CLASSIC ARTICLE

Selection of a major connector for the extension-base removable partial denture

Arthur M. LaVere, DDS,a and Arthur J. Krol, DDSb University of the Pacic, School of Dentistry, San Francisco, Calif

he selection of a major connector is not a difcult procedure if the dentist considers two important factors. The rst is the degree to which the removable partial denture must be supported by structures other than the natural teeth. The second is the degree of rigidity required of the major connector to adequately distribute functional stresses from one side of the arch to the other.

Table I. Characteristics of major connectors1

Connector Support Rigidity

PRIMARY FACTORS
Support. Support for the maxillary major connector is partly dependent upon the hard palate. The greater the coverage of the hard palate, the greater the support received from the palate. Thus, the snowshoe principle is in effect in that the stress load is distributed over a large area, and the force per unit area is reduced. Unfortunately, support similar to that derived from the palate cannot be obtained from the mandibular removable partial denture. Rigidity. Rigidity of a maxillary major connector is enhanced by the joining of the anterior and posterior bars to form a circle. This union makes the major connector more than twice as rigid as each bar would be individually. Additional rigidity is obtained by use of the L beam effect, i.e., metal lying in two different planes. For the mandibular major connector, encirclement cannot be accomplished. However, acceptable rigidity is obtained by thickening the inferior border of the lingual bar or plate. When considering support and rigidity, Table I will act as a guide for the selection of maxillary and mandibular major connectors.

Posterior palatal strap Anteroposterior palatal strap (closed horseshoe) Complete palatal plate Anteroposterior palatal bar Posterior palatal bar Anterior palatal strap (horseshoe) Lingual bar Lingual plate

Good-excellent Good Excellent Poor Poor Poor None None

Good-excellent Excellent Excellent Good Poor Poor Good Good-excellent

as to distribute the stress over as broad a palatal surface as practicable. Other considerations for selecting a major connector might be whether the removable partial denture is opposed by an articial denture, whether the residual ridge tissues are rm or removable, whether the remaining natural occlusion is heavy or weak, whether tori are present, whether the residual ridges are resorbed, and whether the tissues of the oor of the mouth are attached high or low.

Preferred maxillary major connectors*

Posterior palatal strap. This is a preferred connector because it may be used for most designs, distributes masticatory stress over a wide area, and may be made wide or narrow depending upon the desired stress distribution. A narrow strap (minimum of 8 mm) may be used for all tooth-supported removable partial dentures. The width of the strap should be increased for distal extension bases (Fig. 1). Anteroposterior palatal strap (closed horseshoe). This strap may be used for most maxillary partial denture designs and especially when a torus is present. It has the effect of a circle, and the L beam effect is present. Anterior and posterior bars (straps) should be at least 8 mm in width (Fig. 2). Complete palatal plate. This connector may be used for bilateral distal extension partial dentures of a long span and may be used in combination with plastic resin (Fig. 3).
*Superior borders are placed a minimum of 6 mm from the gingival margins.

SELECTING A MAJOR CONNECTOR

A mouth in which the teeth and supporting structures are periodontally diseased might serve as a typical example for the selection of a maxillary major connector. The periodontally diseased mouth requires a rigid major connector that permits optimum palatal support. Therefore, the major connector should be modied so

Associate Professor, Removable Prosthodontics Department Professor and Chairman, Removable Prosthodontics Department Reprinted with permission from J Prosthet Dent 1973;30:102-5. J Prosthet Dent 2005;94:207-8.
b

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LAVERE AND KROL

Fig. 1. A posterior palatal strap may be used as a major connector for long-span unilateral extension-base partial dentures where optimum support and rigidity are desirable. Superior borders are placed a minimum of 6 mm from the gingival margins.

Fig. 2. An anteroposterior palatal strap (closed horseshoe) provides greater rigidity and support than a single posterior palatal strap and is more advantageously used in extensionbase partial dentures. This major connector also may be used very effectively when anterior teeth are to be replaced. Anterior and posterior bars should be at least 8 mm in width.

Fig. 3. A complete palatal plate. This major connector may be used for long bilateral distal extensionbase partial dentures, and may be used in combination with resin bases.

Fig. 4. A lingual bar should be used whenever possible. The superior margin should be located at least 3 mm from the gingival margins.

Nonpreferred maxillary major connectors

Anteroposterior palatal bar. This connector may be used where support is not a major consideration; bars are too narrow for adequate support (usually less than 8 mm in width). Posterior palatal bar. This bar may be used for toothborne partial dentures only since it lacks rigidity and provides minimum support. Anterior palatal strap (horseshoe). This connector is very poor, because it is exible with buccolingual movement occurring at the open ends. However, it may be used where a midline suture or an inoperable palatal torus exists.

tion, and the superior margin is located at least 3 mm away from the gingival margins (Fig. 4). Linguoplate. The linguoplate must be used when a high lingual frenum or the oor of the mouth prevents the use of a lingual bar. It may be used in combination with a labial bar for splinting. Terminal tooth rests should be used to provide a vertical stop at each end of the linguoplate to prevent labial movement of the teeth.
REFERENCE
1. Krol AJ. Removable, partial denture design. Outline syllabus. San Francisco: University of the Pacic, School of Dentistry; 1972 Nov.

Mandibular major connectors

Lingual bar. It should be used whenever possible. It permits exposure of gingival tissues to normal stimula-

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