Major and Minor Connectors 1.

Lingual bar
Half-pear shaped
Components of a typical removable partial denture
Located above moving tissue but as far below the gingival tissue as possible
1. Major connectors
Made of reinforced 6-guage, half-pear shaped wax or a similar plastic
2. Minor connectors
pattern
3. Rests
4. Direct retainers
Superior border of a lingual bar connector should be tapered toward the
5. Stabilizing (reciprocal components)
gingival tissue superiorly with its greatest bulk at the inferior border
Parts of a clasp assembly
resulting in a contour that is half-pear shaped
6. Indirect retainers (if the prosthesis has a distal extension base)
7. Base (one or more)
The inferior border of the lingual bar should be slightly rounded when the
framework is polished and must be located so that it does not impinge on
- The prosthesis must extend to both sides of the arch
the tissue in the floor of the mouth
- The chief functions of a major connector include the unification of the
major parts of the prosthesis, distribution of the applied force
The more inferiorly the lingual bar can be located, the further the superior
throughout the arch to the selected teeth and tissue and minimization of
border of the bar can be placed from the gingival crevices of adjacent teeth,
torque to the teeth
thereby avoiding impingement of gingival tissue
Cross-arch stability
Two clinically acceptable methods
- The phenomenon in which a rigid major connector will limit movement
a. To determine the relative height of the floor of the mouth to measure
possibilities by acting as a counteracting lever
the height of the floor in relation to the lingual gingival margins of
adjacent teeth with a periodontal probe
Major connectors
- Connects the parts of the prosthesis located on one side of the arch with
b. To use an individualized impression tray having its lingual borders
that of the opposite side
3mm short of the elevated floor of the mouth and then to use an
- All the other parts are either directly or indirectly attached
impression material that will permit the impression to be accurately
- Provides for the cross-arch stability to help resist displacement by
moulded as the patient licks the lips
functional stress
- If flexible, the ineffectiveness of the connected components jeopardizes
2. Linguoplate
the supporting oral structures and can be a detriment to the comfort of
If the rectangular space bounded by the lingual bar, the anterior tooth
the patient
contacts and cingulums, and the bordering minor connectors is filled in, a
linguoplate results
Location
It should be made as thin as it is technically feasible
1. Major connectors should be free of movable tissue
It should be contoured to follow the contours of the teeth and embrasures
2. Impingement of gingival tissue should be avoided
3. Bony and soft tissue prominences should be avoided during
The upper border should follow the natural curvature of the supracingular
placement and removal
surfaces of the teeth and should not be located above them idle third of the
4. Relief should be provided beneath a major connector to prevent
lingual surface except to cover the interproximal spaces to the contact
its setting into areas of possible interference (inoperable tori or an
points
elevated medial palatal suture)
5. Major connectors should be located and or relieved to prevent
All gingival crevices and deep embrasures must be blocked out parallel to
impingement of tissue
the path of placement to avoid gingival irritation and any wedging effect
Because the distal extension denture rotates in function
between teeth
- Margins of the major connectors adjacent to the gingival tissue should
The linguoplate does not in itself serve as an indirect retainer when indirect
be located far enough from the tissue to avoid possible impingement
retention is required, definite rests must be provided for this purpose
- Superior border of a lingual bar connector may be located at a minimum
of 4mm below the gingival margin
3. Sublingual bar
- Because the connector must have sufficient width and bulk to provide
A modification of the lingual bar that has been demonstrated to be useful
rigidity, a linguoplate is commonly used when there is insufficient space
when the height of the floor of the mouth does not allow placement of the
for a lingual bar
superior border of the bar at least 4mm below the free gingival margin
- Borders of the palatal connector may be placed at a minimum of 6mm
away from and parallel to the gingival margin
It is generally accepted that a sublingual bar can be used in lieu of a lingual
- The anterior palatal strap (anterior border of a palatal plate) also should
plate if the lingual fraenum does not interfere in the presence of an anterior
be located as far as possible posteriorly to avoid interference with the
lingual undercut that would require considerable block out for a
tongue in the rugae area
conventional lingual bar
- The posterior limitation of a mx major connector should be just anterior
to the vibrating line
Contraindications include
a. Interfering lingual tori
Characteristics of a major connector contributing to the health and well-
b. High attachment of a lingual fraenum
being of a patient
c. Interference with elevation of the floor of the mouth during functional
1. Made from an alloy compatible with the oral tissue (biomechanics)
movements
2. Rigid and provides cross-arch stability though the principle of
broad distribution of stress
4. lingual bar with a cingulum bar
3. Does not interfere with and is not irritating to the tongue
5. Cingulum bar (continuous bar)
4. Does not substantially alter the natural contour of the lingual
When a linguoplate is the major connector of choice, but the axial alignment
surface of the mn alveolar ridge of the palatal vault
of the anterior teeth is such that an excessive block out of interproximal
5. Does not impinge on oral tissue when the restoration is placed,
undercuts must be made, a cingulum bar may be considered
removed or rotates in function
6. Covers no more tissue that is absolutely necessary
When wide diastema exists between the mn anterior teeth a continuous bar
7. Does not contribute to the retention or trapping of food particles
retained may be more aesthetically acceptable that a linguoplate
8. Has support from other elements of the framework to minimize
rotation tendencies in function
6. Labial bar
Mandibular major connectors
 Although the use of labial major connectors may be necessary in rare palates, or in form of an anterior palatal connector with a provision for
instances, it should be avoided by resorting to necessary mouth extending an acrylic resin denture base posteriorly
preparations rather than by accepting a condition that is otherwise The palatal plate should be located anterior to the posterior palatal seat
correctable area

