Major and Minor Connectors Flashcards
That component of a partial denture which joins the minor connectors and their attached assemblies together to form a solid unit
Major connectors
Is major connector rigid or flexible?
Rigid
\_\_\_\_\_ of major connector •Functions as one unit •Broad stress distribution •Reduce torque •Avoid tissue damage
Rigidity
What are the 3 main principles of the major connector?
Counter leverage
Cross-arch stabilization
Unification of Components
–Bracing elements on one side of the arch providing stability to the other
Cross-arch Stabilization
What angle should be formed between major and minor connector?
90 degrees
Do you want the margins of major connector to terminate on the free gingival margin?
No
Do you want the margins of major connector to terminate on lingual frenum and movable soft palate?
No
Do you want a smooth transition from connector to denture base?
Yes
Line angles and edges should be _____ and ______
smooth and rounded
Borders are placed parallel to and a minimum of ___ mm from gingival margins on maxilla
6 mm
•Anterior & posterior borders of maxillary major connector cross midline at _____ angle•
Right angle
How deep should the border beadings be deep and wide on the maxilla?
0.75-1mm
_____ –Displaces soft tissue, seals border (helps maintain tissue contact). Also, provides additional strength (for maxillary major connectors)
Border beading
How much should the superior mandibular border of major connector be from gingival crest?
3 mm
The metal should cross the free gingival margin at ___ angles
Right angles
Do you want to end metal framework on incisal portion of teeth?
No
Do you want to end metal framework on crests of rugae?
No
Indications for \_\_\_\_\_ design on max major connector: •Tooth supported situations -Class III •Small posterior edentulous areas •Minimal tissue support required •Patient preference
Palatal strap
What are the 4 maxillary major connector designs?
Palatal strap
Palatal Plate
Anterior-Posterior Strap
Horseshoe “U”
Anterior-posteriorly, what should the length of the palatal strap be?
8-10 mm
Contraindications for _____ design on max major connector:
•Distal extension situations
–Class I or II
•Severe palatal undercuts
•Large torus
•RPD to replace anterior teeth
•When definitive support from palatal tissue is required
Palatal strap
Advantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Excellent support and rigidity
•Distribute stress of mastication over a wider area
Palatal strap
Disadvantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Coverage of palate may cause discomfort and interference with phonetics
Palatal strap
Location of _____ design on max major connector
•Anterior border follows valley between rugae at right angle to median suture
•Posterior border at right angle to median suture
•Confined to area bounded by four principle rests
Palatal strap
\_\_\_\_\_\_ design of max major connector •Long-span distal extension RPDs with or without anterior tooth replacement •Flat residual ridges •Periodontally weakened abutments - Class 1 and 2
Palatal plate
Contraindications for _____ design on max major connector:
-Severely undercut torus
Palatal plate
Advantages for _____ design on max major connector:
-•Optimum support and rigidity
•Increase retention due to increased interfacial surface tension
Palatal plate
Disadvantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Can not be used with torus
•Coverage of the palate may diminish taste, interfere with phonetics.
•Difficult to cast
Palatal plate
Location of _____ design on max major connector
•Anterior border between rugae valleys and at right angle to median suture
•Posterior border :Extends to junction of soft and hard palate
Palatal plate
______ design of max major connector
•Circumvent a torus
•Strong, widely separated abutments (Distal extension RPDs; Distal extension RPDs also replacing anterior teeth)
-Most widely used in clinic
Anterior posterior straps
Contraindications for _____ design on max major connector:
•SOME maxillary designs due to narrow bulky straps
•Patients with high narrow vaults
•Phonetic interference
Anterior posterior straps
Advantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Structurally, very rigid -straps in 2 planes
•Minimal tissue coverage
Anterior posterior straps
Disadvantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Large amount of border area to blend
Anterior posterior straps
How wide should the strap width be on an anterior posterior strap design?
6-8 mm
How far apart should the anterior posterior straps be apart?
15 mm
Location of _____ design on max major connector
Posterior strap–distal extension to vibrating line and extended through hamular notches–tooth supported not more posterior than distal abutment
ANterior posterior straps
\_\_\_\_\_\_ design of max major connector •**In very high vault palate ** •Large inoperable torus •Anterior tooth replacement •Patient is intolerant of palatal coverage
U shaped
Contraindications for _____ design on max major connector:
•The Least Rigid maxillary connector, therefore ANYTIME another connector may be used
U shaped
Advantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Can be designed to replace missing anteriors
•Conforms to patient’s previous experience
U shaped
Disadvantages for _____ design on max major connector:
•Requires additional bulk for rigidity
•Can interfere with patient’s tongue/speech
•Even with rest, may lack support causing possible tissue impingement
U shaped
Location of _____ design on max major connector
•Anterior border:–terminates in valley of rugae at right angle to suture, or;–on the cingula of teeth extending contact point to contact point
•Posterior border located at the turning point of the palate
U shaped
A prepared groove on the master cast along the designated borders of maxillary major connectors
This produces a positive beadon the major connector of the RPD
Beading of max cast
Functions of ____
•Increased rigidity•Guide for finishing•Compensates for casting inaccuracies•Displaces soft tissue, preventing food/fluid collection
Beading of max cast
•1/2 round•1 mm deep and 1.5 mm wide•Feathers out to nothing 6 mmfrom free gingival margin•Shallower over mid-palatal suture
Beading of max cast
What is the most common mandibular major connector used?
