DIRECT RETAINERS

Dr Maria Ghumman, FCPS Prosthodontics

Assistant Professor, NID Multan
CONTENTS
 CONTENTS
• Introduction

• Definition

• Components

• Principles of Clasp Assembly

• Types of Direct Retainers
• Types of Extraoral Clasp Assemblies
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
• RETENTION
• Resistance to movement of a denture away from the teeth and/or tissues along
the path of placement of the prosthesis.
• Dislodging Forces
• Gravity
• Sticky food
• Functional forces of surrounding musculature during speech, mastication etc
• Parafunction
• TYPES OF RETENTION
• Primary - Direct Retainer
• Secondary - Intimate contact with basal tissue
• - muscular control acting through polished surface
• Indirect Rentention
DEFINITION
 Definition
• DIRECT RETAINER:
• Component of Partial Removable Dental Prosthesis used to retain and
prevent dislodgement consisting of a clasp assembly or precision
attachment - GPT 9
• DIRECT RETENTION:
• retention
obtained in a removable partial denture by the use of clasps or
attachments that resist removal from the abutment teeth – GPT 9
 Definition

• CLASP ASSEMBLY
• thepart of a removable partial denture that acts as a direct retainer and/or
stabilizer for a prosthesis by partially encompassing or contacting an
abutment tooth
COMPONENTS
 COMPONENTS OF A CLASP
ASSEMBLY
• Retentive Arm
• Retentive Terminal
• Reciprocal Arm
• Rest

• Body

• Minor Minor
Connector Res
t Connecto
r
PRINCIPLES OF
CLASP DESIGN
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP DESIGN
1. Principle of encirclement
• Engagement of more than 180 degrees of the tooth surface,
in the greatest circumference by the clasp assembly. It limits
the freedom of displacement of the clasp assembly.
• Types of Encirclement:
I. continuous contact such as in circumferential clasp
II. discontinuous contact such as in bar clasp.
• Provided by: at least 3 point contact encircling the tooth:
 0cclusal rest area
 retentive tip
 reciprocal clasp terminal area.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP DESIGN

• This basic principle of clasp design offers a two-way benefit.

• First, it ensures the stability of the tooth position because of the

restraint from encirclement, and

• Second, it ensures stability of the clasp assembly because of the

controlled position of the clasp in three dimensions.
 Buccal

• Figure 7-1

Lingual Lingual
Lingu
al degrees of greatest
A. Line drawn through illustration represents 180
circumference of abutment from occlusal rest. Unless portions of lingual
reciprocal arm and retentive
buccal arm are extended beyond the line, clasp would not accomplish its
intended purpose. If respective arms of retainer were not extended
beyond the line, abutment tooth could be forced away from retainer by
torqueing action of clasp or removable partial denture could move away
from abutment.
B. Bar-type clasp assembly engagement of more than 1 80 degrees of
circumference of abutment is realized by minor connector for occlusal
rest, minor connector contacting guiding plane on distal proximal surface,
and retentive bar arm.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP DESIGN
2. Support
Provided by: Occlusal rest
It prevents the movement of the clasp arms cervically.
3. Reciprocity
Each retentive terminal should be opposed by a reciprocal component
capable of resisting any transient pressures exerted by the retentive
arm during placement and removal.
Provided by: Stabilizing and reciprocal components which must be rigidly
connected bilaterally to provide reciprocation of the retentive elements
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP DESIGN

