Biomechanics on removable

partial denture.
 Study objectives.
• Introduction.

• Terminologies.

•
Principles of removable partial denture

Different forces acting on the denture in the mouth

Response of the denture to the forces acting on it

Controlling stress by design consideration

 Length of edentulous span.

Different forces acting on a Clasp design.

denture in the mouth.
Length of clasp.

Clasp material.

Occlusal forces. Abutment tooth surface.

Forces from the tongue. Qualities of clasp.

Occlusal relationship and

Forces from surrounding orientation of occlusal plane.
musculature.
Response of oral structure to
Factors controlling magnitude of previous stress.
stresses.
Quality of ridge support.
 Principle aiding to Maximum
control coverage of soft
Response of tissue
Second rotational
the dentures to fulcrum (sagittal)
Efficient use of the
direct retainer
the forces
acting on it. Third fulcrum line Proper favourable
(vertical) placement of the
components

Lever action
Inclined plane
I order

II order
Deflects the object
which is applying the
force.
III order
Movement of the
inclined plane itself.
 Bilateral
congigurartion
Controlling
Direct and
Number retention
placement
stress by .forces of adhesion and
of clasps
Tripod
cohesion
clasp design configuration
design Frictional control
Neuromuscular control
Splinting the abutment Quadrilateral
considerations teeth
Clasp position configuration
Indirect retention
Denture base
Denture base
rests
Major connector

L- beam Circular Strut

principle configuration configuration
 Study objective.

Principles of removable partial denture.

-conventional rigid design.

- stress equalization: type I & type II stress
breakers.
- physiologic basing

- broad stress distribution.

 Introduction.
• What is Biomechanics in Removable partial
denture Prosthodontics?

Application of mechanical principles on

biological tissues while studying the
biology from a functional viewpoint and
then using these principles to design a
stable prosthesis.
 Terminologies.
Removable partial denture prosthesis:
• Any prosthesis that replaces some teeth in a
partially dentate arch. It can be removed from
the mouth and replaced at will. (GPT-8)
• A removable denture that replaces some teeth
in a partially edentulous arch; the removable
partial denture can be readily inserted and
removed from the mouth by the patient. (GPT-
9)
• Fulcrum Line in RPD : A theoretical line
around which a removable partial denture
tends to rotate.(GPT-9).
• Lever: A rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to
move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one
end when pressure is applied to the other.
• Retentive fulcrum line: (GPT-9)
• 1. An imaginary line connecting the retentive
points of clasp arms on retaining teeth
adjacent to mucosa-borne denture bases.
• 2. An imaginary line connecting the retentive
points of clasp arms, around which the
removable partial denture tends to rotate
when subjected to dislodging forces.
Why the Need to design?
• The supporting structures are living tissues
• The supporting tissues are subjected to force
and thus the duration, direction,frequency
and magnitude of the force must be
controlled.
• The potentially destructive forces must be
minimized in order to limit the exerted force to
the physiologic tolerance limit.

• The design of the removable partial denture

requires mechanical and biologic considerations.
 Support and force distribution.
• Entirely tooth supported prostheses:
- Kennedy’s class III.

• Combined tooth tissue supported prostheses:

- Kennedys class I, II , IV (long span).
 Difference between the two main types
Aspects Class III Class I and II

Type of Derive Support From Derive major support from soft tissue.
support Abutment.

Requirement Direct retainers are needed To resist vertical displacement

for Direct but majorly for retentive It also must dissipate tissue ward force
Retention Controlling theseequally
purposes. forces by:
to the abutment.
Maintaining
-De Van determined optimal tissue health
that mucoperiosteum of residual ridge
Indirect Maximum
offers only Terminal
0.4% coverage
ofabutments
the support of soft
are provided
There is a tissue
by the
need periodontal
for indirect retention
Retention Proper
present useligament.
of direct
which provides retainers
to prevent rotation along
resistance to rotation. the retentive fulcrum line.
Placement of all components
-250 times more displaceable that in theirthemost advantageous
abutment tooth.
position
Principles of removable partial denture

Different forces acting on the denture in the mouth

Response of the denture to the forces acting on it

Controlling stress by design consideration

 Forces acting on the abutment:
Forces acting on the
-Length of the edentulous span.
Forces acting on the denture:
-Quality of ridge support.
removable partial denture
-occlusal
-Quality forces.
of the clasp.
-forces fromcharacteristics
-Surface the buccal andof thelabial
and the abutment tooth
musculature.
abutment.
inside the oral cavity
Occlusal
-forces fromharmony.
the tongue
 Different forces acting on the denture in the mouth

Forces
Occlusal
from the
forces.
Forces from
surrounding
the tongue.
musculature
 Different forces acting on the abutment .