Lingual bar
Indications for ______ design of mand major connector
•Whenever possible, if no contraindications are evident
•A depth of at least 7 mm measured from the lowest point of the gingival margins to the floor of the mouth is required
Lingual bar
Contraindications for ______ design of mand major connector
•Shallow floor of mouth and prominent frenum
•Inoperable tori
•Teeth in linguoversion
•Teeth require stabilization
•RPD requires additional stabilization
•RPD requires benefit of additional indirect retention
•Contingency planning
Lingual bar
Advantages for _____ design on mand major connector:
Covers the minimum of the tissues
Lingual bar
Disadvantages for _____ design on mand major connector:
•It may be flexible if poorly constructed
Lingual bar
Location of _____ design on mand major connector
•Superior border 3-4 mm inferior to free gingival margin
•Inferior border at height of lingual sulcus with tongue slightly elevated
•Bar height is 4-5 mm
Lingual bar
How many millimeters does there need to be for a lingual bar from gingival margins to floor of mouth?
7 mm
Indications for ______ design of mand major connector
•Insufficient lingual vestibular space for lingual bar (less than 7 mm from gingival margins to the floor of the mouth)
•Anticipated future replacement of anterior teeth
•Indirect retention
•Bilateral distal extension with flat residual ridges (Provide resistance against horizontal movements)
•Presence of mandibular tori
•Patient preference
Lingual plate
Contraindications for ______ design of mand major connector
•Adequate depth to floor of the mouth for a bar
•Prominent diastemas(large interdental spaces)
•Severely anterior crowding
•No additional requirement for indirect retention
•Patient preference
•Teeth in linguoversion
Lingual plate
Advantages for _____ design on mand major connector:
•More rigid than lingual bar
Lingual plate
Disadvantages for _____ design on mand major connector:
•Covers teeth and tissue
•Compromised oral hygiene “possible increase enamel decalcification”
•More metal to fit, more difficult to fit the framework
•Esthetic with diastemas (however, can modify plate to overcome)
Lingual plate
Location of _____ design on mand major connector
•Superior border contacts cingula of anterior teeth extending from contact point to contact point
•Inferior border at height of alveolar lingual sulcus with tongue elevated
•Must be supported by rests at terminal ends
Lingual plate
Indications for ______ design of mand major connector
•Lingually inclined anterior or posterior teeth
•Prominent, superiorly located inoperable tori
Labial bar
Contraindications for ______ design of mand major connector
Where tooth positioning will permit another connector-
Labial bar
Advantages for _____ design on mand major
Permits an RPD to be fabricated
Labial bar
Disadvantages for \_\_\_\_\_ design on mand major connector: Difficult to fabricate Must be bulky to be rigid Not esthetic Traps food in vestibular area
Labial bar
Location of _____ design on mand major connector
•Superior border is at least 4 mm from buccal and labial free gingival margin
•Inferior border is located at the junction of the attached and unattached mucosa
Labial bar
How far away does the superior border of labial bar need to be away from the free gingival margin
4 mm
That component of a partial denture which joins the major connector with other parts of the framework
Minor connector
Functions of _____•Transfers functional stress to abutments•Transfers effect of retainers, rests and stabilizing components to the rest of the denture (abutment to prosthesis)•Unites retainers, rests and denture base to the major connector•Helps to resist lateral movement
Minor connector
- Rigid with minimal bulk
- Located in embrasure
- Triangular in shape
- Thickest toward lingual
- Joins major connector at right angle
- Tapers to contact point
- Smooth and rounded
- Minimum of 5mm between vertical connectors
- Cover minimal gingival tissue
- Cross gingiva at right angle
- Must not impinge on tissue
- Contact guiding plane surfaces
- Minimal interference with denture tooth placement
Minor connector
How far should minor connectors be apart?
At least 5 mm
The ______ which is the portion of the framework that contacts the proximal side of the tooth, is also considered a minor connector.
proximal plate
_______ are strong and rigid parts of a removable partial denture and connect other units, such as rests, with the major connector.
Minor connectors