5. Major and Minor Connectors Flashcards
Functions of
Major Connectors
• ____
• ____-distribution
unification
stress
Requirements of Major Connectors
• Must not impinge on the free gingival ____
• Their borders must be at least ____ mm away in maxillary arch and ____ mm away in the mandibular arch.
• Minor connectors should cross gingival margins at ____ angles to allow maximum freedom of gingival tissues
margin
6
3
right
Requirements of Major Connectors
• Relief- between metal and soft tissues where major connector crosses a gingival margin
– under a ____ major connector generally not required
____ contact enhances support, retention and stability of the PRDP.
• required under a ____ major connector
small space prevents ____, irritation or ulceration of the lingual mucosa
maxillary
initimate
mandibular
laceration
Requirements of Major Connectors
• Be ____
• Provide ____ support & protect the soft
tissue
• Allow for ____ retention
• Allow for positioning of denture bases where needed
• Maintain patient ____
• Compatible with oral tissues
• Non-____ and non-irritating to the tongue
rigid vertical indirect comfort interfering
Requirements of Major Connectors
• No impingement of ____ tissues
• Not cover more tissue than absolutely ____
• Not contribut et o trapping ____ particles
• Have borders running ____ to the gingival margin
oral
necessary
food
parallel
Requirements of Major Connectors
• Cross gingival margin at ____ angles
• Be ____ and cross palate in a straight line
right
symmetric
Requirements of
Major Connectors
• Avoid crossing bony ____ (torus palatinus)
• Not interfere with ____ or phonetics
• In maxillary arch, borders of the connector should be at least ____mm from the gingival margin; in the mandibular arch, they should be ____mm from the gingival margin
prominences
speech
6
3
Maxillary Major Connector
- All borders should run ____ to the gingival margin
- Minor connectors should cross gingival margin at ____ angles
- The posterior border of the maxillary major connector should not extend onto the ____ tissue
parallel
right
movable
Beading the Final Cast
• The borders of the maxillary major connector should be ____
–
scoring a rounded groove approx. ____ mm wide and deep at the free borders of the major connector where there is displaceable tissue using a discoid cleoid or a 7A spatula; should ____ off as it approaches the marginal gingiva of the abutment teeth)
beaded
0.5
taper
Beading the Final Cast
• Creates a tight ____ and prevents food collection under the major connector and reduces patient awareness of the prosthesis
- Provides ____ contact with underlying tissues and a visible finish line for the casting.
- Creates a seal at the interface of the metal framework and tissues that translates to an ____ on the framework
seal
positive
elevation
Generally the type of major connector will be dictated by the number and location of ____ areas
** as well as the level of ____ of the residual ridges and the ____ of the abutment teeth
edentulous
resorption
prognosis
– Note: a strap- type connector is distinguished from a bar-type connector which is ____ and ____ (bulkier)
narrower
thicker
Single (Posterior) Palatal Bar
A single palatal bar is “A ____ connector that crosses the palate and is characterized by being relatively ____ anterior-posteriorly”
major
narrow
Single Palatal Bar
It’s A-P dimension is less than ____ mm wide and for adequate cross-arch distribution of stress, it must have concentrated bulk
Is often too ____ and flexible or too ____ and objectionable to the patient’s tongue
8
thin
bulky
Single Palatal Bar: Contraindications
• In patients who have difficulty ____ to an PRDP (because it has added thickness and bulk for rigidity)
• In ____ extension edentulous situations because there is more movement of the prosthesis and there is little support from the palate
• When ____ teeth require replacement (bulk interferes with speech if placed anteriorly)
adjusting
distal
anterior
Single Palatal Bar: Disadvantages
- Minimum ____ support from the palate and mostly supported by ____ on remaining teeth
- Is indicated for tooth- supported PRDP and should be used in situations where we are replacing one or two teeth on each side of the arch; we need to have teeth both ____ and ____ to the edentulous space
- The single palatal bar also interferes with ____ action if placed more anteriorly than second ____ position
