Six basic types of maxillary major connectors are considered.

1. Single palatal strap 2.Broad palatal plate 3. Anterior-Posterior bar

4. Horse shoe shaped 5. Anterior posterior strap 6. Complete coverage plate

A major connector less than 8mm is……………Bar

A major connector in the range of 8-12mm is ……Strap

A major connector more than 12mm is ………Palatal plate

Six basic types of mandibular Major connectors:

1. Lingual Bar 2.Linguoplate 3.Sublingual bar

4. Continuous Bar 5. Cingulum Bar 6. Labial Bar

It is the first choice major connector

INDICATION:

1…It should be used whenever the functional depth of the

lingual vestibule equals or exceeds 8mm.

2..Diastema

3..Overlapping of anterior teeth

PositionSuperior border

At least 4 mm or more below Free Gingival Marginor

As far from gingival margin as possible

Lingual Bar◦ Shape

Flat on tissue side

Convex or tear-drop on tongue side

(thin edge toward teeth)

The basic form of a mandibular major connector is a half-pear shape.

Upper margin of the bar should be 4mm away from the gingival margin.

Upper border of bar should be tapered towards gingival tissue◦ Size

Occluso-gingival width = 4 thickness= 4mm

Lingual bar

Advantages:

The simplest mandibular major connector with highest patient acceptance.

It does not cover the teeth or the gingival tissues

Disadvantages:

If it is not properly designed it may not be rigid.

Two methods to determine relative height of the floor of the mouth to locate inferior border of lingual bar1.Patient lifts tongue◦ Activates floor of mouthMeasure from tip of probe to free gingival margin

OR2.

o Make impression with lifted tongue

o Measure on cast

Record values in chart, transfer to cast

Anterior major connector moves toward tissue as the posterior portion is loaded

Space needed more when ridge is less vertical

Eliminates impingement◦ Wax spacer (relief) placed under major

connector◦ one thickness of 30 gauge wax

Indications:

When the lingual bar cannot be used because of a lack of functional depth of the lingual vestibule.i.e the superior border of the bar cant be placed at minimum 4mm from FGM(free gingival margin).

Design:

The sublingual bar is essentially a lingual bar rotated horizontally.

The superior border of the bar should be located at least 3 mm from the gingival margins of all adjacent teeth.

It is a lingual bar but placement is inferior and posterior to the usual placement of a lingual bar

It is lying over and parallel to the anterior floor of the mouth

Contraindications1) Lingual tori

2) High attachment of lingual frenum

3) Remaining natural teeth severely tilted toward the lingual

It is used when there is excessive vertical ridge resorption in Kennedy class I situation.

Half pear shape and thin piece of metal

Scallop appearance

Insufficient vertical space for lingual bar

Splinting

Existing mandibular tori

Exceptional rigidity

More comfortable than lingual bar

Extensive coverage

OR

Continuous Bar

OR

Dental Bar

Indications:

1. Height of activated lingual frenum and floor of the mouth at the same level as marginal gingiva.

2. Inoperable tori or exostoses at the same level as the marginal gingiva.

Indications:

3. Severely undercut lingual alveolus

4. Concern that a major connector traversing the gingival sulcus will cause a periodontal problem.

5. Considerable gingival recession.

Contraindications:

1. When a simpler major connector may be used.

2. Diastemas and open cervical embrasures where the metal will show.

Advantages:

1. Can be used where lingual bar and lingual plate can not.

2. Does not traverse the marginal gingiva or overlay the lingual alveolus.

3. Easy to add prosthetic teeth to framework.

Disadvantages:

1. Must be bulky to have sufficient rigidity and thus may be objectionableto the patient.

OR

KENNEDY BAR

OR

SPLIT LINGAUL BAR

OR

LINGUAL BAR WITH CONTINUOUS BAR RETAINER

Indications:

1. When indirect retention is required.

2. When periodontally affected teeth that require splinting, are present.

Design:

1.It is made of two bars:

Cingulum bar + Lingual bar

These bars are joined by:

Rigid minor connector at the embrasure between the canine

and first premolars.

