Maxillary Major Connectors Introduction
Major connector unites all other components with it and gives unified unit which act as single unit as a removable partial denture. Selection of major connector varies according to missing teeth and their location. This chapter focuses on brief review on maxillary major connectors and their indication.
Table of Contents
Major Connector
The component of a removable partial denture that connects the parts (of RPD) located on one side of the dental arch to those on the other side. Its main functions are to provide unification and rigidity to the denture.
Read and Learn More: Preclinical Prosthodontics Notes
Selection of major connector for particular edentulous maxillary arch:
- If remaining natural teeth are periodontally weak the required support should be taken from palate. For this, full palatal major connector should be used.
- If remaining natural teeth are periodontally sound and little support is required then palatal strap or double palatal bar can be used.
- If torus present and inoperable then use horseshoe, closed horseshoe major connector.
- Avoid use of palatal bar because of its greater bulk and interference with tongue, speech.
- For anterior teeth replacement, horseshoe or closed horseshoe can be used.
- Major connectors in the maxillary arch should terminate 4.0 mm or more from the free gingival margin.
Maxillary Major Connectors
Palatal Bar (Single Posterior Palatal Bar) Major Connector:
Indications:
- Used when one or two teeth to be replaced.
- Used with class III edentulous condition.
- Requires strong abutment.
- When present tori is noninterfering.
Advantages:
- It was widely used earlier.
- Simple design configuration.
Disadvantages:
- It is very bulky.
- Interfere with tongue movement.
- Interfere with speech.
- Cannot be used for replacement of multiple teeth.
Palatal Strap Major Connector:
Indications:
- For short edentulous span.
- Bilateral edentulous space.
- Tooth supported partial denture.
Advantages:
- Less interference with tongue movements.
- More degree of resistance.
- Even distribution of load.
Disadvantages:
- More palatal coverage than palatal bar.
- More tissue reaction.
Anteroposterior (Double Palatal) Bar Major Connector:
Indications:
- Used with periodontally strong abutments.
- Used with U-shape palate.
- Class-I partially edentulous condition.
Advantages:
- It offers excellent rigidity
- Offers less palatal coverage
- It can be used when multiple missing teeth to be replaced
Disadvantages:
- Not for high vault palate.
- Offers little support.
- Bulk of metal interferes with tongue.
- Speech may get altered temporarily.
U-shaped Palatal Major Connector (Horseshoe-shaped Major Connector):
Indications:
- Indicated for class I and class IV conditions.
- When tori is present and inoperable.
- If tori extends till posterior part of hard palate.
Advantages:
- Derives support and indirect retention from palatal tissue.
- When several anterior teeth are being replaced.
Disadvantages:
- When used in distal extension cases, it may flex during mastication due to posterior open ends.
- Need excess bulk in rugae.
- May interfere with speech.
Anteroposterior Strap Major Connector:
Indications:
- Indicated for class I and class II conditions with sound abutments.
- Long edentulous span in class I with modification.
- Class-IV condition when anterior teeth to be replaced with emovable partial denture.
- Inoperable tori but not extending till posterior part of palate.
Advantages:
Can be used for most of the partially edentulous conditions. Anterior and posterior straps closed by longitudinal metal extensions give circular configuration which gives rigidity to major connector.
Disadvantages:
- Not indicated when abutment teeth have reduced periodontal support.
- Interfere with speech.
- Not indicated with high arch palate.
Full Palatal Plate (Complete Palate Coverage) Major Connector:
Full palatal plate major connector is of three types:
- Full metal palate.
- Full acrylic palatal connector.
- Metal acrylic combination.
Indications:
- When many teeth are missing.
- Long class I edentulous condition with modification.
- When need to take support from palate.
- In cleft palate cases.
- When remaining teeth are not sound periodontally to provide support.
Advantages:
- Advantages of metallic denture base.
- Good support and rigidity.
Disadvantages:
- Adverse tissue reaction.
- Problem in speech.
Leave a Reply