Length of edentulous span.

-effort must be made to

retain an
-length abutment
of edentulous
teeth terminally to the
span α leverage force
edntulous space
 Quality of ridge support

• Thickness and health of

••Broad
Largeridges
well formed
periosteum
ridges
withplays
also parallel
a
are more favourable.
sides
vital role.
 Clasp qualities:

flexibility design length material

 Clasp flexibility

• More flexible is the clasp, less is

the load transfer to the abutment.

• Increased flexibility produces

more deleterious non-axial forces
onto the residual ridge.
InIn
periodontaly sound
periodontaly weakabutment:
abutment:

More force on •
• Since the tooth is
Less force
the Lesssound
delerious
it can take
onabutment.
the effect on the
abutment. up thi force
abutment

More
• Good ridge with
• A healthy
adequate ridge is
width
force
Comparatively
towards
lesser forces andstill required
healthy
the ridge. • A T -clasp can also
on the ridge periosteum.
be used here.
 Clasp design.

The dentureAdd disclosing

has towaxbe
When
seated denture is placed
completely in
so that
the patients
the mouth,
claspCheck
retentive the
tip is
for metal showing
Refining the fit
clasps should through
not the wax
apply
placed into the undercut.
of the clasp.
deleterious
If not theforces
clasp on
can the
be
Adjust until the
abutment
active and apply tooth.
continous
completely seated.
forces on the abutment.
Clasp length

2x Length
length α flexibility
5 x flexibility
Clasp material

Chromium
Different based alloys
materials have
are moremechanical
different rigid than
goldproperties
based alloys
 Surface characteristics of
the abutment.

Amalgam
Enamel
Goldintact
offers restorations
offers
more
lesser
friction
friction
The enamel surface
offers
to even
than
the morearm.
clasp
enamel. friction
provides smoother surface.
than gold restorations.
Occlusal harmony:

The area of the

denture base
Deflective occlusal against which the
occlusal load is
contacts generate non applied influences
axial forces onto the the amount of load
abutment. transferred to the

30 pounds/sq.inch
300 pounds/sq.inch

abutment toot and

the residual ridge.
Various forces acting
on the denture.
 Support and force distribution.
• Entirely tooth supported prostheses:
- Kennedy’s class III.

• Combined tooth tissue supported prostheses:

- Kennedys class I, II , IV (long span).
 Difference between the two main types
Aspects Class III Class I and II

Type of Derive Support From Derive major support from soft tissue.
support Abutment.

Requirement Direct retainers are needed To resist vertical displacement

for Direct but majorly for retentive It also must dissipate tissue ward force
Retention purposes. equally to the abutment.
Controlling
-De Van determined these forces by:
that mucoperiosteum of residual ridge
Indirect
Maintaining
offers only Terminal
0.4% ofabutments
the supportoptimal tissue health
are provided by the
There is a need periodontal
for indirect retention
Retention Maximum
present coverage
which provides
ligament. toof soft tissue
prevent rotation along
resistance to rotation. the retentive fulcrum line.
-250 times more displaceable thatretainers
Proper use of direct the abutment tooth.
Placement of all components in their most advantageous position
 The
The difference
movement in theextension
of distal resiliency of
base
towardsThe
the theforces
supporting acting
tissues
ridge tissue on
canthe
bringto:
is proportional
denture should
about -quality impart
of the
non-vertical forcesvertical
tissue. on the
-accuracy and on
forces extend
theofabutment.
abutment. the denture base.
-applied total functional load.
 Mechanical
principles
applicable in
Removable Lever e.
i nc ipl
Prosthodontics pr

Inclined
plane
principle.
 Lever principle.
• Lever: A simple machine consisting of a rigid
bar pivoted on a fixed point and used to
transmit force, as in raising or moving a weight
at one end by pushing down on the other.
 Third order lever.
First order
Second orderlever.
lever.
First order
lever.
 Second
order lever
1stMechanical
2nd advantage 3rd
=

Effort arm
Resistance arm
Level of efficiency decreases
Mechanics of movement : Thinking three
dimensionally.