Modification to the linguoplate is the hinged continuous labial bar. This 4. U-Shaped palatal connector
concept is incorporated in the swing-lock design and consists of a labial or The least desirable mx major connector
buccal bar that is connected to the major connector by a hinge on one end The principal objections to use the U-shaped major connector
and a latch at the other a. Lack of rigidity (compared with other designs) can allow the lateral
flexure under occlusal forces, which may induce torque or direct
Use of the swing-lock lateral force to abutment teeth
a. Missing key abutments
b. Unfavourable tooth contours b. The design fails to provide good support characteristics and may
c. Unfavourable soft tissue contours permit impingement of underlying tissue when subjected to
d. Teeth with questionable prognosis occlusal loading

Design of the mandibular major connectors c. Bulk to enhance rigidity results in increased thickness in areas that
1. Step 1: Outline the basal seat areas on the diagnostic cast are a hindrance to the tongue
2. Step 2: outline the inferior border of the major connector
3. Step 3: outline the superior border of the major connector 5. Single palatal bar
4. Step 4: connect the basal seat area to the inferior and superior borders Palatal connector component of less than 8mm width
of the major connector and add the minor connectors to retain the Most widely used and also the least logical of all the palatal major
acrylic resin denture base material connectors

Maxillary Major Connectors It must be rigid enough to provide support and cross-arch stabilization
1. Single palatal strap and must be centrally located between the halves of the denture
Bilateral tooth-supported prosthesis, even those with a short edentulous
space are effectively connected with a single broad palatal strap 6. Combination of the anterior and posterior palatal bar type connectors
connector, particularly when the edentulous areas are located To be sufficiently rigid and to provide the needed support and stability,
posteriorly these connectors could be too bulky and could interfere with tongue
function
Suitable rigidity, without excessive bulk, may be obtained for a single
palatal strap by the lab technician casting a 22-guage matte plastic
pattern Beading of the maxillary cast
- Beading is the term used to denote the scribing of a shallow groove on
For reasons of torque and leverage, a single palatal strap major the mx master cast outlining the palatal major connector exclusive of
connector should not be used to connect anterior replacements with rugae areas
distal extension bases
Purposes
2. Combination anterior and posterior palatal strap-type connector 1. Transfer the major connector design to the investment cast
Posterior palatal strap should be flat and a minimum of 8mm wide 2. Provide a visible finishing line for the casting
Posterior palatal connectors should be located as far posteriorly as 3. Ensure intimate tissue contact of the major connector with the
possible to avoid interferences with the tongue but anterior to the line selected palatal tissue
flexure formed by the junction of the hard and soft palates Design for the mx major connectors
1. Step 1: outline of the primary bearing areas
The strength of this major connector design lies in the fact that the 2. Step 2: outline of the non-bearing areas
anterior and posterior components are joined together by longitudinal 3. Step 3: outline of the connector areas
connectors on either side forming a square or rectangular frame 4. Step 4: selection of the connector type
It is frequently used in classes 2 and 4, whereas the single wide palatal 5. Step 5: Unification (coitus, Lol)
strap is used frequently with class 3 cases
Minor connectors
3. Palatal plate-type connector - Serves as the connecting link between the major connector or base of a
