp
• Wire cutter
• Pencil
• Permanent marker
• 0.7 mm wire is used for premolar and molar clasp
• 0.6 mm wire is used for anterior teeth
• 7 to 8 mm wire length is sufficient
Fabrication steps

Preparation A.model preparation

of an Adams B.Bridge
clasp can be C.Arrowheads
divided into D.Flyovers or Occlusal region
five parts E.Retentive tags.
Model Preparation

Marks

mesial and
distal
undercuts
Marks
Buccal marks Occlusal marks
mesial and distal undercuts
• Mark the position of mesial and
distal undercuts
Prepare the undercuts
• The undercuts should be
prepared to a depth of 1mm
• Avoid trimming the buccal
surface of the tooth
 0.7 mm SS archwire
Straighten a 10mm long piece of SS archwire
Forming of bridge
• The mesiodistal width of the
bridge should be
• two third of the mesiodistal
width of crown.
• It is measured by making marks
on the wire corresponding to the
mesial and distal cusp tips as
seen in the picture to the left.
 Place the straight wire on the
occlusal surface and transfer the
Forming of bridge marks from the tooth to the wire
Forming of bridge
• Make 90° bends on the marks
such that the width is only
1mm greater than the marks
Check bridge width
• Place the wire on the cast to
check that the bridge width is
appropriate to the required
width
2. Forming the arrowheads:
Forming the arrowheads
Mark the position of mesial and distal
undercuts
Prepare the undercuts
• The undercuts should be
prepared to a depth of 1mm
• Avoid trimming the buccal
surface of the tooth
2. Forming the arrowheads:
• At each of the above bends
• ‘U’ turn in the wire is made outside the tips of the
• pliers so that a tight acute bend is formed, sides
• forming the arrowheads being parallel.
Arrowheads are then aligned to follow the
gingival margin by bending them at 45° the
horizontal bridge and tried on the tooth.
Check location of landing of arrowheads on
the model
45 degrees bends
• Arrowheads are angled to follow
tooth contours
• Arrowheads are aligned to
follow the gingival margin by
bending them at 45° the
horizontal bridge
45 degrees bends
3. Forming the flyovers:
A Bend
• A bend is made grasping the
arrowheads from the inside of
the clasp with half the length of
the arrowhead between the
beaks of the plier.
• This makes the bend at a level a
little below that of bridge.
• The end is at an angle a little less
than 90° to the arrowhead.
A bend
B Bend
B Bend
• Place the wire such that the
arrowheads are seated properly
• The wire is now in contact with
the study model between the
curvature of the tooth and the
neighboring one (as seen in the
grey dot in the figure)
B Bend
• Use the marker to mark the wire
on that spot.
B Bend
• Bend the wire and ensure
proper adaptation of the wire on
the contact between the teeth.
B Bend

• In the figure to the left, the

mesial contact was properly
adapted whereas the distal
contact is not properly adapted
C bend
C bend
• It is the bend placed on the wire
to complete the adaptation
around the tooth and allow the
wire to contact the palate and
become embedded in the acrylic
framework.
C bend
• Place the wire such that the
arrowheads are seated properly
• The wire is now in contact with
the study model and passing
over the contact between the
neighboring teeth from the
lingual aspect (as seen in the
grey dot in the figure)
C bend
• Place a mark on the wire as seen
in the figure to the left
After completion of C bend
• The wire follows the contour of
the palatal or lingual mucosa but
• approximately 1 mm from the
tissue to allow for acrylic
encapsulation
Forming the retentive tags
• The retentive tags will anchor
the component in the acrylic
baseplate. The tags need to be
long enough to be held within
the acrylic but also clear of the
anticipated baseplate border. To
ensure that the wire is held
firmly in the acrylic the end of
the wire is turned down at a
right angle and then cut off close
to this bend
Points will be checked in the finish of Adam’s
clasp
• 1. Arrowheads should be positioned at the buccoproximal undercuts.
• 2. Arrowhead should have a point contact rather than surface
contact.
• 3. The bridges should be located at the middle third of the tooth.
• 4. The bridge should be 2 mm away from the tooth surface.
• 5. When side view, bridge should be at about 45 degrees angulations
to the tooth surface.
• 6. The bridges should be parallel to the buccal surface.
• 7. The flyovers should not interfere with the occlusion.