CLASP RETAINERS

Occlusally Gingivally
Approaching
Approaching Clasps Clasp
 Occlusally
Approaching Clasps
 Occlusally Approaching Clasps
▪ They called
encircling,
circumferential, or
suprabulge clasps
▪ They consist usually
of occlusal rest, minor
connector and two
arms
▪ The retentive arm crosses the height of
contour to engage the tooth undercut from
an occlusal direction
▪ The reciprocal arm placed totally above the
height of tooth contour
 Occlusally Approaching Clasps
▪ The simple form is the
circlet or Aker's clasp
▪ Some clasps are
modified to suit the
condition of the
abutment teeth or to
make use of the
available undercuts
present on neighbor
teeth
▪ One arm clasp encircles
the tooth, being rigid at
its first part on one
surface, and tapers to a
retentive tip on the
opposite surface
 1-Akers clasp (circlet)
Retentive arm
0.01 of an inch

Occlusal
rest

Bracing arm Minor connector

Engages the undercut from occlusal direction

 1. Aker’s clasp (Circlet clasp)

The most universally

employed of all clasp
designs

It is a double-arms clasp

It is a rigid clasp

It engages an undercut of
0.01inch (1/4 mm) on the
buccal (or lingual) surface
of molars or premolars far
from the edentulous area
▪ Indications
1. Unilateral and bilateral
tooth borne
2. Best suited for strong
abutments teeth
▪ Advantages
▪ Provides support, retention,
and the best bracing
▪ Does not distort easily
▪ Easily constructed
▪ Simple to repair
 ▪ Disadvantages
1. More tooth surface is covered
(cause caries)
2. Changes the morphology of the
abutment crown (interfere with
the normal physiologic gingival
stimulation)
3. Due to its half round cross-
section, the Aker clasp can be
adjusted to the tooth surface in
an inward or outward (Bucco-
lingual) and not upward or
downward (occluso-gingival)
direction
4. Cannot be used in free-end
saddle cases due to its rigidity,
except with a stress equalizing
design or reversed
 Modifications of the Aker's clasp
1-The Reverse Aker Clasp
2- DOUBLE AKER (Embrasure or Butterfly)
3- Circumferential `C` Clasp

4- Multiple Clasp
5- Extended arm clasp
6- Half & Half clasp
7- R.P.A
8- Ring Clasp
9- Back action clasp
10- Reverse Back action clasp
11- Mesio-Distal clasp
 1- Reverse Aker Clasp
▪ It consists of
1. Occlusal rest located
away from the
edentulous area
2. Retentive arm engages
an undercut near the
edentulous area
3. Rigid reciprocal arm
▪ Indication:
▪ In distal extension cases
when the bar clasp is
contraindicated
Advantage:
▪ clasp disengagement
➢ reduce torque transmitted to
the abutment tooth (How ??? )
➢ When occlusal load is applied to the
denture base, the retentive terminal
moves gingivally into the undercut
area and loses contact with the
abutment tooth
Disadvantage
▪ May produce some wedging
force
▪ This can be countered by occlusal
rests on the approximating surfaces
of both teeth
 2- Double Aker
(Embrasure, Butterfly, Compound Clasp )
▪ It consists of two
Aker clasps
arising from a
common body and
from the same
minor connector
▪ The minor C.
located in the
embrasure
between the two
clasped teeth
▪ Indications:
▪ Used on the dentulous
side of unilateral
edentulous (class
II,III) cases having no
modifications, class IV

▪ Advantages
1. Provide bilateral
stabilization, and
bracing, in addition to
retention
2. It splints the two teeth
 3- Hair-pin
( Circumferential or `C` )Clasp
▪ It is a circlet its
retentive arm
turned back
(curved ) to engage
an undercut near
the edentulous area
(distobuccal
undercut below the
point of origin)
▪ Indications
1. when a proximal
undercut on a posterior
abutment must be used
2. when tissue undercuts
or high tissue
attachments prevent the
use of bar type clasp
▪ Disadvantages
1. Greater coverage of tooth
surface
2. Food trapping at the loop
of the arm
3. Inferior esthetics
 4- Multiple Aker Clasp
▪ It Consists of
two opposing
Aker’s clasps,
▪ Two Lingual
rigid reciprocal
arms are
connected
together at the
terminal ends to
augment their
rigidity
▪ Indications
1. Splinting of
periodontally affected
teeth
2. RPD replaces an entire
side of the dental arch
3. Available retentive
areas are only adjacent
to each other
▪ Disadvantage
Utilizing two embrasures
rather than a common one .
 5- Extended-arm clasp
▪ its arms are extended to
cover the abutment tooth
and the tooth adjacent to it
▪ The bracing arm lies above
the survey line of both
teeth
▪ The retentive arm lies
above the survey line of
both teeth and then tapers
to engage the undercut of
the second tooth
▪ Indication:
▪ Used when the
undercut on the
tooth near the
edentulous area is
poor, while that on
the adjacent tooth is
suitable

