Principles and planning of

RPD designing

Dr .Nuha Osman Mohamed

• A sound understanding of the components of
partial dentures, is essential if dentures are to
be designed appropriately for each patient.
 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
1.Outlining the saddle area
• To identify the edentulous area(s) present
and to determine the places where it is
intended to place saddle areas (denture
base).
• Maximal tissue coverage is needed.
• Buccally and labially should extended to the
mucosal reflection.
• With distal extension should cover the
tuberosities.
• In the lower jaw the denture extendes to
mucosal reflection buccally ,labially and
lingually.
• With distal extension retromolar area should
be covered (acrylic denture base).
2. Selecting the Major Connector:
the major connector can be drawn and the
particular type chosen depending on the
position of the edentulous saddles.
• Maxilla
3. Support for RPD
• Resisting vertical functional load.
• This may be done by
 Mucosa
 Teeth
• In bonded saddles support is obtained from
the abutment teeth by means
of rests ( occlusal ,lingual and incisal).
• Rests are placed on teeth adjacent to
edentulous areas.
• In distal extension denture base the support
comes from the soft tissues covering the
residual ridge and from the abutment teeth.
• Rests are placed mesially on last abutments.
4. Retention
 Direct retainers.
The selection of clasps depends on:
1. Location of the undercut.
2. The amount of the undercut.
3. The position and health of the abutment.

 Indirect retainers.
 Direct retainers needed for each class:

• Kennedy Class I removable partial denture

usually requires only two clasp assemblies.
• Kennedy Class II rpd should have three clasp
assemblies.
• One should be located adjacent to the distal
extension area.
• The other clasp assembly should be located on the
last abutment on opposite side of the arch.
• The last clasp is the ind
• Class III and IV , four clasp assemblies (arrows)
are considered ideal.
5.Indirect retainers
•The further away the indirect retainer is from the direct
retainer (clasp) and the edentulous area, the more
effective it is.
•Depends on the axis of rotation (fulcrum line).
Class II
Class II
Class I
Class III
Class IV
• Kennedy classification
• Major connector type
• Rests (type and location)
• Direct retainers (type and location)
• Indirect retainer type and location)
• Denture base material and extension.
• Minor connector ……..from the drawing .
• Guiding planes controls the path of insertion and its
located in proximal teeth surfaces.