Minor connector,
rest & rest seat
Saketh Varma
PG II
Contents
Minor Connectors Rests and Rest Seats
Introduction Introduction
Functions
Functions
Classification
Types of Minor
Occlusal Rest and Rest
Connectors
Seat
Cast Stops Lingual Rest and Rest
Finish Lines Review of Seat
Literature Incisal Rest and Rest
Conclusion
ReferencesSeat
2
Minor Connectors
3
Introduction
The connecting link between the major connector or base of a partial
removable dental prosthesis and the other units of the prosthesis,
such as the clasp assembly, indirect retainers, occlusal rests, or
cingulum rests.
GPT 10
The primary function of a minor connector is to join the remaining
components of a removable partial denture to the major connector.
4
Connects components to the
major connector:
• Direct retainer
• Indirect retainer
• Denture base
5
Functions of Minor Connectors
Transfers functional stress to the abutment teeth. This is a
prosthesis-to-abutment function of the minor connector.
Transfers the effects of the retainers, rests, and stabilizing
components throughout the prosthesis. This is an abutment-to-
prosthesis function of the minor connector.
6
Types of Minor Connectors
Clasp assembly to Indirect retainers to Denture base to Approach arm for
Major Connector Major Connector Major Connector Vertical
projection/Bar type
clasp
7
Minor connectors that join clasp assemblies to major
connectors
Sufficiently bulky to be rigid
Bulk should not be objectionable
Pass vertically from the major connector
Broad buccolingually – thin mesiodistally
8
9
10
Minor connectors that join indirect retainers or
auxiliary rests to major connectors
Auxiliary rests are most employed in Class 1,2 and long-span Class 3
and 4 situations.
These minor connectors should form right angles with the
corresponding major connectors, but junctions should be gently
curved to prevent stress concentration.
Minor connectors should be positioned in lingual embrasures to
disguise their bulk and promote patient comfort.
11
Minor connectors that join denture bases to major
connectors
Must be strong enough to anchor
denture base to the framework
Rigid enough to resist fracture
and displacement
Provide minimal interference to
placement of teeth
12
• Provides adequate support and retention for denture base
• Minimizes distortion of cured bases from inherent strains caused by processing
13
Open construction
Types of
denture base
Mesh construction
minor
connectors
Bead, wire or nailhead
components on a metal bas
Open/ Lattice construction
Longitudinal and transverse struts that
form a ladder-like network.
Ideally, transverse struts should be
designed to pass between the necks of
the artificial teeth.
Relief must be provided during framework
fabrication.
15
16
Advantages of open construction
Used for multiple teeth replacement
Provides strongest attachment of acrylic resin
Facilitates rebasing and relining procedures
17
Mesh construction
A mesh minor connector may be
compared to a rigid metallic screen.
Channels passing through connector are
intended to permit acrylic resin
penetration.
This allows resin encirclement of the
minor connector and mechanical
retention of the denture base.
18
Drawbacks of mesh construction
• Increased pressure is needed to force resin through
the small holes.
• Insufficient packing pressure may result in
inadequate resin penetration and a weak
attachment to the framework.
• Interfere with the arrangement of prosthetic teeth.
19
Cast stops
In a distal extension prosthesis, the use of relief produces a minor
connector that is supported at only one end.
As a result, the minor connector may bend when a load is applied.
The probability of bending is increased during packing and
processing of acrylic resin.
To prevent bending, a small area at the free end of the minor
connector should contact the master cast.
20
• A cast stop is created by
removing a small square of relief
wax where the posterior strut of
the minor connector crosses the
center of the ridge.
• As the minor connector is
supported at both ends, bending
of the framework can be
minimized or eliminated.
21
22
Bead, wire or nail-head construction
Bead, nail-head, or wire components are
often used in conjunction with metal
denture bases.
The metal bases are cast to fit directly
against the underlying soft tissue.
Resin is directly attached to the free
surface of the bases gaining retention be
encompassing the surface projections.
23
• It is indicated for short-span, tooth supported with well healed
ridges.
• The primary advantage of a metal base is related to improved
hygiene and thermal stimulation.
• Disadvantages include difficulty in adjusting and relining cast
metal bases.
• Furthermore, the attachment of resin is relatively weak.