Forces act in a
horizontal, sagittal,
and frontal planes
around the vertical,
transverse and
sagittal axes
respectively.
Sagittal plane: Mediolateral axis

Divides the head into

right and left half
• The axis runs
mediolaterally
Horizontal plane: vertical axis

Divides the head into

upper and Lower half
• The axis runs vertically
Horizontal plane: vertical axis
Frontal plane: anteroposterior axis

Divides the head into

anterior and
posterior half
• The axis runs antero-
posteriorly
Frontal plane: anteroposterior axis
The forces acting on the denture are never purely in
one plane or around a single axis.

horizontal
Forces in
different planes
have different
frontal
levels of
deleterious
effects.
sagittal
The forces acting on the denture are never purely in
one plane or around a single axis.

They are composite

forces.
 • Axial to non-axial force
There is always a dominant vector that can be
tolerance ratio by the pdl
is 17.5 : 1 identified .
Inclined plane principle
 Controlling stress by
design considerations
 Should be by maintaining a
A design philosophy that strives to
“ No
There balance
removable
control
is no
these between,
partial
mechanism
forces denture
within can be
to counter
the
what should
designed
allphysiologic
the forces happen
or conducted
tolerance
that of&the
maythat
be what
will will
notto
applied
teeth be
a destructive
and removable
supporting in the mouth.”
partial
structures
happen. denture.
can be
successful.
 Bilateral
congigurartion
Controlling
Direct and
Number retention
placement
stress by .forces of adhesion and
of clasps
Tripod
cohesion
clasp design configuration
design Frictional control
Neuromuscular control
Splinting the abutment Quadrilateral
considerations teeth
Clasp position configuration
Indirect retention
Denture base
Denture base
rests
Major connector

L- beam Circular Strut

principle configuration configuration
 Direct retention.

The design of the clasp

should be such that it
provides adequate retention
to prevent dislodgement of
the denture by unseating
forces.
Sources of additional
Between
Between
unlike
like
retention. molecules
molecules .

To maximize the effect :

-use maximum area available for support.
-accurately adapt to the underlying mucosa.
cohesion adhesion
 Frictional control:
These
Rpd can bebe
should created on
designed
Enamel applies
Parallelism has lesser
to be
enamel
such that surface or on
guiding planes
friction in comparison
maintained to
are restorations
present on as. many
a gold or amalgam
teeth as possible.
restoration.
 Neuromuscular control

Designshould
Patient contour and
have the
extension of maintain
ability to the denture
base has a key
controlled role to play.
movements.
 Clasp position

-Quadrilateral
configuration

Its not the number but the -Tripodal

position of the clasp that configuration

matters
-Bilateral
configuration
 Quadrilateral
configuration.
Class 3 with modification space.
 Clasp assembly on both
abutment teeth adjacent to
edentulous space.
In case of absence of
modification space, clasp
assembly anteriorly and
posteriorly are given on the
dentulous opposite arch.
 Tripodal
configuration

If modification is absent

 Class
clasp placed as modification
2 with far anteriorlyspace.
 Clasp
and posteriorly
presentonadjustment
the teeth. to the
 Not as effective
edentulous space.as
On the modification space side
quadrilateral
configuration
clasp on bothbut
thebetter in teeth.
abutment
class 2 cases.
 Bilateral
configuration

 Class 1 situations.
 Provides least stress reduction.
Clasp design

-Cast circumferential clasp.

-Vertical projection clasp.
-Combination clasp.
 Cast circumferential clasp:-

••Class2 and
A clasp thatclass 1 casesfrom
originates claspthe
assembly
mesioocclusal
involving
rest and disto
engagesocclusal rest and retentive
the distofacial undercuttip
or a
involving mesiofacial
reverse circulate undercut
clasp should beis prevented.
used.
•Terminal end of such clasp impart tipping forces on the
abutment teeth.
Vertical projection clasp:-

•It is notor
•T clasp indicated
modifiedintcase
claspofcan
mesiofacial undercut.
be used on an abutment adjacent
•I
to clasp is better
the distal used involving
extension space. mesiofacial undercut and
mesioocclusal
•It is used whenrest seat.
the a distofacial undercut is seen on the
•It doesn’t apply any stress on teeth.
abutment.
 Combination clasp:-

