MINOR CONNECTOR

Definition

Serves as a connecting link b/w

The major connector or base of a
removable partial denture
And other components of the
prosthesis such as
1. Clasp assembly
2. Indirect retainers
3. Occlusal / cingulum rests

In many instances the minor

connector may be continuous
with some other part of the
denture.

FUNCTIONS

PROSTHESIS -toABUTMENTtoABUTMENT
PROSTHESIS

PROSTHESIS-toABUTMENT
The minor connectors transfer the
functional load from the artificial teeth
to the abutment tooth.
This transfer occurs through the occlusal
RESTS.
The minor connector arising from a rigid
major connector makes possible this
transfer of functional stress throughout
the dental arch.

ABUTMENT-to-PROSTHESIS
The minor connector helps to transfer
the effects of the Retainers, Rests and
the Stabilizing components
throughout the prosthesis.
The forces applied on one portion of
the denture may be resisted by a
component that is placed somewhere
else in the arch.

EXAMPLE
A stabilizing component on one side
of the arch may be placed to resist
horizontal forces originating on the
opposite side.
This is possible only because of the
transferring effect of the minor
connector.

Types of Minor
Connectors
1. Join the CLASP ASSEMBLY to the major
connector
2. Join the INDIRECT RETAINERS or
AUXILLIARY RESTS to the major
connector
3. Join the DENTURE BASE to the major
connector
4. Serve as an APPROACH ARM for a
vertical projection or bar-type clasp

Minor connectors that joins clasp

assembly to the major connector

Must be RIGID
Reason:
1. They support the active component
of the partial denture, the
RETENTIVE ARM.
2. They support the component of the
prosthesis that prevents vertical
movement towards the tissue, the
REST.

Most of the minor connectors that

support the Clasp Assemblies are
located on the proximal surfaces of
the teeth adjacent to edentulous
area.

They should be
1. broad buccolingually but thin
mesiodistally.
2. The thickest portion buccolingually should
be at the lingual line angle of the tooth
and should taper evenly to its thinnest
point at the buccal line angle of the tooth.
3. When the minor connector contacts the
guiding planes it should be broad enough
to take full advantage of the situation.

If the clasp assembly is not being

placed on the tooth adjacent to the
edentulous space, then the minor
connector has to be positioned in the
embrassure between two teeth.

Minor connector that join

Indirect Retainers or Auxiliary Rests to Major
Connector

 A minor connector contacting the axial

surface of an abutment should not be
located on the convex surface.
It should conform to the inter-dental
embrassure, passing vertically from
the major connector so that the
gingival crossing is abrupt and covers
as little of gingiva as possible.

 It should be thickest towards the

lingual surface, tapering towards the
contact area.
The deepest portion of the interdental embrassure should be blocked
out to avoid interference during the
placement and removal, and to avoid
any wedging effect on the contacted
teeth.

 They should form a right angle with

the major connector, but the junction
should be gentle curve rather than
sharp angular connection.

modification
Limited to maxillary arch only.
The minor connector is located in the center
of the lingual surface of the maxillary
abutment tooth.
Advantages:
1. Reduces the amount of gingiva coverage.
2. Enhanced guidance during insertion and
removal.
3. Increased stabilization against horizontal
and rotational forces.

Minor connector that join

Denture Base to Major Connector

Those portions of the denture

framework by which acrylic resin
denture bases are attached are
minor connectors.

1. They should be so designed that they

are completely embedded within the
denture base.
2. They must be strong enough to anchor
the denture base securely, rigid
enough to resist breakage or flexing.
3. they must interfere as little as possible
with the arrangement of the artificial
teeth.

4. The junction of these minor

connectors with the major
connectors should be strong butttype joint but without appreciable
bulk.

5. In distal extension cases:

Maxillary arch must extend the entire
length of the residual ridge to cover
the tuberosity.
Mandibular arch should extend 2/3rd
the length of the edentulous ridge.

1. Open Latticework construction

2. Mesh construction
3. Bead, wire, or nail-head

OPEN LATTICE
CONSTRUCTION

Consists of two struts of metal, usually

12-16 gauge thick, extending
longitudinally along the edentulous
ridge.

