Occlusal rests and similar

components
Preclinical Removable Partial Denture

Prof. Lucette Segaan

Prosthodontic department
 Outline
Definition
Requirements of occlusal rests
Function of occlusal rests
Effect of occlusal rest on tooth
Cingulum and incisal rests
Occlusal onlays
Embrassure hooks
• Any component of a partial denture on a tooth surface that
provides vertical support is called a rest.

• The prepared surface of an abutment to receive the rest is

called the rest seat.

• The primary purpose of the rest is to provide vertical

support for the partial denture. ( tooth support)
Occlusal rest
A rigid extension of a
removable partial denture
that contacts the occlusal
surface of a tooth restoration.

An occlusal rest may be a

part of the clasp or a separate
element.
 Requirements
1- Must fit the teeth accurately with bevelled margins.

2- Must be at right angle or less to the long axis of the

tooth so that the tooth is not forced away from the
saddle .
 Requirements
3- May rest in a natural depression
on the occlusal surface
or
Occupy a shallow depression
prepared in the enamel or in an
inlay (inset occlusal rest) .
• 4- It should be at least 0.5mm thick
at the thinnest point and1.5mm as
it crosses the marginal ridge.
The thickness of the rest depends
on :
Alloy used
Opposing dentition
Heaviness of bite
 5- Should cover 2/3 of
the width of the marginal ridge.

6- Internal angle of the rest seat

should be rounded to allow a
considerable thickness of metal in
this area to give it strength.
 Preparation of occlusal rest seat – In Enamel

The buccolingual width of

the occlusal rest should be The proximo-occlusal angle (A) should
one-half the distance never be left sharp, but rounded (B)
between the cusp tips of
bicuspids and less for molars
Occlusal rest seat preparation

• To provide space to allow adequate thickness and strength

of the alloy used.
• To provide more suitable inclined surfaces for rest than
those existing on natural teeth.
• To provide bracing.
 Preparation of occlusal rest seat
• Occlusal rest seats can be prepared using round burs.
• A large round bur is used first to lower the marginal ridge and to
establish the outline form of the rest seat.
• A slightly smaller round bur then is used to deepen the floor of the
occlusal rest seat and form the desired spoon shape.

Should be done before final impression

registration
• Rest Seat Form
• Rest seats should have a smooth flowing outline form (no sharp line angles).
• 1. Occlusal Rest Seats
(a) The outline of an occlusal rest seat is a rounded triangular shape with
its apex nearest to the centre of the tooth.

• (b) The base of the triangular shape is at the marginal ridge and should be
approximately one third the bucco-lingual width of the tooth.
• ( c) It should be as long as it is wide, and the base of the
triangular shape (at the marginal ridge) should be at least 2.5
mm for both molars and premolars.

• (d ) The marginal ridge must be lowered and rounded to

permit a sufficient bulk of metal to prevent fracture of the rest
(1 to 1.5 mm)
• (e) The floor of the rest seat should be inclined towards the centre of the
tooth, so that the angle should be less than 90°. This helps to direct the
occlusal forces along the long axis of the tooth.

• An angle of more than 90° fails to transmit the occlusal forces along the
long axis of the tooth .

• (f ) The floor of the rest seat should be concave or spoon shaped ( saucer).
This will prevent horizontal stresses and torque on the abutment tooth.
 Functions of occlusal rest

1- Support of the saddle

main function of occlusal rest .

2- Transmission of lateral load .

 Functions of occlusal rest

3- Deflection of food
Deflect the food buccally
and lingually preventing it
from entering between
saddle and abutment tooth.
Functions of occlusal rest

4- Improvement of occlusion
Occlusal rest can be shaped to improve existing occlusion .
( tilted tooth , rest is built up to give large contact area with
opposing teeth)
5- Maintains the arms of the clasp in their proper vertical
relation to undercut areas .

6- May act as indirect retainer.

 Effect of occlusal rest on tooth

The application of vertical load ,over the whole occlusal

surface , keeps the direction of force with the long axis of the
tooth.
When the occlusal rest is placed on one side only of the
occlusal surface , a torque will result under vertical load .
To prevent this torque
- Extend the occlusal rest over the center of the mesio-distal
fissure.
- Using two short occlusal rests mesial and distal
- Placing rest away from the edentulous area so that the adjacent
tooth resist rotatory movement.
Cingulum and incisal rests
Cingulum rests are
placed on the palatal
or lingual surface of
anterior teeth.
Cingulum rest seat is
prepared in the enamel .
Canines are usually most
favorable tooth.
Cingulum rest seats
• Usually the upper canine, due to its well-developed
cingulum.
• Must be at right angle to the long axis of the tooth.
• Inverted “V” mesio-distally.
• Slightly rounded to avoid sharp line angles.
• 1mm. Depth.
Cingulum rest seat preparation
To provide space to allow adequate thickness and
strength of the alloy used.
To provide more suitable inclined surfaces for rest
than those existing on natural teeth.
To provide bracing.

Cylindrical bur along the long axis of the tooth

Don’t create enamel undercut

correctt Incorrectt
Cingulum and incisal rests
Incisal rest is usually used
in the mandibular teeth
due to lack of space on the
lingual aspect of most
lower anterior teeth.
 Occlusal onlays
When occlusal rest is extending to
cover the whole occlusal surface of a
tooth.
Onlays may be casted in gold
,chrome- cobalt or combination of
metal and acrylic resin .
 Function of occlusal onlays

1- Support .
2- Correction of closed bite .
3- Improvement of occlusion .
4- Reduction of cusp angle .
5- Splinting .
Embrasure Hooks
Forms of rests placed in embrasure between two
natural teeth .
Cover the occlusal or incisal surfaces of teeth
continue slightly over the labial or buccal surfaces ,
but never below survey line.
May be in gold or chrome - cobalt
Embrassure Hooks
Functions of embrasure hooks

1- Support .
2- Resist lateral movement .
3- Resist antero-posterior movement.
4- Splint natural teeth.
5- May act as indirect retainer .
Disadvantages of embrasure hooks

1- Separation of teeth by wedging action.

2- Appearance .
References
1- Phoenix R.D. , Cagna D.R. , DeFreest CH. F.:
“Stewart’s Clinical Removable Partial
Prosthodontics” 3rd ed. , 2003, pp.40-44,
pp.94-99.

2- Straton R.J.& Wiebelt F. J. :

“ An atlas of Removable Partial Denture
Design” , 1988, pp. 73-77.