Major and Minor Connectors

Dr Anas Alibrahim BDS (JUST, Jordan, 2007) MDSc Prosthodontics (Dundee, United Kingdom, 2010)

Lecture Outline
Removable Partial Denture Components. Definitions of Major and Minor Connectors. Requirements for Major Connectors. Maxillary Major Connectors. Mandibular Major Connectors. Types of Minor connectors.

RPD Components

Major connector. Rests. Direct retainers / clasps. Minor connectors. Indirect retainers. Denture bases in conjunction with prosthetic teeth.

Major and Minor Connectors

Major connector joins the components on one side of the arch with those on the opposite side. Minor connectors join the other components, such as rests and clasp to the major connector.

Requirements for Major Connectors

A.
B. C.

D.

Be Rigid. Protect the soft tissues. Provide a means for placement of one or more dentures bases. Promote patient comfort.

A. Be Rigid

Rigidity: Permits broads distribution of applied forces. Enhance effectiveness of other components of the RPD.

B. Protect the soft tissues

Borders of a maxillary major connector should be located 6 mm away from the free gingival margins. Borders of a mandibular major connector should be located 3 mm away from the free gingival margins.

Cont

Borders should run parallel to the gingival margins of the remaining teeth. Gingival margins must be crossed at right angle.

C. Provide a means for placement of one or more dentures bases

Different major connectors can be used according to the number and location of edentulous spaces.

D. Promote Patient Comfort

Anterior border of a maxillary major connector should not end on the anterior slope of a prominent ruga. Borders of a maxillary major connector should cross palatal midline at right angle.

Cont

Tori should be avoided as much as possible. Major connector should exhibit smooth and rounded contours and angles.

Maxillary Major Connectors

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Palatal bar. Palatal strap. Anteroposterior palatal bar. Horseshoe. Anteroposterior palatal strap. Complete palate.

1. Palatal Bar

Narrow half oval with its thickest point at the center. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

2. Palatal Strap

Consists of a wide band of metal with a thin cross-sectional dimension. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

3. Anteroposterior palatal bar

Anterior bar is flat and similar to palatal strap in cross section. Posterior bar is half oval and similar to palatal bar in cross section. The two bars are joined by flat longitudinal elements on each side of the palate. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

4. Horseshoe Connector

Consists of a thin band of metal running along the lingual surface of the remaining teeth and extending 6 to 8 mm onto the palatal tissues. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

5. Anteroposterior Palatal strap

Consists of two palatal straps, each should be at least 8 mm in width. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

6. Complete Palate

Anterior border should be kept 6 mm from gingival margin or cover the cingula of anterior teeth. Posterior border should extend to the junction between the hard and soft palate. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

Conclusions

If the remaining teeth are periodontally involved, a wide palatal strap or a complete palate is indicated. If a torus is present and is not to be removed, anteroposterior palatal bar, anteroposterior palatal strap, or horseshoe major connector may be used. Horseshoe major connector should not be routinely because of the possibility of flexure. A palatal bar is very rarely indicated.

Mandibular Major Connectors

1.
2. 3.

4.
5. 6.

Lingual bar. Sublingual bar. Dental bar. Kennedy bar. Lingual plate. Labial (or buccal bar).

1. Lingual Bar

Half pear shaped in cross section. The broadest portion of the bar is located at its inferior border. Maximum cross-sectional dimension is oriented vertically. At least 8 mm of sulcus depth must be present. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

2. Sublingual Bar

Maximum cross-sectional dimension is oriented horizontally. Needs special impression technique. Needs less sulcus depth than lingual bar. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

3. Dental Bar

Covers part of the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth. Clinical crowns should be long enough. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

4. Kennedy Bar

Consists of dental bar and lingual bar. The upper bar (dental bar) should present a scalloped appearance. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

5. Lingual Plate

Covers most of the lingual surfaces of the teeth, the gingival margin and the lingual aspect of the ridge. Rigidity is achieved by thickening the lower border to a bar like section. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

6. Labial (buccal bar)

Runs across the mucosa on the facial surface of the mandibular arch. Limited space and increased length makes it difficult to achieve rigidity. More effective when used for short spans. Advantages. Disadvantages. Indications.

Mandibular Major Connectors Comparison ( present, ? Uncertain, x absent)

Rigidity
Lingual bar Sublingual bar Dental bar ? ?

Hygiene

Tolerance
?

Lingual plate Labial bar

Conclusions

Lingual bar and sublingual bar are routinely used. Lingual plate can be used when there is insufficient depth of sulcus, inoperable mandibular tori, and for patient with high muscle or high lingual frenum attachment. Lingual plate is also indicated when anterior teeth have poor periodontal support and need stabilisation. A labial ( buccal bar ) is rarely indicated.

Minor connectors
1.

2.

3.

4.

Minor connectors that join clasp assemblies to major connector. Minor connectors that join indirect retainers to major connectors. Minor connectors that join denture bases to major connectors. Minor connectors that serve as approach arms for vertical bar type clasps.

Minor connectors that join denture bases to major connectors

Open construction. Mesh construction.

References
Stewart's Clinical Removable Partial Prosthodontics;4th edition, chapter 2 (1943). A Clinical Guide to Removable Partial Denture Design; British Dental Journal 2000, chapter 9 (57-64).