4. Avoidance Of Detrimental Forces On Abutment

tooth
Clasp retainers on abutments adjacent to distal
extension bases should be designed so that they
avoid direct transmission of tipping and rotational
forces to abutment (acting as stress-breakers ).
By: proper location of the retentive terminal relative to
the rest or by use of a more flexible clasp arm
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP
DESIGN
5. Bilaterally Opposed:
Unless guiding planes will positively
control the path of removal and stabilize
abutments against rotational
movements, retentive clasps should be
bilaterally opposed, i.e., buccal
retention on one side of the arch should
be opposed by buccal retention on the
other, or lingual on one side opposed by
Figure 7-3
lingual on the other.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP DESIGN
6. Path of escapement
≠ parallel to the path of removal for the prosthesis.
7. Amount of retention
it should always be the minimum necessary to
resist reasonable dislodging forces.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASP
DESIGN
8. Location of reciprocal and retentive
elements
Reciprocal element - at the junction of
the gingival and middle thirds of the
crowns of abutment teeth.
Terrminal end of the retentive arm - is
optimally placed in the gingival third of
the crown
 Reciprocal Arm Functions
• Reciprocation : it intends to resist tooth movements when retainer
arm deforms as it engages a tooth’s height of contour.
• Stabilization : it stabilizes the denture against horizontal movement
owing to the rigidity of clasp arm, major connector and minor
connectors.
• IndirectRetention : Provides indirect retention when it rests on a
suprabulge surface of an abutment tooth lying anterior to the fulcrum
line.
ACTION OF DIRECT RETAINERS
• Frictional Retention - Attachments
Between parallel walls
• Mechanical Retention - Clasp Assemblies
by engagement of undercut
• Suprabulge - pull type retention
• Infrabulge- push type retention
• Action of Direct Retainer is influenced by:
• Stability

• Support of the prosthesis

• Provided by major and minor connectors, rests, tissue bases.
TYPES OF DIRECT
RETAINERS
TYPES OF DIRECT RETAINERS
Intracorona Extracoron
l retainer al retainer

Semiprecisi Flexible
Precision Clasp Attachment
on clips or
attachment Assemblies s
attachment rings

Suprabuldg
e Clasp

Infrabuldge
Clasp
TYPES OF DIRECT RETAINERS
INTRACORONAL RETAINER
• Within
the restored natural
contours of abutment tooth
• May be cast or attached
• Keyand keyway design with
parallel walls
• Frictional resistance
• First
formulated by Dr Herman
E.S Chayes in 1906
TYPES OF DIRECT RETAINERS
EXTRACORONAL RETAINER
• External to restored natural tooth contours
• Not aesthetic
• Provides mechanical resistance
•3 principle forms
TYPES OF CLASP
ASSEMBLIES
TYPES OF CLASP ASSEMBLIES
• Clasps Designed to Accommodate Functional Movement
• Clasps Designed Without Movement Accommodation
 Clasps Designed to Accommodate
Functional Movement
• Designed for distal extension bases with differential
support
• Address the class 1 lever action
•2 strategies are adopted to overcome the harmful
tipping forces
1. 1. changing the fulcrum by mesial rest concept ( RPI,
RPA system)
2. 2. use of a flexible retentive arm (Combination Clasp)
 Clasps Designed to Accommodate
Functional Movement
I Bar
• MESIAL REST CONCEPT
1. RPI system
Proximal Plate Rest
2. RPA system (Akers Clasp)