vertical rests anterior posterior tongue premolar
Single Palatal Bar
• In order for this major connector to be sufficiently rigid, it will be too ____ and will interfere with the ____ and with speech
bulky
tongue
Single Palatal Strap (Posterior Palatal Strap )
“A maxillary major connector having an anterior/posterior dimension of ____ mm that directly or obliquely traverses the palate and is generally located in the area of the ____ and ____” (GPT, 1999
8-12
second premolar
first molar
- A wide, flat, thin band of metal that crosses the palate
- Should not be less than ____ mm wide
- Its ____ increases as the edentulous space increases in length
- Provides good support, stress distribution and rigidity
8
width
Single Palatal Strap: Indications
Note: The most ____ maxillary major connector
- ____-borne PRDP restoring unilateral and bilateral edentulous areas of ____ span when residual ridges are ____ and abutments are strong
- Tooth-mucosa borne (Kennedy Class ____) when minimal palatal support is required
versatile tooth short good I & II
Single Palatal Strap: Advantages
- Greater ____ with less bulk of metal compared to the single palatal bar
- It is inherently strong and can be kept thin
- Increased patient ____ since A-P dimension is small
- Little interference to tongue action
- It distributes stress to a broad area
- It offers good retention through forces of ____ and ____ by the contact between metal and soft tissue
Note:
Main disadvantage is that there is some patient complaint of excessive ____
rigidity comfort adhesion cohesion palatal coverage
U-Shaped Palatal Strap (Horseshoe-Shaped or Anterior Palatal Strap)
Indications
• If a large inoperable palatal ____ is present and extends to the posterior limit of the hard palate
• For replacement of anterior teeth (Kennedy IV), ____ teeth or a combination of anterior and posterior teeth but should only be used when another type of major connector cannot be used
• For patients who are severe ____
torus
posterior
gaggers
U-Shaped Palatal Strap
• A thin band of metal about ____ mm wide and symmetrical
• Is placed ____ mm from gingival margins
• Its borders are ____ and smooth and are placed in valleys of rugae
Disadvantages:
- It lacks ____
- The design fails to provide good support characteristics
- The metal must be ____ to enhance rigidity in the rugae area and interferes with phonetics and patient comfort
- It has the tendency to spread ____ as occlusal forces are applied to it, resulting in lateral forces to abutment teeth
6-8
6
curved
rigidity
bulkier
apart
U-Shaped Palatal Strap
Because it has a lot of disadvantages, the u-shaped palatal strap is the least ____ design of all connectors
favorable
U-Shaped Palatal Strap
A poor choice for ____ extension partial dentures because movement of the prosthesis not only causes trauma to the abutment teeth but also to the ____
distal
residual ridge
U-Shaped Palatal Strap
Main advantage: is indicated where an inoperable ____ exists or a hard median ____ is present
torus
suture line
Anteroposterior Palatal
Strap: Indications
• ____ teeth are to be replaced
• A ____ palatinus is present
• Remaining abutment teeth have good ____ support
• Large amounts of ____ support not required
• Patient objects to ____ amount of palatal coverage
• For patients with a large inoperable palatal torus
numerous
torus
periodontal
large
Anteroposterior Palatal Strap: Contraindications
- Reduced ____ support of abutment teeth
- A ____ narrow vault is present (phonetics)
periodontal
high
Anteroposterior Palatal Strap: Characteristics
• The anterior bar is ____ and thin with no ____ on incisive papilla
• The posterior bar is placed as far ____ as possible on the hard palate
• The A-P dimension of opening is at least ____ mm so the A-P dimension of edentulous space has to be large enough to use this connector
broad
impingement
posteriorly
15
Anteroposterior Palatal
Strap: Advantages
- Is structurally the most ____ palatal connector
- Derives good support from the palate
- It is strong and resistant to flexing
- ____ contour of metal over rugae adds strength to connector and allows the metal to be made thinner
- Has ____ thickness
- Can be used in any maxillary PRDP (in all ____ Kennedy classifications)
- Is the least ____ connector to the patient and least ____ to adjacent tissues
rigid corrugated (irregular) uniform four objectionable harmful