24
Finish lines
The planned junction of different materials is termed as a finish line.
In RPDs, it denotes the junction of acrylic resin denture base and metal
major connector.
If they are located on the outer surfaces of major connectors, they are
called external finish lines.
If they are positioned on the inner or tissue surfaces, they are termed
internal finish lines.
25
Internal finish line
Relief wax creates an elevated area
on refractory cast.
The margins of the relief wax
establish internal finish lines in the
completed metal framework.
Each internal finish line should display
an angle of 90 degrees.
26
External finish line
An external finish line is formed by the
placement and carving of wax during
framework fabrication.
It should originate at the lingual extent of
the rest seat and continue down the
lingual aspect of the minor connector.
The internal angles of external finish lines
should be slightly less than 90 degrees.
27
Minor connectors serving as approach arms for vertical
projection/bar-type clasps
This serves as an approach arm for a bar
clasp, supports a direct retainer and
engages an undercut from the gingival
margin.
Only minor connector that is not required
to be rigid.
Should be smooth, even and taper from
its origin to its terminus.
28
Design rules of approach arm of an infrabulge
clasp
The approach must not impinge on the soft tissues adjacent to the
abutment.
The approach arm should cross perpendicular to the free gingival
margin.
The approach arm should never be designed to “bridge” an area of
soft tissue undercut.
29
Rests and Rest
Seats
30
Introduction
The components of a removable partial denture that
transfer forces down the long axes of the abutment
teeth are called rests.
The prepared surfaces of the teeth into which rests fit
are called rest seats.
31
Functions
Vertical stop: Prevents
movement of prosthesis
toward the tissues
Force transfer: To direct the
forces of mastication parallel
to the long axis of the
abutment tooth
32
The primary purpose of the rest is to provide vertical support for
the partial denture. In doing so, it also does the following:
Maintains components in their planned positions
Maintains established occlusal relationships
Prevents impingement of soft tissue
Directs and distributes occlusal loads to abutment teeth
33
34
Classification
Based on Relation to Direct
Retainer
Primary rests
Secondary rests
Based on Area of Placement
Occlusal rests
Lingual or cingulum rests
Incisal rests
35
Occlusal rest
A rigid extension of a removable
partial denture that contacts the
occlusal surface of a tooth or
restoration, the occlusal surface of
which is commonly prepared to
receive this rest.
36
Form of the Occlusal Rest Seat
2.5mm
37
Deepest portion
38
An occlusal rest must be at least
0.5 mm thick at its thinnest point
and should be between 1.0 and
1.5 mm thick where crosses the
marginal ridge.
39
Extended Occlusal Rest
This rest should extend more than
one-half the mesiodistal width of
the tooth
Should be approximately one-third
the buccolingual width of the
tooth
Should allow for a minimum of 1-
mm thickness of the metal
40
Interproximal Occlusal Rest
The design of a direct retainer
assembly may require the use of
interproximal occlusal rests.
These rest seats are prepared as
individual occlusal rest seats, with
the exception that the
preparations must be extended
farther lingually than normal.
41
Implants as a Rest
A low-profile connection should be used thereby imparting less torque to
the implant.
As its position can be selected, it is important to consider:
• Future use as a support to an implant fixed prosthesis
• Current placement at the distal-most tooth position to most effectively
resist functional forces of occlusion
42
Preparation of Occlusal Rest Seat
The larger 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.
The borders of the preparation are carefully inspected to ensure that no
undercuts exist.
43
A small piece of boxing wax is formed into a disk and firmly pressed
against the occlusal surface of the prepared tooth.
The depth of the rest seat is determined by carefully measuring the
thickness of the wax.
Finishing procedures are performed using a green stone in a low-
speed handpiece.
Polishing is performed using a small, carborundum impregnated
rubber point in a low-speed handpiece.
44
Rest Seat as part of Indirect
Restorations
45
Therefore, it is recommended that rest seats for metal-ceramic
restorations be constructed entirely in metal.
The metal borders should extend at least 1 mm beyond the borders of
the proposed rest (in all directions).
Surfaces that are to exhibit guiding planes also should be fabricated
in metal.
These features should be established during waxing procedures and
may be refined after the casting process.