Akers
Clasp
RPI system

1. Mesio occlusal rest - with a minor

connector placed in the mesiolingual
embrasure
2. Proximal plate - along the Guiding Plane
facing the distal extention base.
3 types depending on extention
RPI system
o Barclasp assembly in which guiding plane
(GP) and corresponding proximal plate (PP)
extend entire length of proximal tooth
surface.
• Physiologic relief is required to prevent
impingement of gingival tissues during
function. Extending proximal plate to
contact greater surface area of guide plane
directs functional forces in horizontal
direction, thus tooth (teeth) are loaded more
than edentulous ridge.
RPI system
o Barclasp assembly in which guiding
plane (GP) and corresponding proximal
plate (PP) extend from marginal
ridge to junction of middle and
gingival thirds of proximal tooth
surface.
• Decresed amount of surface area
contact of proximal plate on guiding
plane more evenly distributes
functional force between tooth and
edentulous ridge.
RPI system
o Barclasp assembly in which proximal plate
(PP) contacts approximately 1 mm of
gingival portion of guiding plane (GP).
• Duringfunction, proximal plate and l-bar
clasp arm are designed to move in
mesiogingival direction, disengaging tooth.
Lack of sustained contact between proximal
plate and guiding plane distributes more
functional force to edentulous ridge.
RPI system
3. I – Bar (Infrabulge Clasp)
Location of undercut : in gingival 3rd on buccal/ lingual side
Depth of undercut : 0.01 inch
Contact with tooth surface : <2 mm
Types : T, Modified T, I or Y
Cross section : half round form
Design : bar arm arises from the border of denture base, either as an
extension of a cast base or attached to the border of a resin base
RPI system
 INDICATIONS of Bar Clasp
1. Small (0.01 inch) undercut exist in gingival 3rd of abutment tooth that can be
approached from gingival direction
2. Tooth supported RPD or tooth supported medication areas
3. Distal extension base situations
4. Esthetic concerns high
 CONTRAINDICATIONS
1. Exaggerated buccal/ lingual tilt
2. Severe tissue undercut
3. Shallow buccal vestibule
4. Deep undercut >0.001 inch
RPI system
 ADVANTAGES
• Esthetic location
• Minimum tooth contact
• Increased retention (push type)
• No tipping forces on the abutment tooth
• Less
chance of accidental distortion resulting from proximity to denture
border
 DISADVANTAGES
• Food impaction
• Irritation to mucosa, lip
RPA system
 COMPONENTS
 INDICATIONS
when Bar type clasp is contraindicated in
abutment tooth
And the location of desirable undercut in gingival 3rd
of tooth is away from distal extension base area
COMBINATION CLASP
 Design :
• wrought-wire retentive clasp arm and a cast reciprocal clasp arm
 Advantages
1. Flexibility
2. Adjustability
3. less likely fatigue failures with the tapered wrought-wire arm
4. Better aesthetics /appearance of the wrought-wire retentive arm
5. Less contact with tooth surface ( round cross sec with line contact)
6. Greater tensile strength by 25% than cast metal
COMBINATION CLASP
Disadvantages

1. It involves extra steps in fabrication, particularly when high-fusing

chromium alloys are used
2. It may be distorted by careless handling on the part of the patient
3. Because it is bent by hand, it may be less accurately adapted to the
tooth and therefore provide less stabilization in the suprabulge
portion
4. It may distort with function and not engage the tooth.
COMBINATION CLASP
 INDICATIONS
1. Abutments adjacent to distal extension base
2. Periodontally weakened abutment tooth
3. When Bar clasp is contraindicated, large tissue undercut
4. When retentive requirements are unclear- adjustability
5. Esthetic requirement (reflects light, is less noticeable than cast)
Clasps Designed Without Movement
Accommodation

• Circumferential Clasp Types

1. Ring Clasp
2. Embrasure Clasp
3. Back-Action Clasp
4. Multiple Clasp
5. Half and half Clasp
6. Reverse action Clasp
CIRCUMFERENTIAL CLASP
 DESIGN
• All cast clasp assembly with 2 arms (one retentive, one reciprocal arm)
 INDICATION
• Most logical for tooth-supported partial dentures
ADVANTAGES

• Not easily misused

• Easy to fabricate
CIRCUMFERENTIAL CLASP
 DISADVANTAGES
1. Increased tooth contact (half round cross-sec)
2. Increases the width of occlusal surface of the tooth because of its occlusal
origin
3. Less aesthetic – increased metal display
4. Lack of adjustability
• These disadvantages may minimized if proper mouth preparation is done
 CONTRAINDICATION
• Oral hygiene
• Poor esthetics
RING CLASP
• Type of circumferential Clasp
• DESIGN

