SIUST, College of DentistryRemovable Prosthodontics II, Lec.7

Minor Connectors

These are small struts (or connecting link) which join the major connector or base of a removable partial denture and the other components of the prosthesis, such as the clasp assembly, indirect retainers, occlusal rest or cingulum rest.

The minor connector should be:

1. Unobtrusive.

2. Fits between the teeth and cross the minimum of gingival surface.

3. Rigid.

Its strength is important since they support the denture against the occlusal forces and therefore transmit heavy loads to the natural teeth.

1

SIUST, College of DentistryRemovable Prosthodontics II, Lec.7

Functions of the minor connector:

In addition to joining denture parts, the minor connector serves two other purposes:

1. To transfer functional stress to the abutment teeth. This is prosthesis-to-abutment.

Occlusal forces applied to the artificial teeth are transmitted through the base to the underlying ridge tissue if that base is primarily tissue supported.

Occlusal forces applied to the artificial teeth are also transferred to abutment teeth through occlusal rests.

2. To transfer the effect of the retainers, rests, and stabilizing components throughout the prosthesis.This is an abutment-to-prosthesis.

Forces applied on one portion of the denture may be resisted by other components placed elsewhere in the arch for that purpose.

A stabilizing component on one side of the arch may be placed to resist horizontal forces originating on the opposite side.

2

SIUST, College of DentistryRemovable Prosthodontics II, Lec.7

Form and location of the minor connectors:

Minor connector must have sufficient bulk to be rigid; otherwise the transfer of functional stresses to the supporting teeth and tissue will not be effective. At the same time, the bulk of the minor connector should not be objectionable.

Minor connector contacting the axial surface of an abutment should not be located on a convex surface. Instead, it should be located in an embrasure where it should be least noticeable to the tongue.

It should conform to the interdental embrasure, passing vertically from the major connector so that the gingival crossing is abrupt and covers as little of the gingival tissue as possible.

It should be thickest toward the lingual surface, tapering toward the contact area.

The deepest part of the interdental embrasure should have been blocked out to avoid interference during placement and removal, and to avoid any wedging effect on the contacted teeth.

When a minor connector contacts tooth surfaces on either side of the embrasure in which it lies, it should be tapered to the teeth. This avoids sharp angles, which could hinder tongue movement, and eliminates spaces that could trap food.

3

Finishing line at junction of ladderlike minor connector & major connector blends smoothly into minor connector contacting distal guiding plane on second premolar. Framework is feathered toward tissue anterior to finishing line to avoid as much bulk in this area as possible without compromising the strength of the butt-type joint.

SIUST, College of DentistryRemovable Prosthodontics II, Lec.7

Minor connectors should connect the major connector in vertical way. If they did not attach correctly, the minor connector will crack.

Edited ByNoor Al-Deen M. Al-Khanati

4