46
Lingual or Cingulum rests
A metallic extension of a partial removable dental prosthesis framework that fits
into a prepared depression within an abutment tooth’s lingual surface.
49
Lingual or cingulum rests are used primarily on maxillary canines. The
normal morphology of a maxillary canine permit's preparation of a
satisfactory rest seat with minimal tooth reduction.
50
Preparation of Lingual Rest Seat
During the preparation process, the bur is
oriented at a slight angle to the lingual surface
of the tooth.
The bur is then used to create a crescent-
shaped rest seat that begins on one marginal
ridge, passes over the cingulum, and
terminates on the opposite marginal ridge.
The rest seat should form a smooth curve from
one marginal ridge to the other.
51
Lingual rest seats on cast restorations
If a fixed restoration is to be placed on an
anterior abutment, a cingulum rest seat should
be incorporated into the wax pattern.
This rest seat should exhibit ideal contours and
should direct forces along the long axis of the
abutment.
Waxing procedures are identical to those used
for other fixed restorations.
52
Bonded Cingulum Rest Seats
53
Incisal rests
A rigid extension of a removable partial denture that contacts a tooth
at the incisal edge.
Incisal rest seats are commonly used on mandibular canines, but may
be used on other anterior teeth as well.
54
Use of incisal rests may be justified by the following factors:
1. They may take advantage of natural incisal faceting
2. Tooth morphology does not permit other designs
3. Such rests can restore defective or abraded tooth anatomy
4. Incisal rests provide stabilization
5. Full incisal rests may restore or provide anterior guidance
55
56
Review of
literature
57
Fracture resistance of zirconia surveyed crowns with
four different occlusal rest seat designs
To determine the fracture resistance of chairside computer-aided design
and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) zirconia surveyed
crowns for a mandibular first molar without occlusal rest and with four
different rest seat designs.
Surveyed crowns with interproximal rest seats presented the lowest
fracture resistance among all rest seat designs. Crowns with disto-
occlusal rest seats, disto-occlusal extended rest seats, and continuous
rest seats displayed similar fracture resistance.
Jurado CA, Sayed Ahmed A, Lawson NC, Azpiazu-Flores FX, Green C, Cho S-H. Fracture resistance of zirconia surveyed crowns with four
different occlusal rest seat designs. J Prosthodont. 2024; 33: 484–489.
58
Effect of different framework materials on stresses induced in
distal extension removable partial dentures: A strain gauge
analysis
Evaluation of the strain transmitted to the abutments and residual ridge
by PEEK material compared to the Co-Cr one in distal extension
removable partial dentures to fulfil the objective of preservation of the
supporting structures.
PEEK material induces less stress on the abutments and more stress on
the residual ridges compared to the cobalt-chromium ones. Therefore, it
may be recommended for weak abutments supporting RPDs.
Fahmy MM, Al-Afandy MH, Mohamed HT, Abdelfattah Mohamed AM. Effect of different framework materials on stresses induced in distal
extension removable partial dentures: A strain gauge analysis. J Prosthodont. 2024; 1–7.
59
Conclusion
Minor connector, rests and rest seats are essential for the stability,
support, and comfort of cast partial dentures.
Their proper design and placement are crucial for optimizing retention,
distributing forces effectively, and ensuring patient satisfaction and oral
health.
60
References
1. Phoenix RD, Cagna DR, Defreest CF. Stewart's Clinical Removable Partial
Prosthodontics. 4th ed. Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc. 2008.
2. Carr AB, Brown DT. McCracken's Removable Partial Prosthodontics. l2th ed: Mosby, Inc.,
Elsevier Inc. 2011.
3. Jurado CA, Sayed Ahmed A, Lawson NC, Azpiazu-Flores FX, Green C, Cho S-H. Fracture
resistance of zirconia surveyed crowns with four different occlusal rest seat designs. J
Prosthodont. 2024; 33: 484–489. [Link]
4. Fahmy MM, Al-Afandy MH, Mohamed HT, Abdelfattah Mohamed AM. Effect of different
framework materials on stresses induced in distal extension removable partial dentures:
A strain gauge analysis. J Prosthodont. 2024; 1–7. [Link]
61
Minor connector,
rest & rest seat