Denture Design

Question 1

List types of maxillary major connectors (4)

Answer 1

Palatal plate
Anterior posterior bar
Mid palatal bar
Horse shoe connector

Question 2

Palatal plate - pros and cons

Answer 2

Pros:
- good rigidity
- max support

cons:
- unhygienic
- heavy

Question 3

Anterior and posterior bar

Answer 3

Pros:
- reduction in palatal coverage
- better tissue sensation
- more comfortable - patients do not like to have their palate covered

Cons:
- less denture support
- not suitable for deep vaulted palate (the denture already more prone to fold in on itself- with this less strong denture cannot use this type)

Question 4

Mid palatal strap

Answer 4

Pros
- ideal Kennedy class 3
- denture quite well supported

Cons
- if you do not have clasps on the molars - need full plate for indirect retention purposes
- not suitable for deep-vaulted patients

Question 5

Horse shoe connector

Answer 5

THE WORST ONE!
Pros:
- if it is free-end saddle- lacking support from the palate- patients love them - “please do not cover my palate”
- can avoid palatal torus

Cons:
- inherently weak
- all gingival margins
- denture will rock
- poor rigidity and poor hygiene

Question 6

Names types of lower major connectors (5)

Answer 6

Lingual plate
Lingual bar
sub lingual bar
Dental bar
Labial bar

Question 7

Lingual plate measurement and cons

Answer 7

LESS THAN 0.7mm between gingival margin and lingual frenum
- very unhygienic

Question 8

Lingual bar requirement and cons

Answer 8

• Pear-shaped cross section
• MORE THAN 0.7mm between gingival margin and lingual frenum/full sulcus depth (whichever comes first)
• Gingival margin to top of bar → 2mm
• Depth of bar → 4mm
• Bottom of bar to sulcus → 2mm

CONS:
Denture thicker in cross section, so more bulbous and more uncomfortable for the patient

Question 9

Sub lingual bar location and description and reason to use

Answer 9

Kidney bean cross section
• Sits in lingual sulcus

REASON TO USE
- eg with prominent frenum or mandibular tori

Question 10

Dental bar description

Answer 10

Looks like it’s a metal band across the teeth instead of below

Question 11

Labial bar description and use

Answer 11

Sits in labial or buccal sulcus
• Used when lingual undercuts prevent use of typical lingual bar or plate
• Used when anatomical features prevent use of lingual bar/ plate (eg lingual tori)

Question 12

Factors of denture that influence stability

Answer 12

• flanges
• Xerostomia
• post dam
• undercuts
• flabby ridge