Used to designate any thin, broad and contoured palatal coverage used RPD or any other component of the prosthesis
as an mx major connector and covering one half or more of the hard - May be continuous with some other part of the denture
palate
Functions
Advantages 1. Transfer functional stress to the abutment teeth (prosthesis-
a. Permits the making of a uniformly thin metal plate that abutment function)
reproduces faithfully the anatomic contours of the patients own 2. Transfer the effect of the retainers, rests and stabilizing
palate components throughout the prosthesis (abutment-prosthesis
function)
b. The corrugation in the anatomic replica adds strength to the
casting thus a thinner casting with adequate rigidity can be made Form and location
1. Minor connector contacting the axial surface of an abutment
c. Surface irregularities are intentional rather than accidental, should not be located on a convex surface
therefore electrolytic polishing is all that is needed, the original 2. It should be thickest toward the lingual surface tapering toward
uniform thickness of the plastic pattern is maintained the contact area
3. The deepest part of the interdental embrasure should have been
d. By virtue of intimate contact, interfacial surface tension between blocked out to avoid interference during placement and removal
the metal and tissue provides the prosthesis with greater retention and to avoid any wedging effect on the contacted teeth
4. When a minor connector contacts tooth surfaces on either side of
It may be used as a plate of varying widths that cover the area located the embrasure in which it lies, it should be tapered to the teeth
between two or more edentulous areas, as a complete or partial cast
plate which extends posteriorly to the junction of the hard and soft
 5. When an artificial tooth will be placed against a proximal minor
connector, the minor connectors greatest bulk should be toward
the lingual aspect of the abutment tooth
6. Ideally, the artificial toot should contact the abutment tooth with
only a thin layer of metal intervening bucally
7. Angles formed at the junctions of the connectors should not be
greater than 90 degrees
8. The minor connector for the mn distal extension base should
extend posteriorly about 2/3rd the length of the edentulous ridge
and have elements on both the lingual and buccal surfaces
9. Minor connectors for mx distal extension denture bases should
extend the entire length of the residual ridge and should be of a
ladder-like and look design

Tissue stops
1. Integral parts of minor connectors designed for the retention of
acrylic resin bases
2. Provide stability to the framework during the stages of transfer
and processing
3. Useful in preventing distortion of the framework during acrylic
resin processing procedures

Finishing line
1. The finishing line junction with the major connector should take
the form of an angle not greater than 90 degrees, therefore being
somewhat undercut
2. The location of the finishing line at the junction of the major and
minor connector should be based on restoring the natural palatal
shape while taking into consideration the location of the
replacement teeth

Reaction of tissue to the metallic coverage of a RPD

- Occurs particularly in the regions of the marginal gingivae and the broad
areas of tissue contact
1. Important to maintain adequate relief and support from both
teeth and tissue
2. Settling of the denture because of the loss of tissue support may
also produce pressure somewhere else on the arch
3. Lack of adequate hygiene measures result in tissue reactions
because of the accumulation of food debris and bacteria
4. Partial dentures should be removed for several hours each day or
so that the effects of tissue contact may subside and the tissue
may revert back into its normal state