▪ Advantages:
1. The clasp has splinting action
2. Distributes the lateral load over the
two teeth.
 6- Half & Half clasp
(Split cast assembly)
▪ It consists of a retentive
arm arising from one side
of the tooth
▪ A reciprocal arm arising
from the other direction
on the opposite side of
the tooth
▪ Two minor connectors
▪ An auxiliary rest may
sometimes be used
▪ Indication:
▪ It is used with isolated
premolars and molars for
bounded and free end PD
 7- R.P.A clasp
▪ It consists of
▪ A mesial occlusal rest
arising from a minor
connector located in
mesiolingual embrasure
▪ A proximal plate
▪ An Aker retentive arm
arising from the superior
portion of the proximal plate
extends around the tooth;
tapered to engage the mesio-
buccal undercut
▪ Indication:
▪ In distal extension RPDs
with shallow vestibule or
severe tissue undercut

▪ Advantages:
1.Mesio-occlusal rest permitting the other
components to release from the tooth and drop
into undercuts when occlusal loads are placed
on the denture base This in turn prevents
tipping of the abutment.
2.Absence of a lingual rigid reciprocal arm
minimizes rotational forces falling on the abut.
▪ Properly designed RPA clasp
▪ showing movement under
occlusal forces
▪ Where Proximal plate, drops
gingivally and slightly mesially
as rotation occurs around the
mesial rest ( approximate
center of rotation)
▪ The rigid portion of retentive arm contacts
tooth only along survey line, and moves
gingivally and mesially. The retentive end of
clasp arm moves mesially and slightly
gingivally (disengagement)
▪ Improperly designed RPA
clasp
▪ located above survey line
▪ Under occlusal force rigid
portion of retentive arm
cannot move gingivally
▪ This moves center of
rotation distally
▪ Mesial rest lifts out of its rest seats
▪ Retentive portion of clasp arm engages
mesial undercut, torquing tooth
distally(torquing)
 8- RING CLASP
▪ It is a single-
arm clasp
indicated on
tilted, isolated
molars
▪ It originates by a
rest mesially
▪ A single arm
encircles nearly
all the tooth
surface
resembling a
ring
▪ Utilizing mesiobuccal
undercut in case of upper
molars
▪ or mesiolingual undercut on
lingually tilted lower molars.
Engages a 0.02 or 0.03 of an
inch undercut.
▪ An auxiliary distal rest is
preferably added to prevent
further mesial tilting of the
tooth
▪ A reinforcing supporting
strut arm located on the
non-retentive side
▪ Advantages:

1. Provides
unilateral
bracing
2. Used for single
tilted molars
3. More flexible
than Aker
because it is
one arm clasp.
▪ Disadvantages
1.Excessive tooth coverage
result in enamel
decalcification and caries
2.Easily distorted because
of length
3.Reinforcing arm may
cause marginal irritation
and inflammation and
may act as a food trap
 9- Back action CLASP
Single arm clasp provides
single bracing only
Minor connector originates
from the major connector
and starts at the
mesiolingual line angle
The bracing arm extends
above the survey line till
the proximal surface, then
starts its taper to engage
a mesiobuccal undercut of
0.01 of an inch
The occlusal rest is
located distally
Some times an additional
rest could be employed
on the mesial side to
improve support
The clasp indicated in
free end saddle
▪ Disadvantages
1. Excessive tooth coverage
2. Easily distorted
3. Excessive display of metal
4. The occlusal rest is Engage a
supported by the clasp arm mesiobuccal
and not by a rigid minor undercut of 0.01
connector of an inch.
5. Provide poor bracing and
reciprocation
6. Food trap
 10- Reverse Back action CLASP

