Direct retainers

Types of extra-coronal direct retainers:

According to direction of approach of clasp terminal
to undercut:
I- Suprabulge clasp (Occlusally approaching,
circumferential or encircling clasps :
Any partial removable dental prosthesis retentive
clasp that approaches the retentive
undercut from an occlusal or Suprabulge direction.
1- Circumferential clasp (Aker's clasp
2- Extended clasp
3- Combination clasp-wrought wire
4- Ring clasp
II- Infrabulge clasp (Gingivally approaching,
projection or bar clasps):
Any partial removable dental prosthesis
retentive clasp approaches the undercut from
a cervical or Infrabulge direction
1- Bar clasp
2- I bar
3- L clasp
4- T Clasp
5- Other designs
III- Combination clasps
a. Infrabulge clasp arm facially and Suprabulge clasp
arm lingually
b. Combination of two types of metals-Chrome-cobalt
and wrought wire
 Circumferential clasps (Occlusally
approaching clasps) suprabulge
Circumferential clasps : a retainer that encircles
a tooth by more than 180 degrees, including
opposite angles, and which generally contacts
the tooth throughout the extent of the clasp,
with at least one terminal located in an undercut
area.
Aker’s clasp (Suprabulge or encircling clasp)
- It consists of:
- A minor connector that attaches the clasp to the metal
framework.
- An occlusal rest either mesial or distal of a molar or a
premolar.
- Two arms originating from a common body. One
retentive clasp arm opposed by a non retentive reciprocal
arm on the opposite side.
- It is the most commonly used clasp with all tooth
supported partial dentures because of its retentive and
stabilizing ability.
- It utilizes 0.01 inch of an undercut.
- It is contraindicated in distal extension cases except with
a stress breaker device
Aker's on premolar
and Molar
Aker's on Molar
Reverse position Aker's
 Aker's family
Continuous clasp (Extended clasp): in
removable prosthodontics, a circumferential
retainer (clasp) whose body emanates from an
occlusal rest and extends across the buccal or
lingual surface of more than on tooth (hence
continuing on) before engaging an undercut on
the proximal wall farthest from the occlusal rest
Continuous clasp (Extended clasp)
 Embrasure Clasp
• Combining two single circumferential arms
produces an embrasure or "crib" type
clasp. 2 Akers claps clasp
• 2 occlusal rest + 2 retentive arm + 2 reciprocal
arm
• Indication: Used mainly when there is a space
between the supporting teeth, when
no space exists, interproximal tooth reduction is
necessary
Embrasure Clasp
 Combination clasp
a circumferential retainer for a removable
dental prosthesis that has a cast reciprocal arm
and wrought wire retentive clasp. One of several
possible combinations may be of circumferential
and bar clasp arms
Combination clasp
 Ring clasp
A ring clasp is a complicated device that is designed to
engage an undercut that no other design can handle. A
mesially inclined molar that is rotated and tilted lingually,
presents an undercut on the mesiolingual surface that
only a retentive arm from the distal will engage. This
requires a clasp that originates on the mesial and
encircles the tooth almost completely. A ring clasp
requires a distal rest, a mesial rest, and a buccal strut to
support the system and to prevent its fracture. A ring
clasp should only rarely be included in the design because
it requires so much handwork. Frequently it is misused,
particularly in places where a reverse action arm can as
easily be used
Ring clasp
 Back-action clasp
It is not commonly used; the back-action clasp is
modification of the ring, which has all of the
same disadvantages and no apparent
advantages.
 Other less commonly used
modifications of the cast
circumferential clasp are the multiple
clasps, half- and half- clasp, and the
reverse-action clasp
A- Multiple clasps:
It is simply two opposing circumferential clasps joined
at the terminal end of the two reciprocal arms. Used
when additional retention and stabilization are
needed, usually in tooth supported partial dentures.
Its disadvantage is that two embrasure approaches
are necessary rather than a single common
embrasure for both clasps.
Multiple clasps
B-Half and half clasp:
The half and half clasp consists of a
circumferential retentive arm arising from one
direction and a reciprocal arm arising from
another. The second arm must arise from a
second minor connector, and this arm is used
with or without an auxiliary occlusal rest.
C- reverse-action clasp:
The reverse action or hair-pin, clasp arm is
designed to permit engaging a proximal
undercut from an occlusal approach. The survey
line lies in lower third of the tooth that the
Aker's arm will be traumatic to the gingiva