Survey and design in Removable

Partial denture
 Surveyor
• Dr A .J . Fortunati in 1918
• Ney surveyor in 1923
• Wills surveyor by jelenko
• Def:
• A paralleling instrument used in construction
of a prosthesis to locate and delineate the
contours and relative position of abutment teeth
and associate structure.
• Surveying: An analysis and comparison of the
prominence of intra oral contours associated with
the fabrication of a prosthesis.
 Uses of surveyor
• 1)Surveying diagnostic cast
• Relative parallelism of abutment teeth.
• Contouring of enamel surface
• Soft tissue contour .
• Tilt of the cast
• survey line
• placing an undercut.
• 2)Tripoding the cast
• 3)Contouring the wax pattern
• 4)Contouring crown and cast Restoration
• 5)Placing internal attachments and rests.
• 6)Surveying the master cast

• Path of insertion
• The specific direction in which a
prosthesis is placed on the abutment teeth .
• Path of insertion will always be parallel to the
vertical arm of the surveyor.
• Tilt of the cast may required .
• If edentulous space is tooth bounded --single path
of insertion.
• Cl - 2 mod 1 - edentulous situation --modification
determine the path of insertion .

• Cl -1 -- multiple path of insertion -- controlled by

two terminal abutments .

• Cl - 4 --always single path of insertion .

• Minor connectors plays an important role during

path of insertion .
• Shoulder of the clasp and reciprocal arm or
lingual plate plays minor role during path of
insertion.
Factors influencing path of insertion
• 1)Retentive undercuts
• Retentive undercut decides the frame work
design.
• Enameloplasty required to improve the undercut
• crowns may be fabricated on abutment teeth to
create a undercut .
• Ideal undercut - 0.010 - mesio buccal or disto
buccal line angle -- Gingival third of the tooth .
• Undercut -- 0.020 -- wrought wire clasp
• Get a undercut - by tilting the cast horizontally .
• Tilt changes the height of the contour.
2)Interferences
• Soft tissue undercut and bony exostoses .

• Mandible
• Position of the major connector
• Thickness of the lingual bar is compromised
• Lingual inclination of the premolars and molars.
• Labial bar is indicated - Dis adv -Discomfort and
plumping of the lower lip.
• Contouring the enamel on the lingual surface .
• Placing restoration on the teeth .
• Undercut buccal to the premolar -- difficult to place
a bar clasp.
• Maxilla

• Torus palatinus interferes with the placement of

the major connector.
• Buccal and labial inclination of the teeth ---
Height of the contour is close to the occlusal
surface ---- poor esthetics .
• Anterior undercuts managed by eliminating labial
flange.
• 3) Esthetics
• Clasp arm must be concealed without
compromising support and stability of the
prosthesis .
• Artificial anterior teeth must be placed in most
natural position as possible.
• Tilt the cast --- bring survey line on gingival 3rd
• Ideal location of clasp.
• Type of the clasp .
• Disking of adjacent teeth to provide a space for
artificial teeth or crowns no the adjacent teeth to
close the diastema.
• 4)Guiding planes
• Guiding planes are formed from the proximal or
axial surfaces of the teeth and are contacted by
the minor connectors or rigid elements of the
partial denture .
• Help stabilize against lateral forces.
• Protect weakened teeth from lateral forces .
• Guiding plane need 2-3mm occluso gingivally .
• These planes are developed parallel to the path of
insertion .
• Guiding planes always on enamel .
• Guiding planes determined by surveyor .