 In the mandibular arch one strut is

positioned buccal to the crest of the
ridge and the other lingual to the crest
of the ridge.
In the maxillary arch one strut is
positioned buccal to the ridge crest,
and the border of the major connector
acts as the second strut.

 Smaller struts, usually 16 gauge

thick, connect the two struts to form
the lattice.
These connecting struts run over the
crest of the ridge and should be
positioned so that they interfere
minimum with the arrangement of
the artificial teeth.
Generally one cross strut b/w each of
the teeth to be replaced is indicated.

 The latticework minor connector can be

used whenever multiple teeth are to be
replaced.
Studies indicate that:
1. The open latticework provides the strongest
attachment of the acrylic resin denture
base to the removable partial denture.
2. Easiest of the denture base retainers to
reline.

MESH CONSTRUCTION

Consists of a thin sheet of metal with

multiple holes that extend over the crest of
the residual ridge.

 Indicated in cases where multiple teeth

are to be replaced.
Packing of the acrylic becomes difficult
as more pressure is required against
the resin to make it flow through the
holes.
The attachment is also not as strong as
open latticework.

BEAD, WIRE or NAIL

HEAD

 This form of denture base is

hygienic because of the better soft
tissue response to metal than to
acrylic resin.
Indicated in tooth supported cases,
well healed ridges when the interarch
space is limited and the acrylic resin
by itself would not have sufficient
strength to withstand the forces of
occlusion.

Tissue Stops

Are integral parts of the minor

connectors designed for the
retention of acrylic resin bases.

Their roles include:

1. Provide stability to the framework
during the stages of transfer and
processing.
2. Useful in preventing distortion of the
framework during acrylic resin
processing procedures.

The tissue stop is made by removing

approximately 2 square mm of the
relief wax used to create the space
beneath the lattice or mesh from the
point where the posterior end of the
minor connector crosses the center
of the ridge.

Arrow points to location of tissue stop

Framework on the cast showing tissue

contact posterior to the minor connector
with planned relief.
Arrow points to created tissue stop.

Attachment to Major
connectors
Acrylic around minor and major
connector should join smoothly
Junction should be a butt joint
Space for the butt joint on internal
and external surface
External finish lines
Internal finish lines

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External finish lines

Formed by placing and carving wax at

the junction of Major and minor
connectors
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Internal finish line

Formed from relief of wax

Used on edentulous ridge on master cast
before duplication for refractory cast
Space for acrylic
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Approach arm for

Vertical Projection or Bar-type Clasp

Is the only minor connector not required to be rigid.

It must be
1. Smooth
2. Even taper from its origin to its
terminus
3. Must not cross a soft tissue undercut
4. Tissue side smooth polished without
relief
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THANK YOU

RESTS AND REST SEATS

REST
Component of removable partial denture
that serve primarily to transfer forces
occurring against the prosthesis down the
long axis of the teeth - GPT 8
REST SEAT
The prepared recess in a tooth or
restoration created to receive the
occlusal, incisal, cingulum or lingual rest GPT 8
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Direct and distribute the

occlusal load to abutment
teeth.
Studies indicate that the
displacement and recovery following
loading is far better for natural teeth
than for the oral mucosa.
The most effective resistance can be
provided by the tooth if it is stressed
along its long axis.

Fibers of the periodontal ligament

withstand vertical forces better than
the lateral or horizontal forces.

The role of the rests in the

prosthesis is to engage the
tooth in a manner that
encourages axial loading.

Prevent impingement of the

soft tissues
The rests act as VERTICAL STOPS,
preventing injury and overdisplacement of the soft tissues
under the partial denture bases or
major connectors.

Maintain the components in

their planned positions
Rest maintains retentive clasp in
proper position.
Without rest the clasp would not
remain in amount of undercut
designed.

 Maintain the established occlusal

relationship by preventing the
settling of the denture.
Prevent food impaction.
May also help to establish a more
acceptable occlusal plane
INLAYS/ ONLAYS.

Types of Rests
Occlusal rests
Lingual or cingulum rests
Incisal rests

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OCCLUSAL RESTS

The outline form should be

rounded triangular shape with the
apex towards the center of the
occlusal surface.

