Introduction, terminology, and

classification of removable partial

denture

DR: GHADA HASSAN ALI

 A removable partial denture(RPD):
 is a prosthesis that replaces some teeth in a
partially dentate arch, and can be removed from the
mouth and replaced at will.
 Benefits of RPDs

• Appearance.

• Speech.

• Mastication.

• Maintaining the health of the masticatory system by:

- preventing undesirable tooth movement;
improving distribution of occlusal load.
- Preparation for complete dentures.
 Advantages

1-Non-invasive do not require extensive modification

of abutment teeth.

2-Versatile are applicable to a wide variety of clinical

situations. Keep treatment options open.

3-Suitable for young patients, eg: hypodontia.

4- Can restore long spans because they can recruit

mucosal support to supplement tooth support.
5-Restoration is more easily and completely accomplished in
the absence of a posterior abutment tooth.

6- Alveolar bone loss can be restored effectively by the

denture base.

7- Removable to assist cleaning (of denture and abutment

teeth).

8- Removable for contact sports.

9-Relatively tolerant of parafunction provided the RPD is

designed to minimize occlusal stresses and distribute them as
widely as possible.
10- Less operator- and technique-sensitive.

11-Shorter clinical appointments.

12- Capable of modification to cope with progressive

tooth loss and bone resorption.

13- Simpler but more frequent maintenance.

14- Less expensive

 Disadvantages


• Less retention and stability.
• Increased plaque/debris collection (not so
streamlined).
• Patient may find them less acceptable.
• Intolerance of major connector may occur.
• Appearance of clasps can be poor.
 Indication of RPD

 1- long span edentulous area.

 2-no abutment posterior to the edentulous space.
 3-Reduced periodontal support for remaining teeth.
 4-Excessive bone loss within the residual ridge
 5- Physical or emotional problem exhibited by the
patient
 CLASSIFICATION OF PARTIALLY
EDENTULOUS ARCHES

 Several classifications of partially edentulous arches

have been proposed and are in use.
 This variety has led to some confusion and
disagreement concerning which classification best
describes all possible configurations and should be
adopted.
 METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION

 The classification of a partially edentulous arch

 should satisfy the following requirements:
 1. It should permit immediate visualization of the
 type of partially edentulous arch that is being
 considered.
 2. It should permit immediate differentiation between
 the tooth-supported and the tooth- and tissue supported
 removable partial denture.
 3. It should be universally acceptable.
 Kennedy classification

 The Kennedy method of classification was originally

proposed by Dr. Edward Kennedy in 1925.
 The Kennedy method of classification is probably the
most widely accepted classification of partially
edentulous arches today.

 Kennedy divided all partially edentulous arches into

four basic classes:
 Class I
 Bilateral edentulous
areas located posterior to
the natural teeth.
 Class II
 A unilateral edentulous
area located posterior to
the remaining natural
teeth
 Class III
 A unilateral edentulous
area with natural teeth
remaining both anterior
and posterior to it
 Class IV
A single, but bilateral
(crossing the
midline),edentulous area
located anterior to the
remaining natural teeth
 The Kennedy classification would be difficult to
apply to every situation without certain rules for
application.
 Applegate provided eight rules governing
 the application of the Kennedy method
 Applegate Rules

 Rule 1
 Classification should follow rather than precede. That might alter the original
classification.

 Rule 2
 If a third molar is missing and not to be replaced, it is not considered in the
classification.

 Rule 3
 If a third molar is present and is to be used as an abutment, it is considered in the
classification.

 Rule 4
If a second molar is missing and is not to be replaced, it is not considered in the
classification (e. g., if the opposing second molar is likewise missing and is not to be
 replaced).
 Rule 5
 The most posterior edentulous area (or areas) always
 determines the classification.

 Rule6
 Edentulous areas other than those determining the classification are
referred to as modifications and are designated by their number.
Rule 7
 The extent of the modification is not considered, only the number of
additional edentulous areas.

 Rule 8
 There can be no modification areas in Class IV arches.(Other edentulous
areas lying posterior to the single bilateral areas crossing the midline would
instead determine the classification
 Terminology

 Support
The foundation on which a dental prosthesis rests
 Stability
Is the quality of a prosthesis to be firm , constant and to
resist displacement by functional , horizontal or
rotational stresses
 Retention
is guality inherent in the denture that resists the vertical
forces of dislogment eg force of gravity,adhesiveness of
food, forces associated with opening of the jaws
 Interim or Provisional denture
is a dental prosthesis used for a short time for
reason of esthetics, mastication, occlusal support or
for conditioning the pt to accept an artifecial
substitute for missing natural teeth untill more
definite prosth treatment can be provided
 Abutment
is a tooth , a portion of tooth, or a portion of an
implant that serves to support and |or retain a
prosthesis
 Height of contour
is a line encircling a tooth, designating its greatest
circumference at selected position determined by a
dental surveyor
 Dental cast surveyor
is an instrument used to determine the relative
parallism of two or more axial surfaces of teeth or
other parts of a cast of the dental arch.
 Guiding planes
is two or more vertically parallel surfaces of
abutment teeth shaped to dirrect a prosth during
placement and removal
 Undercut
when it is used in reference to an abutment tooth, is
that portion of a tooth that lies bet the height of
contour and the gingiva
but when it is used in reference to other oral
structures it means the contour or cross section of a
residual ridge or dental arch that would prevent the
placement of a denture
 Angle of cervical convergence
is an angle that viewed bet a vertical rod contacting
an abutment tooth and the axial surface of the
abutment cervical to the height of contour
 Retainer
is any type of clasp, attachment, device ect used for
fixation, stabilization or retention of a prosthesis
it is either intra or extra coronal, can be used as a
means of retaining either a removable or fixed
restoration
 Internal attachment ( percision )
is referred to an interlocking device, one component
of which is fixed to an abutment or abutments, while
the other is integrated in to a removable prosthesis
to stabilize and |or retain it
 Semipercision rest
is rigid metallic extension of a fixed or RPD that fits
in to an intracoronal preparation in a cast
restoration
 Investment cast
is a refractory cast that with stand high temp with
out disintegrating and identically to perform certain
functions relative to the burn out and expansion of
the mold
 Refractory investment
is an investment material that can with stand the
high temp of casting and soldering eg plaster of paris
and artifecial stone
 Wax pattern
is a wax that is converted to casting by the
elimination of the pattern by heat leaving a mold in
to which the molten metal is forced by centrifugal
force or other means
 Casting
meaning metal object shaped by being poured in to
a mold to harden
it is used primarily to designate the cast metal
framework of RPD
 Components of a typical removable partial
1. Major connectors
 2. Minor connectors
 3. Rests
 4. Direct retainers
 5. Stabilizing or reciprocal components (as parts of
 a clasp assembly)
 6. Indirect retainers (if the prosthesis has distal
 extension bases)
 7. One or more bases, each supporting one to several
 replacement teeth.
 Questions