Minor C. Retentive
originating arm engage
Mesio- Mesio-
buccally lingual
undercut

▪ The minor connector originates from the

saddle at mesiobuccal line angle and ends to
engage a mesiolingual undercut of 0.01 or
0.02 of an inch
▪ The clasp is used on lingually tipped bicuspids
▪ It also provides single bracing only
▪ It has an additional esthetic disadvantage
 Back action clasp

Reverse Back action

clasp
 12- Mesio-Distal clasp

▪ Used only in anterior teeth

▪ Depends on frictional resistance for
retention
 Gingivally
Approaching Clasps
 1- The I-bar clasp (Roach clasp arm)
It consists of
1. A retentive clasp arm
2. A rigid reciprocal clasp arm
3. An occlusal rest and a minor
connector
▪ The tip of the retentive arm may
be in the form I, T, U, C or Y. One
▪ The bar—type clasp is said to have a
"push" type of retention (Trip action of
the clasp)

▪ Tripping action is attributed to clasp arms that

engage the undercut directly from a gingival
direction.
Different forms of gingivally approaching clasps

T clasp Modified T clasp

U clasp I clasp
 R.P.I
It consists of
1. A mesial occlusal rest .
▪ It is with minor connector placed into the
mesiolingual embrasure
2. A proximal plate minor connector
▪ It is placed on a distal guiding plane
▪ It should contact approximately 1 mm of
the gingival portion of the guiding plane
in distal extension cases
▪ The bucco-lingual width of the proximal plate is
determined by the proximal contour of the tooth
▪ The proximal plate together with the mesio-lingually
placed minor connector provides stabilization and
reciprocation of the assembly
 R.P.I
3.The I bar arm
i. It should be located in
the gingival third of
the labial surface of
the abutment in 0.01
of an inch undercut
ii. The I-bar approaches
the undercut in a
vertical direction A retentive
clasp arm
iii. It may be placed
towards the mesial but The base of the I bar
not towards the distal Should be 3mm away
From the gingival margin
3.The I bar arm
R.P.I
IV. It should be tapered to its
terminus
V. The base of the I-bar must be
located at least 4 mm from the
gingival margin
VI. Slight relief is required where
the arm crosses the gingival
margin.
Indications
1. In distal extension cases, as it A retentive
clasp arm
provides a stress releasing
action The base of the I bar
2. When tissue undercuts are not Should be 3mm away
severe. From the gingival margin
 P.P minor connector should contact
approximately 1 mm of the gingival portion of
the g. p. in distal extension cases
 R.P.I

Contraindications
1. Shallow vestibule
2. High floor of the mouth
3. When buccal undercut is absent or only distobuccal
undercut exists
4. Severe tissue or tooth undercut to avoid food or tissue
trap
5. If the facial surfaces of teeth are facial to the tissue
 Combination clasp
▪ It is essentially a cast clasp in
which wrought wire has
substituted the buccal cast
retentive arm
1. Wrought wire retentive arm and
cast reciprocal arm originating
from distal rest
2. Guiding plane must run entire
occluso-gingival height
Advantages
1. Combines both the resiliency and
flexibility of the wrought
retentive arm and stabilizing
effect of the cast clasp
2. The clasp has a stress breaking
action
Clasps with splinting action

Double Aker clasp

Extended arm clasp
Multiple Aker clasp
Clasps with stress breaking action
Gingivally approaching clasps Occlusally
approaching clasps
– Reverse Aker clasp
– Back action clasp
– Reverse back action clasp
– R.P.A.
– Ring (bounded sad., isolated molar)
Combination clasps (wrought wire + casted)
 Tripping action is attributed to clasp arms
that engage the undercut directly from a gingival
direction.
Not all bar clasp arms have tripping action,
since the retentive terminal may actually engage
the undercut from an occlusal direction as is true
with the "T" bar or modified "T" bar.
 Occlusally Gingivally
Retention due to tripping action

Bracing 2 Arms above survey

line provide bracing

Esthetics less visible due to

gingival position
Tolerance Gingivally app.clasp arm relieved from gingiva
creating space accumulating food and causing
discomfort
Caries More tooth coverage
increasing the risk for
caries
Gingival health Trauma may occur due
to distortion or
inadequate relief