Rests are placed at each end of the upper bar attached to the minor connector.

Design:

1.It is made of two bars=

Cingulum bar + Lingual bar.

2.The lower bar has the same design as a single lingual

bar.

3.The upper bar is scalloped, and half-oval in cross section

(2-3 mm high, and 1 mm thick at its greatest diameter.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

1. Where a lingual bar or lingual plate will suffice.

2. Any contraindication for a lingual plate except open cervical embrasures.

3. Diastemas.

ADVANTAGES:

Provides indirect retention

Contributes to horizontal stabilization

No gingival margin coverage

More rigid than lingual bar

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Tongue annoyance.

2. Food impaction if the upper bar is not in intimate contact with

the teeth.

Labial Bar

Indications:

Two situations where labial bar should be considered:

Severely lingually inclined teeth as to prevent the use of lingual major connector.

When large lingual tori exist and their removal is contraindicated.

The labial bar connects the saddles on the left and right sides of a partial denture and can also include an anterior saddle

Right left

anterior

CONCERNS:

Difficult for a patient to adjust to a labial bar Labial bar can distort the lower lipCan annoy the patient.

BUT

The lower the bar is placed, the less the possibility of distortion of the lower lip

AND

The better the esthetic result.

Design:

It is a half pear shaped bar,

It runs across the mucosa, labial to the anterior teeth.

Design:

Labial vestibule

It should be adequate to allow the superior border to be placed at least 3 mm away from the free gingival margins.

Reliefis required beneath the bar.

It solves the problem of severely inclined teeth, andAvoids surgical intervention to remove large torus.

Disadvantages:

It tends to lack rigidity since it is considerably longer than a lingual bar.

The least comfortable mandibular major connector.

It was introduced by Simmons in the early 1960s. This prosthesis consists of a labial bar with projections fastened to the RPD framework by a hinge at one end latch at the other end.

A modification to the linguoplate is the hinged continuous labial bar

Consists of labial bar

This bar is connected to the major connector by hingeon one end and a latch at the other end

INDICATIONS:

Missing Key Abutments

Loss of canine leaves the lateral incisors as terminal abutments.

SLRPD are used in these large edentulous spaces to maximize the retention and stability of the few remaining teeth

So it is much better than conventional PRDP

INDICATIONS:

Reduced bone support

Periodontally involved teeth, where conventional denture can not be used. It means “halfway house” b/w conventional RPD and complete overdenture.

INDICATIONS:

3. Unfavorable tooth contourThose cases where conventional RPD can not be used. SLRPD engages the undercut away from the edentulous span

4. Unilateral abutmentsIn such situations a retentive and stable conventional RPD is not helpful. SLRPD over come this problem

Systematic approach to designing a mandibular lingual bar and linguoplate major connectors.

STEP-1

Outline the basal seat areas on the diagnostic cast.

STEP-2

Outline the inferior border of the major connector

STEP-3

Outline the superior border of the major connector

STEP-4

Connect the basal seat area to the inferior and superior border of the major connector, and add minor connectors to retain the acrylic resin denture base material

Systematic approach to designing –Mandibular Major ConnectorsSTEP-1 STEP-2

STEP-3 STEP-4

Systematic approach to designing –Mandibular Major ConnectorsSTEPS

Dr. Louis Blatterfein (1953) He described a systematic approach to designing a maxillary major connectors.

STEP-1Outline the primary bearing areas. Areas that will be covered by the denture.

STEP-2

Outline of nonbearing areas.

The non bearing areas are the lingual gingival tissue within 5 to 6 mm of the remaining teeth, hard areas of the medial palatal raphe

STEP-3

Outline of connectors areas.

Step I and 2, when completed provide an outline or design areas that are available to place components of major connectors

STEP-4

Selection of connectors

It depends on four factors:Mouth comfortRigidityLocation of denture basesIndirect retention.

STEP-5

Unification.

After selection of the type of major connector, the denture bases areas and connectors are joined.

STEPS: 1-5, Maxillary Major Connectors

The End