PROSTHODONTICS
IT IS THE COMPONENT PART OF REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE THAT
IS USED TO RETAIN AND PREVENT DISLODGEMENT CONSISTING OF
THE CLASP ASSEMBLY OR PRECISION ATTACHMENT - GPT
IT IS APPLIED TO AN ABUTMENT TOOTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF
HOLDING A RPD
RETENTIVE ARM
RECIPROCAL ARM
SHOULDER
REST
MINOR CONNECTOR
Requirements of Direct Retainers
All clasp assemblies should meet the following requirements:
1. Support - resistance to gingival displacement (occlusal rests)
2. Reciprocity - resistance to orthodontic movement of teeth using reciprocal arms or
elements placed against guiding planes. During placement and removal of the partial
denture the retentive arm flexes over the height of contour and generates energy. At
this point the rigid reciprocal arm should contact the guiding plane and prevent
orthodontic movement from taking place.
3. Stability - resistance to lateral movement (reciprocal arms, minor connectors)
4. Retention - retentive arms located in undercuts on the abutments
5. Encirclement of greater than 180° of the tooth - prevents the prosthesis from moving
away from the tooth
6. Passivity - at rest, a direct retainer should not exert force against a tooth
Introduced by Nesbitt in 1916
It is most simple and versatile clasp (clasp of choice in tooth-borne cases)
Clasp assembly has one retentive arm opposed by a reciprocal arm originating from the rest.
Known as Akers clasp.
They embrace more than half of the tooth.
ADVANTAGES-
1. Easiest clasp to make and repair
2. Less food retention
3. Best when applied in tooth supported partial dentures.
4. Derives excellent support and retention
5. Used in most of the situation.
DISADVANTAGES-
1. Covers last tooth surface area
2. Difficult to adjust with pliers
3. If clasp are placed high (more occlusally) on the tooth, width of food table increases leading to
generation of greater occlusal forces.
4. Cannot be used for cases with an undercut away from edentulous space.
a. The bar clasp is a cast clasp that arises from the partial denture framework and approaches the
retentive undercut from gingival direction (as opposed to a circumferential clasp that approaches
the undercut from the occlusal direction).
b. Retentive clasps are identified by shape of retentive terminal, i.e. T, Y, L, I, U, and S.
c. The shape is unimportant as long as the direct retainer is mechanically and functionally stable,
covers minimal tooth structure with minimum display (the I bar most often meets these
requirements)
d. T-and Y-shaped terminal ends are the most misused clasps. The full area coverage of the T and
Y terminal ends is rarely necessary for adequate retention.
e. L-shaped clasp is same as an I clasp with a longer horizontal component. The U-shaped clasp is
same as an L-shaped clasp with a terminal like a double I-clasp.
f. The S-shaped terminal end is used to avoid a mesial soft tissue undercut.
g. Soft tissue relief is provided under the approach arm with 28 or 30 gauge wax, to prevent tissue
impingement
Contraindications:
a) deep cervical undercuts - food trap or impingements result
b) severe soft tissue or bony undercuts - food trap or impingements result
c) insufficient vestibular depth for approach arm (requires 4 mm - 3 mm from free
gingival margin, 1 mm for thickness of the approach arm)
d) pronounced frenal attachments in area - impingement