• Encircles nearly all of the tooth from its point of origin

• Supportingstrut should is added on nonretentive side of abutment
tooth, which then becomes, in effect, a minor connector from which
tapered and flexible retentive clasp arm originates
• Reciprocation
comes from rigid part of the claps between principle occ
rest and supporting strut
• Auxiliary rest may be included on opposite marginal ridge – prevents
further tilting of a mesially inclined tooth
RING CLASP
• A,
Clasp originates on mesiobuccal
surface and encircles tooth to
engage mesiolingual undercut.
• B,
Clasp originates on mesiolingual
surface and encircles tooth to
engage mesiobuccal undercut.
• supporting strut is used on non
retentive side
RING CLASP
• Improperly designed ring
clasp without a supporting
strut on non retentive side.
• It lacks necessary support.
• Lacks any reciprocating or
stabilizing action because
entire circumference of clasp
is free to open and close.
RING CLASP
 INDICATION
• when a proximal undercut cannot be approached by other means i.e
from occlusal direction (originating directly from occlusal rest) or from
gingival direction
• e.gwhen a mesiolingual undercut on a lingually tilted lower molar
abutment cannot be approached directly because of its proximity to the
occlusal rest area and cannot be approached with a bar clasp arm
because of lingual inclination of the tooth ring clasp encircling the tooth
allows the undercut to be approached from the distal aspect of the
tooth.
RING CLASP
 DISADVANTAGES
• Unaesthetic

• Too much tooth coverage

• Food impaction
Embrasure clasp
 DESIGN :
• 2 occlusal rests with definite proximal shoulders
• 2 retentive arms
• 2 reciprocal arms
• 2 clasp assemblies originating from common minor connector
• Action of double occlusal rests : increased support, prevent
wedging effect by the prosthesis and serve to shunt food
away from contact area
• Adequate occlusal clearance
 AIM :
• Gain maximum retention and stability from opposing side of
the arch
Embrasure clasp
 INDICATION
• unmodified Class II or Class III partial denture with no edentulous spaces on
the opposite side of the arch to aid in clasping.
• Favorable tooth contours
• Good oral hygiene and caries index
 DISADVANTAGE
• Increased rate of fracture – due to inadequate tooth preperartion in contact
area
• Food impaction
• Occlusal interference if inadequate clearance
• Increased tooth preperation
Back-action clasp
 DESIGN
• modificationof the ring clasp without the
supporting strut.
• Similar disadvantages
• no apparent advantages.
• Difficult to justify its use.

Back-action circumferential
clasp used on premolar
abutment anterior to
edentulous space.
Multiple clasp
 DESIGN
two opposing circumferential clasps joined at
the terminal end of the two reciprocal arms
•2 rests on opposing sides of adjacent teeth
•2 reciprocal arms ( joined)
•2 retentive arms ( free/ not joined)
Multiple clasp
 INDICATIONS
1. when additional retention and stabilization are needed (on tooth-
supported partial dentures)
2. when partial denture replaces an entire half of the dental arch.
3. when the only available retentive areas are adjacent to each other.
 Disadvantage
Two embrasures are approached hence increased tooth preparation
required.
Half-and-half clasp
 DESIGN
•2 minor connectors
• circumferential
retentive arm arising from primary
minor connector, along with primary rest
• reciprocalarm arising from another with or without
an auxiliary occlusal rest.
 CONTRAINDICATION
• bilateral distal extension base partial dentures
 INDICATION
• unilateral partial denture this design provide dual
retention
REVERSE-ACTION Clasp
• Hairpin Clasp
 AIM
• Toengage proximal undercut
from occlusal approach
 DESIGN
• Upperpart of pin acts as a minor
connector
• Tapered lower part acts as a
retentive part
• Bendshould be rounded to
prevent stress accumulation and
subsequent fracture
REVERSE-ACTION Clasp
 INDICATION
1. Titled tooth (bar clasp contraindicated)
2. When ring clasp cant be used due to lingual undercut and placement of supporting
strut not possible without tongue interference.
 DISADVANTAGES
• Food impaction
• Tooth coverage
• Increased functional load on tooth
• Limited flexibility
• Poor aesthetics
THANK YOU
Any questions?
ANALYSIS OF TOOTH
CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR RETENTIVE CLASPS

