Components of Removable

Appliances
 Retentive component
• They are the component that help in keeping
the appliance in place and resist
displacement . Adequate retention of a
removable appliance is achieved by
incorporating certain wire component that
engage undercuts on the teeth . These wire
components that aid in retention of a
removable appliance are called clasp.
 Mode of action of clasp

• clasps act by engaging certain constricted

areas of the teeth that are called undercuts.
When clasps are fabricated the wire is made
to engage these undercuts so that there
displacement is prevented .
USES of clasps:
• To secure the appliance in position
• To prevent rolling of appliances
• To resist forces of displacement
• To provide retention & anchorage
• For engaging elastics
 Requirement of ideal clasp
• 1. It should offer adequate retention . 2. It
should permit usage in both fully erupted as
well as partially erupted teeth . 3. They should
not themselves apply any active force that
would bring about undesired tooth movement
of the anchorage teeth . 4. It should be easy to
fabricate . 5. It should not impinge on the soft
tissues . 6. It should not interfere with normal
occlusion .
 Circumferential clasp

• Circumferential clasp It is
also known as three-
quarter clasp or `C’ clasp .
They are simple clasp that
are designed to engage the
bucco-cervical undercut.
This clasp cannot be used
in partially erupted teeth
where the cervical
undercut is not avilable for
clasp fabrication .
• Adaptation
A wire is engaged from
one proximal undercut
along the cervical margin
then carried over the
occlusal embrasure to
end as a single retentive
arm on the lingual aspect
that gets embedded in
the acrylic base plate .
• Advantages :- Simple design and fabrication
Disadvantage :- It cannot be used in partially
erupted teeth wherein cervical undercut is not
avilable fo clasp fabrication
 Jackson’s clasp
• Jackson’s clasp
• It is also called full clasp
or ‘U’ clasp . The clasp
engage the bucco-
cervical undercut and
also the mesial as well
as distal proximal
undrecuts.
• Adaptation Wire is adapted along the
buccocervical margin and both the proximal
undercuts ,and carried over both the occlusal
embrasures to end as retentive arms on both
side of the molar
• Advantages : simple to construct and offers
adequate retention .
• Disadvantage : it offers inadequate retention in
partially erupted tooth
 Adams clasp
• Adams clasp • Adams clasp was first descried by
professor phillip Adams . it is also known as liverpool
clasp ,universal clasp and modified arrowhead
clasp . The clasp is constructed using 0.7mm hard
round stainles steel wire . Adams clasp is made up of
three parts (a) two arrowheads (b)bridge (c)two
retentive arms. The two arrow heads engage the
mesial and the distal proximal undercuts . The arrow
heads are connected to each other by a bridge that
is at 45 degree to the long axis of the root
 Advantages of adams clasp
• It is rigid and offers excellent retention
• It can be fibricated on decidious as well as
permanent teeth.
• They can be used in partially or fully erupted teeth.
• It can be used on molars ,premolars and on incisors
.
• It is small and occupies minimum space .
• The clasp can be modified in a number of ways .
 Modifications in adams clasp
a) Adams with single
arrowhead : This type are
indicated in partially
erupted tooth ,which usually
is last erupted molar . The
single arrow head is made to
engage the mesio-proximal
undercut of the last erupted
molar . The bridge is
modified to encircle the
tooth distally and ends on
the palatal aspect as a
retentive arms .
• b)Adams with J hook :
J hook can be soldered
on the bridge of the
adams clasp . These
hooks are useful in
engaging elastics .
• c) Adams with
incorporated helix :
A helix can be
incorporated into a
bridge of the adams
clasp . It also help in
engaging elastics .
• d) Adams with soldered
buccal tube :For extra
oral anchorage using
face bow and headgears
, a buccal tube can be
soldered on the bridge
of adams clasp.
• e)Adams with distal
extension : The adams
can be modified so that
the distal arrow head
has a small extension
incorporated distally
.They can be used in
engaging elastic .
• f) Adams on incisor and
premolars : Adams clasp
can be fabricated on the
incisor and premolar
areas when the
retention in these area
is required .
 Southend clasp
• Southend clasp is used
when retention in the
anterior region is
required .The wire is
adapted along the cervical
margin of both the central
incisors . The distal ends are
carried over the occlusal
embrasures to end as
retentive arms on the
palatal side .
 Traingular clasp
• Traingular clasp
They are small traingular
shaped clasp that are
used between two
adjacent posterior teeth .
Thus they engage the
proximal undercuts of two
adjacent teeth . These
clasp are indicated when
additional retention is
required .
 Ball end Clasp
• Ballend Clasp
• Wire having a knob or
ball like structure on
one end
• utilizes interdental
undercuts
• Indicated when
additional retention
required
 Baseplate
• BASE PLATE: Constitutes
the body of the
removable appliance.
Provides
A)Foundation which
supports other
components.
B) Contributes to
anchorage.
C) May be built into a bite
plane to disengage
occlusion or reduce
overbite.
• DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
• The baseplate needs to be thick
enough. Ideally, this should be
about as thick as a sheet of
modelling wax. Should cover
most of hard palate, finishing just
distal to the first molars.
• The baseplate should fit closely
around the necks of teeth that
are not being moved– otherwise
food packing and gingival
hyperplasia may occur.
Baseplates are generally
manufactured from cold-cured
acrylic.
• Acrylic of the base plate
may be thickened
anteriorly or posteriorly
to form the bite plane.
A- ANTERIOR BITE PLANE:
Mainly used for
reduction of over bite.
B- POSTERIOR BITE
PLANE: it will
assist in the
correction of
buccal or an
anterior cross bite.
Should be thinner
posteriorly than
anteriorly. Should
contact the
opposing teeth on
both sides of the
mouth.