Size of the occlusal rest should be the

bucco-lingual width of the tooth from the tip
of the cusps and 1/3rd to the mesio-distal
width

The triangle should be as long as it is

wide, and the base of the triangle
should be at least 2.5mm for both
molars and premolars.

 The greatest cause of the failure of an

occlusal rest is insufficient reduction of
the marginal ridge.
The marginal ridge of the abutment
tooth at the site of the rest seat must
be lowered to permit sufficient bulk of
the metal for strength and rigidity of
the rest and the minor connector.

The occlusal rest should be at least

0.5mm thick at its thinnest point and
should be b/w 1.0-1.5 mm thick where
it crosses the marginal ridge.

 The floor of the occlusal rest seat should be

concave and spoon-shaped.
There should be no sharp edges or line
angles in the preparation.

The angle formed by the occlusal

rest and the vertical minor connector
from which it originates should be
less than 90 degree.

An angle greater than 90 degree will:

1. Fail to transmit the occlusal load
along the long axis of the abutment
tooth.
2. Permit slippage of prosthesisorthodontic like forces.

Preparation of the occlusal rest seat

Rest seat preparation should always be
done on a sound enamel surface.
Preparation of proximal tooth surface is
often necessary to provide the proximal
guiding planes and to eliminate
undesirable undercut that rigid parts of the
framework must pass over.
The preparation of the occlusal rest seat
should always follow proximal preparation
and never precede it.

 Large round bur is first used to lower the

marginal ridge and to establish the outline
form of the rest seat.
The resulting occlusal rest seat is then
completed except that the floor is not
sufficiently concave.
A small round bur is then used to deepen the
floor of the rest seat into desired spoon-shape.
The preparation is then smoothened by
polishing point of suitable shape and size.

 Occlusal rest preparations in existing

restorations is treated in the same
way as those in the sound enamel.
The effectiveness of the occlusal rest
seat should not be jeopardized for
the fear of perforating an existing
restoration.
Secondary occlusal rest can be used
on the opposite side of the tooth.

 The occlusal rest seats in the crowns

and inlays are generally made
somewhat larger and deeper than
those in the enamel.
Those made in abutment crowns for
tooth-supported dentures may be
made slightly deeper than those in
abutments that support a distal
extension.

LINGUAL RESTS

 A CANINE is much more preferred

over an incisor for this purpose.
MAXILLARY CANINE is preferred
over mandibular canine.
When the canine is absent, multiple
rests spread over several incisor
teeth are preferred to be used.

The factors which need to be taken

into consideration include:
1. Root form
2. Root length
3. Inclination of the root
4. Crown-root ratio

Requirements of lingual
rest
Cingulum should be prominent
enough to present a gradual slope
Good oral hygiene maintenance
Low caries index
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Lingual v/s incisal rest

It is placed nearer to the horizontal axis of

rotation of the abutment tooth and therefore
will cause less tendency to tip the tooth.

Preparation of the
lingual rest seat

A slightly rounded V-shaped

preparation is done on the lingual
surface at the junction of the gingival
and the middle third of the tooth.

 The preparation is started using an

inverted cone shaped diamond stone
and progressing to smaller tapered
stones with round ends to complete
the preparation.
The floor of the rest seat should be
towards the cingulum rather than the
axial wall.
Smoothened with rubber polishing
points and pumice.

The most satisfactory lingual rest for

the standpoint of support is the one
which is placed on a prepared rest
seat in a cast restoration.

INCISAL REST and REST

SEAT

 Incisal rests may be used

successfully for selected patients
when the abutment is sound and
when a cast restoration is not
otherwise indicated.
The incisal rests are used
predominantly as
1. Auxiliary rests
2. Indirect retainers.

An incisal rest is prepared in the form

of a rounded notch at the incisal
angle of a canine or on the incisal
edge of an incisor.

 The deepest portion of the

preparation should be apical to the
incisal edges.
The notch is beveled both labially
and lingually.

In case of mandibular anterior

multiple rests are indicated

1. May take advantage of natural

incisal faceting.
2. Tooth morphology does not permit
other designs.
3. Such rests can restore defective or
abraded tooth anatomy.
4. Incisal rests provide stabilization.
5. Full incisal rests may restore or
provide anterior guidance.

THANK YOU

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