• Toothcontours and RPD components must interact to allow stable

prosthesis function
• Teeth to be engaged by RPDs must be contoured properly
• For better support
• For better stability
• For better retention

• Tooth contours must be analyzed and modified for optimum results

• The use of cast surveyor
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

Horizontal
arm Movable
vertical
arm/spindle
Fixed vertical
arm Adjustable
table
Base
Platform
THE CAST SURVEYOR
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Important working parts
• Movable vertical arm
• Adjustable table

THE CAST SURVEYOR

 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Relationship of the vertical arm to the
cast represents the path of placement
that the partial denture will ultimately
take when inserted or removed
• If cast is in horizontal relationship to
vertical arm  a vertical path of
placement or removal

THE CAST SURVEYOR

 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Relationshipof the vertical arm to the
cast represents the path of placement
that the partial denture will ultimately
take when inserted or removed
(continued…)
• If cast is in a tilted relationship to vertical
arm  path of placement towards the side
of cast that is on an upward slant

THE CAST SURVEYOR

 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• When the surveyor blade/analyzing rod is brought in contact with a tooth
surface
• Area of greatest convexity on the
clinical crown is easily identified

Named “Height of Contour” by Kennedy

Named “Guideline” by Cummer

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Marksthe boundary between undercut and non-undercut areas on tooth
surface
• Undercut areas
• Located towards the gingival or cervical region
• Accessible to only flexible components
• To be engaged by retentive elements
• Non-undercut areas
• Located towards the occlusal or incisal region
• Freely accessible to denture components
• To be engaged by reciprocating elements

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
HEIGHT OF CONTOUR
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• As suggested by DeVan

• Suprabulge area
• Portion of a crown that slopes or converges towards the occlusal surface (above the
height of contour)
• Infrabulge area
• Portion of a crown that slopes or converges towards the gingival surface (below the
height of contour)

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
SUPRABULGE AND INFRABULGE AREAS
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

• Angle formed by the tooth surface apical to the height of contour with the
vertical plane, when
the occlusal surface of the tooth is in
the horizontal plane
• Triangle visible below height of contour
• Apex is at height of contour
• Base is at gingival margin
• Angle at the apex is the angle of cervical or gingival convergence

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
ANGLE OF CERVICAL CONVERGENCE
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

• To be retentive, a tooth must have an angle of cervical convergence apical

to the height of contour

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
ANGLE OF CERVICAL CONVERGENCE
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

• If cast is in a horizontal relationship to vertical arm

• A vertical path of placement or removal
• If cast is in a tilted relationship to vertical arm
• Path of placement is towards
the side of the cast that is on an
upward slant

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
THE PATH OF PLACEMENT
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

• If favorable retentive areas are not found for a given path of placement
• Some other path of placement should be found
• Tilting the cast on the model table until a desirable path of placement is reached

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
THE PATH OF PLACEMENT
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Tilting the cast to select a different path of placement
• Changes the orientation of the tooth
• Changes the height of contour exhibited by that tooth
• Changes the depth of relative undercut areas of that tooth

• Line “H”  in horizontal orientation

• Line “B”  in a buccal orientation
• Line “L”  in a lingual orientation

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
THE PATH OF PLACEMENT
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Changing the orientation of a tooth also changes the depth of relative
undercut areas exhibited by that tooth

Tooth in horizontal Tooth in ten-degree Tooth in ten-degree

orientation tilted orientation to tilted orientation to
(zero degree the left the right
USING THE CAST
SURVEYOR
angulation) THE PATH OF PLACEMENT
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Shouldrequire the least amount of mouth preparations to be carried out to
place various components of the RPD framework in their ideal positions
• Retentive clasp arms should lie below height of contour
• Reciprocal clasp arms should lie above height of contour
• Major connector, minor connector and denture bases should not interfere with
soft tissue undercuts

