RPD Key Features by Danesh Kumar-JSMU

Chapt-05 Major & Minor Connector

• Parts of RPD : Major connector, minor connector, rests, direct retainer,
indirect retainer, base, clasp assembly.
• Clasp / direct retainer assembly→ rest, retainer arm & minor connector.
• Reciprocal arm also called stabilizing arm.
• Major connector function:
1. Unification of parts of RPD
2. Distribution of applied forces.
3. Decreasing torque
4. Cross arch stability( important in distally extended RPD)
5. Must be rigidity & sufficient bulky.
• Major connector must act as counteracting lever & free of movable tissue.
• Major connector don’t impinge to tissues, & avoid bony & soft tissue
prominence.
• Relief is given under major connector .
• Relief for tissues covering residual ridge.
• Margins of Major connector located far from tissues ( from mandibular –
4mm & maxilla- 6mm).
• Lingual palate major connector for less space (<8mm).
• Fulcrum line→line around which RPD moves
• Major connector is made of biocompatible alloy, don’t interfere tongue and
tissues.
• More difference in displaceability more the relief provided.

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• Relief provided for Tori, median palatal sutures, & tissue covering residual
ridge.
• Minor Connector should cross gingival tissue abruptly & join major
connector at 90°.
• Anterior palatal strap (maxillary Major connector)must be uniformly thin &
avoid interference the tongue in areas of rugae , anterior border between
the rugae & posterior border just anterior to vibrating line.
• Avoid addition of any part to already convex surface.
• Most common mandibular major connector→ lingual bar & linguoplate/
lingual plate.
 MANDIBULAR MAJOR CONNECTORS

• Total 06 types of major mandibular major connectors.

• Lingual Bar
1. Half pear shaped, above moving tissues & can trap food easily.
2. Have no sharp angles, superior border should be thin & tapered.
3. Inferior border at floor of mouth, bulky for rigidity & smooth/round.
4. Require sufficient space (8mm-tota), 4mm from superior border to
gingival margin.
5. Tissue relief to protect soft tissues of floor of mouth .
6. Height of floor of mouth find by probe & impression.
• Lingual plate/ linguoplate:
1. Major connector of choice( space< 8mm).
2. Thin , contoured, have indirect retainer, not located above middle 3rd
of tooth, placed if floor of mouth or lingual frenum are high.
3. For Class -1 , splinting & when the replacement of one or more
incisors will be aided by additional retentive loops.
4. Resist horizontal rotations.
5. For arch of severe vertical resorption.

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 6. Half Pear shaped, Bulky inferiorly, superior to contact of cingula of
anterior & height of contour for posteriors.
7. All gingival crevices & deep embrasures must be blocked out parallel.
8. Cingulum bar & Lingual plate major connector requires rest. (Both
help in splinting).
• Sublingual Bar:
1. It’s used when the height of floor of mouth related to free gingival
margin is less than 6mm.
2. Contraindicated if natural anteriors are tilted toward lingual.
3. Bulky portion located lingual & tapered portion labially.
4. Superior border should be at least 3mm from free gingival margins.
5. Inferior border at the height of alveolar lingual sulcus.
6. Not used if high frenal attachment, lingual tori & floor elevation
during mastication.
• Cingulum/ continuous bar:
1. Also called double lingual bar ,3mm strap placed on Cingulum.
2. Originate bilaterally from incisal, lingual & occlusal rest.
3. Used in wide diastema & anteriors require inter proximal undercut
block out.
4. Lack much rigidity, reduce food trapping,
5. Not used in severe lingual tilting & too wide diastema.
• Labial bar:
1. For excessive Lingual inclination of teeth & presence of lingual tori.
2. Hinged continuous labial bar is modification of lingual plate.
3. Half pear shaped, bulky inferior, & tapered superior.
 MAXILLARY MAJOR CONNECTORS
• 06 types of maxillary Major connectors, most used is single palatal bar.

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• Single palatal strap:
1. For short span tooth supported bilateral edentulous areas.
2. Also for unilateral edentulous for cross arch stability & class 3.
3. No objectional bulk & 8mm thickness.
4. Confined within the area bounded by 04 principal rests.
5. Should not be used to connect anterior replacement with distal
extension base
6. Anterior border between rugae .
7. Both anterior and posterior borders at 90° to median palatal sutures.
• Combination anterior & posterior palatal stap
1. Cause irritation, for class 1,2 ,4 ,long span class-2 modification 1.
2. Also in condition of palatal tori that don’t extend posteriorly.
3. Square shape design.
4. Posterior strap→ flat, 8mm wide, on hard palate &@ 90° to midline,
not used if Tori extend back.
5. Anterior strap→ U shaped, behind anterior most rest, also used for
Tori, located posterior to rugae crest or in between 02 crests.
6. Longitudinal strap→ or lateral strap, 7-9 mm, parallel to curve of
arch.
• Palatal plate type:
1. Thin palatal coverage, uniform thickness, coverage of ½ or more hard
palate, excellent tooth support & thermal conductivity.
2. Type-1 cover two or More wide edentulous ridges, type-2 is
complete hard palate metal coverage & type -03 is anterior cast
metal + posterior acrylic.
3. Anterior border in form of palatal linguo plate, supported by positive
lingual rest seat on canines.
4. Posterior border is located at the junction of hard & soft palate.
5. Should be located anterior to the posterior palatal seal area.
• U shaped palatal connectors:
1. For large tori, lack rigidity.
2. No good support, least favorable & can’t be bulky.
• Single palatal bar:
1. Less than 8mm is bar, 8mm is strap.
2. Most used.
3. Bulky & Rigid.

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• Design of mandibular major connectors: basal seat outline→ inferior
border outline→ superior border outline→ rest Area
• Design of maxillary Major connector: outline of primary bearing areas→
outline of non bearing area→ selection of connector type.
• Finishing line: junction between acrylic Denture base & major connector.
• External finishing line→ acrylic to metal surface.
• Internal finishing line→ metal to tissues surface
• Minor Connector:
1. Bulky, rigid, strong
2. Should not be on concavity or convexity of tooth, it should be in
embrasures.
3. Contact along entire length of tooth.
4. Should taper to tooth.
5. Functional stress to abutment tooth.
6. Prosthesis to abutment & abutment to prosthesis function.
7. Block the deep embrasures & avoid wedge effect.
8. Greatest bulk should be towards lingual aspect.
9. Open lattice work or ladder type is preferred.
• Tissue stops are integral part of minor Connector for retention of acrylic
resin base, provide stability, prevent distortion.
• Tissue stops can engage buccal & lingual slopes of ridges for stability.

@ Danesh Kumar- SIOHS /Jinnah Sindh Medical University

~Contact Info: kumardanesh058@gmail.com/ 03312415069