Denture base for RPD

Preclinical Removable Partial Denture

Prof. Lucette Segaan

Prosthodontic department
Denture Base for RPD
Presented by
Dr .Lucette Segaan
Professor of Prosthodontics
 Denture base

Outline
Definition
Material of construction
Extension
Relation to abutments
Attachment of artificial teeth
Denture Base (Saddle)
* Definition

The denture base is that part of the removable

partial denture that rests on the oral mucosa
and to which artificial teeth are attached.
Functions of the Denture Base
* In addition to carrying the artificial teeth, it serves
the following functions:-
1- Stimulation by massage the underlying
tissues of the residual ridge.
Functions of the Denture Base
2- Thetotal support actually comes from
both the abutment teeth & the following
underlying structures (Tissue Support) :-
a- The residual ridge
b- The buccal shelf
c- The palate
d- The pear shaped pad.
Functions of the Denture Base
3- Retention by physical means:
a- Adhesion
b- Cohesion
c- Atmospheric pressure
d- Effect of gravity on mandibular denture.
Functions of the Denture Base
4- Resistance to horizontal movements
when the denture base is extended
buccally & lingually.
 Functions of the Denture Base
5- The denture base & the attached teeth
serves to prevent migration and overeruption
of remaining teeth.
 Material of construction

•RPD denture base can be constructed of

metal or acrylic resin
 Denture Base Materials
* Ideal requirements of denture base Materials

1- Accuracy of adaptation with low volume

change.
2- Dense non irritating surface that maintains
good finish.
3- Sufficient strength & resistance to fracture
and distortion.
* Ideal requirements of denture base Materials

4- Thermal conductivity
5- Low specific gravity or light of weight
6- Potential for future relining
7- Easily kept clean.
8- Esthetic acceptability.
9- Low cost.
 Types of Saddle
I. According to design:
Depending on the condition of the remaining supportive
structures, the extension maybe
1- with flange
2- Gum fitted
3- Bar-type Saddle
In case of posterior bounded saddles, where aesthetics do
not have to be considered, a modified construction may be
applied which is a bar of metal attached directly to the
connector, to form the occlusal surface and there is no
mucosal contact at all.
This allows the gingiva to be free of pressure and to be
readily self-cleansing.
II. According to the edentulous area:
1- Free end saddle (Distal extension bases)
2- Bounded saddle
III. According to the need for future relining:
1- Acrylic
2- metallic
3- Combination
Denture Base Materials
* The denture base may made of:-

1- All metal base

2- All acrylic base

3- Combination between metal & acrylic

1- All metal base,

Used with tooth-

supported RPD.
2- All acrylic resin,

Used with acrylic

removable partial

denture.
3- Combination between
metallic & acrylic .

Used with distal

extension bases
( Class I, II &long
span Class III ).
.
Denture Base Extension
* When support is derived from the alveolar ridge as
in case of distal extension RPD & some bounded
edentulous area.
The saddle should have Maximum tissue coverage:
- To decrease the pressure/ unit area
-To prevent the ridge from being overstressed
- To keep the forces falling on the bone within its
physiologic limit.
- Resists vertical & horizontal loads falling on the
ridge during function.
* In the maxilla
the base should
cover the tuberosity
and extend into
the functional depth
of the buccal sulcus.
* In the mandible
the base should cover
the retromolar pad
and extend buccally
and lingually to the
functional depth of
the sulcus.

Short retro
molar pad
 The Relation of the Denture Base to the Abutment Tooth and It’s
Gingival Margin :
• Contact between the denture base and the proximal surface of the abutment
at the natural contact point is necessary to prevent food packing. Otherwise,
periodontal disease and caries may occur.
• The gingival margin should be relieved from pressure to avoid its
traumatization.
 Attachment of the teeth to the Metal Base

Artificial teeth may be attached to denture bases

by several means :
1 -Acrylic Resin Bond :

• Porcelain or acrylic teeth are attached with

resin.
• Porcelain teeth are mechanically retained. The
posterior teeth are retained by acrylic resin in
their diatoric holes. The anterior teeth are
retained by acrylic resin surrounding the
lingually placed retention pins.
• Acrylic teeth are used in a chemical union with the acrylic
resin of the denture base that occurs during laboratory
processing procedures.
• Attachment of acrylic resin to the metal base may be
accomplished by beads, nail heads, retention loops, diagonal
spurs
• Any junction of resin with metal should be at undercut
finishing line to avoid separation.
2- Cementation of tube teeth to metal Post :
• The metal post may be casted with the RPD
framework or may be soldered to it after casting.
• This means of attachment is specially designed for
the attachment of tube teeth which have a hole
running through it from the occlusal surface to the
base through which the metal post is passed. The
tube tooth is fixed to the post by cement.
3. Steel's Backing :
The metal backing is made as a part of the casting plate and the
facing is attached to it. This type of teeth is composed of a
facing which may be acrylic or Porcelain and a back of metal
casted as a part of the base.
This type of teeth is strong and can withstand heavy biting force.
It is used when anterior teeth are replaced.
4- Metal teeth :
• May be cast as a part of the base to replace a second molar
tooth where short space exists occluso-cervically.
Denture Base Retentive Elements

* Denture base retentive elements ( or networks)

are minor connectors that join the denture base to
the major connector.
1- Open lattice work
* Open construction consists of longitudinal
and transverse struts that form a ladder-like network.
1- Open lattice work
* In the mandibular arch, one longitudinal strut
should be positioned buccal to the ridge crest
and the other lingual to the ridge crest.
2- Mesh Construction
* A mesh minor connector is basically a thin
sheet of metal perforated with many small
holes.

* It covers approximately the same portion of

the residual ridge as outlined by the struts
for open lattice.
3- Metal Denture Bases
* Metal denture bases are most commonly
used over well-healed posterior residual
ridges where vertical space is a problem.

* Attachment of the metal and denture base

plastic can be achieved with nail heads, beads
or wire loops.
Finish Lines
* Finish lines occur where the acrylic resin
of the denture base meets the metal of the
framework.

* The junction of the two materials should

form a butt joint.
* There is an internal & external finish line

at each junction.

* The internal finish line is located on the

tissue surface side of the framework.

* The internal finish line is
formed by the 24-26

gauge relief wax placed

on the master cast prior

to duplication
* The external finish line is located on
the polished surface of the RPD.

* It is the finish line drawn on the cast

during the design process.
* A slight undercut in the metal that forms
the finish line helps to improve the
mechanical retention between the base
and the framework.
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.
Thank you