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
THE MOST SUITABLE PATH OF PLACEMENT
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• “Vertically
parallel surfaces on abutment teeth oriented to contribute to the
direction of the path of placement and removal of a removable dental
prosthesis”

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• For a positive path of placement and removal
• Rigid parts of the denture framework should make contact with
parallel tooth surfaces
• Enhances denture retention by limiting the pathways of denture
dislodgement
• With more vertical walls (guiding planes) prepared parallel to
each other
• Even fewer possibilities towards denture dislodgment

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Most advantageous position to create guiding planes is with the model table
in horizontal position and occlusal plane parallel to the model table

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Tilting
the cast, to select a different path of placement, can make tooth
contours functionally ineffective
• Clasps designed at a tilt
• Remain ineffective to resist displacement
without creating corresponding guide planes
• Utilize undercuts that are not physically
present on the tooth surface in relation to its
long axis

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS

• Most advantageous position to create guiding planes is with the model table
in horizontal position and occlusal plane parallel to the model table

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
 ANALYSIS OF TOOTH CONTOURS FOR
RETENTIVE CLASPS
• Ifclasp retention is provided without properly designed parallel guiding
planes
• Clasp retention can become detrimental to tooth health
• Orthodontic tooth movement
• Damage to periodontal support of the tooth
• Structural damage to the tooth (e.g. abrasion)
• Clasp retention can become practically nonexistent
• No resistance to denture dislodgement
• Inevitable strain on denture components
• Fatigue fractures especially of clasps and minor connectors

USING THE CAST

SURVEYOR
GUIDING PLANES
ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY DESIGNED CLASP

• Retention

• Stabilization

• Support

• Encirclement

• Reciprocity

• Passivity
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• “Quality
inherent in a dental prosthesis acting to resist the forces of
dislodgment along the path of placement”

• Propertythat enables the clasp to resist dislodgement from the tooth in an

occlusal/vertical direction

RETENTION
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Basedon the resistance to deformation of metal or alloy used in
construction of the clasp
When a dislodging
Placement of force attempts to
retentive clasp arm lift the denture…
in measured
undercut
(preferably in
cervical third of
Retentive arm is
abutment crown)
forced to deform as
Resistance to deformation of the clasp it passes from the
arm accounts for retention of the undercut area over
prosthesis
RETENTION the height of
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Retention of clasps is related to…
• Amount of tooth undercut engaged
Major factors
• Resiliency of the retentive clasp arm
• Frictional resistance
• Amount of tooth surface covered
• Intimacy of tooth-to-clasp contact
• Material used in construction
• Direction of approach of the retentive terminal

RETENTION
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Amount of tooth undercut engaged 6. Type of alloy
1. Size of angle of cervical 7. Heat treatment of alloy
convergence
2. Distance travelled by clasp
terminal into the angle of cervical
convergence
• Resiliency of the retentive clasp
arm
1. Length
2. Diameter
3. Cross-sectional form
4. Taper of clasp arm
5. Kind of alloy

RETENTION
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
SIZE OF & DISTANCE INTO ANGLE OF CERVICAL
CONVERGENCE

• Angle formed by the tooth surface apical to the height of contour with the
vertical plane, when the occlusal surface of the tooth is in the horizontal
plane

RETENTION
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
SIZE OF & DISTANCE INTO ANGLE OF CERVICAL
CONVERGENCE

• To be retentive, a tooth must have an angle of cervical convergence apical

to the height of contour
• If an area of cervical convergence is not found for a given path of placement
• Change the path of placement by tilting the cast
• Recontour the tooth surface
• By selective grinding
• By placing restorations (composite buildup or crown)

RETENTION
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Resiliency
• “Capability of the clasp arm to recover from momentary distortion when
forced past the height of contour”
• Also called… flexibility

RETENTION RESILIENCY OF THE RETENTIVE CLASP ARM

 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
LENGTH & TAPER OF THE CLASP
ARM

• Longer clasp arms are more flexible

• Uniformly tapered clasp arms are more flexible
• Taper from end of retentive tip
to the point of origin of the clasp
• Taper from end of retentive tip
to the point where taper begins
along the length of the arm

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
LENGTH & TAPER OF THE
CLASP ARM

• Length is measured along center portion of clasp arm…

• Until it joins the clasp body (circumferential clasp)
• Until it becomes part of denture framework or gets
embedded in the acrylic base (bar clasp)

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
LENGTH & TAPER OF THE
CLASP ARM

• Ideal taper in the clasp arm

• Dimension at the tip approx. half than that at point of origin

• Makes the clasp twice as flexible as one without a taper

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
LENGTH & TAPER OF THE
CLASP ARM

• Optimizing resiliency of a circumferential clasp

• By providing increased length to retentive arm by allowing the
retentive tip to approach the undercut from a gingival direction

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Optimizing resiliency of a bar-type clasp
• Generally not possible!
• Flexibility always less than circumferential clasps
• Although greater in length than circumferential
clasp, its half round form lies in several planes
• Prevents its flexibility to increase in relation to its
overall length

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
LENGTH & TAPER OF THE CLASP ARM
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• Greater average diameter of a clasp decreases its overall flexibility
• Average diameter depends upon taper of the clasp arm
• If taper is absolutely uniform
• Average diameter is at a point midway between its origin and terminal end
• If taper is not uniform
• A point of flexure (weak point) is present, which determines the flexibility
regardless of the average diameter of its entire length

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
DIAMETER OF THE CLASP ARM
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP
• The only universally flexible form is the
round form
• Capable of flexing in all planes
• Horizontal, vertical and diagonal

• The cast clasps are half-round in form

• Capable of flexing in only one plane
• Horizontal

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
CROSS-SECTIONAL FORM OF THE CLASP ARM
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP

• Wrought form of an alloy is more resilient than cast form of the same
alloy
• By being drawn into a wire
• Internal structure of the alloy changes
• Accounts for greater toughness in wrought wire clasp than that of a cast
clasp
• 25% greater tensile strength of wrought form of alloy

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
TYPE OF ALLOY
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP

• Different resiliency with different kinds of alloys

• Chromium-cobalt alloys
• Gold alloys

• Cast chromium-cobalt alloy has less resiliency than cast gold alloy
• Chromium alloys have higher modulus of elasticity

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
KIND OF ALLOY
 ATTRIBUTES OF A PROPERLY
DESIGNED CLASP

• Proper heat treatment, especially of gold alloys, increases resiliency

of the clasp
• Improper heat treatment
• Material becomes brittle
• No resiliency in the clasp

RETENTION > Resiliency

of Retentive Clasp Arm
HEAT TREATMENT OF ALLOY
ATTATCHMENTS
Extrac
• Precision attatchments
oronal
Attatc
hment

Intrac
oronal • Precision attachments
retain
er / • Semiprecision attachments
Intern
al
Attatc
hment
s
TYPES OF DIRECT RETAINERS
INTRACORONAL RETAINER
• Within
the restored natural
contours of abutment tooth
• May be cast or attached
• Keyand keyway design with
parallel walls
• Frictional resistance
• First
formulated by Dr Herman
E.S Chayes in 1906
TYPES OF DIRECT RETAINERS
EXTRACORONAL RETAINER
• External to restored natural tooth contours
• Not aesthetic
• Provides mechanical resistance
•3 principle forms
 PRECISION ATTATCHMENTS

• “Aninterlocking device, one component of which is fixed to an abutment

and the other is integrated into a removable dental prosthesis in order to
stabilize it and/or retain it” (GPT)

Extracoronal
precision attachment Intracoronal precision
PRECISION ATTACHMENT attachment
 PRECISION ATTATCHMENTS
•A retainer system consisting of a male and a female part
• The male part (matrix) is usually contained within the normal or expanded
contours of a crown on the abutment tooth
• The female part (patrix) is usually attached to or embedded in the partial denture
framework

PRECISION ATTACHMENT