•Used when a distal extension

is presented with a
mesiofacial undercut.
•Wrought wire is used as the
•Flex morearm
retentive andand
in multiple
cast metal is
spatial
used asplanes.
the reciprocal arm
•Combination
•More flexibleofandboth cast and
produces
wrought wire
less stress onisthe
used.
abutment.
 Splinting of abutment
tooth.
Indications:
•Splinting two or more
Loss of periodontal teeth increases
attachment the periodontal ligament
has occurred
•area and distributes
Abutment appliedroot
tooth - tapered loads
or more
short effectively.
roots to the extent that
there is not an acceptable amount of periodontal ligament
attachment present.
•The joining of two such teeth by crowns will produce an
acceptable multirooted abutment tooth
 •Swing-Lock partial denture, can be
used to splint teeth effectively

• •All
Not doneneed
clasps if fixed
notsplinting
to be
is possible.
retentive.
• •Prepared
The splinting consists
guiding planesof
clasping
may more
provide than one
additional
tooth on each
horizontal side of the
stability.
•Results
arch and inusing additional
decreased
rests for increased support.
mobility.
• Cross arch stabilization
 Indirect retention:

••Not
Helps
as resist
criticalrotation
in a Class
and/or
I arch
•displacement
Required- modification
of a removable
space
•The indirect retainer or
on
partial
the tooth-supported
denture. side of
retainers
• The
the arch,
indirectmust
abutment beteeth
retainer is on
positioned
both
essential
sidesinoftheas design
the far anterior
space of
should
be to the
ClassI
rested
andfulcrum
. Class IIline as
removable
possible.
partial dentures.
Class II
Class I
Class III situation usually
doesn’t need a indirect retainer
as there is no lever effect.

• Class IV situation it just opposite to the class I

situation with indirect retainer present as far
posteriorly as possible.
 Auxiliary rest

Mesio-occlusal rests on the first

premolars serve to support the long
lingual plate major connector
 Occlusion.

•The number of teeth replacing the natural teeth should be

•Smoothly functioning occlusion in harmony with TMJ &
reduced to decrease the amount of force falling on the ridge.
neuromusculature
•Artificial minimize
posterior teeth shouldthe load
have transferred
sharp cusp withto the
low
teethplane
incline and soft tissues.
in order to increase the cutting efficiency and
•The contacts of the remaining natural teeth should be the
prevent horizontal interferences force.
same whether the removable partial denture is in mouth or
not.
 Denture base.

••Accurate
Maxillaryadaptation
denture base of denture
extend -base is necessary
maxillary for proper
tuberosity.
••Mandibular
The denture
retention base should
of denture
denture baseextend
base. as much
- retromolar denture bearing area as
pad.
••possible in order
The external
Overextension oftodenture
dissipate
polished surfacethe
base forces
ofshould falling
the denture
be on the be
should
avoided. prosthesis.
contoured
•Dentureinflanges
properly should
order to aid inbe as long as
retention of possible.
the dentures.
 Major connector.

•AInmajor
mandible the lingual
connector plate major
-> maximum connector
coverage area Is
->most preferred
dissipate the
because
occlusal itforces
covers the whole
falling on it. lingual surface of anterior teeth.
••Thus distributing
In maxilla a palatalthefull
forces to all major
coverage the teeth.
connector is more preferred
•asIt it
is contacts
particularly helpful
all the in splinting
remaining teethperiodontally
with a lingualweakened
plate thusteeth.
helps
•in
It also provides
dissipating therigidity
forces.and cross arch stabilization.
 Minor connector
•This minor connector helps
The minor
•Additional connector
guide can beinincorporated
connecting
planes two majorplane
the guide functions.
to theteeth
on other majorto
•It provides
connector athe
plays single
a very path of insertion.
important role in on
dissipating functional
help dissipate lateral stresses falling the single tooth.
•Improved
stresses. stability
Because byclose
of its providing increased
adaptation resistance
to the abutment to teeth.
horizontally
directed forces
 Rest and rest seat:

•Thus helping the rest seat to grab the tooth securely and prevent its
•Rest seats are essential as they transmit force vertically along the
migration.
long axisrest
•Occlusal of the teeth.
seats should be rounded and some amount of space
•rest be
should seats prevent
present formation
between the of
restany lateral
and stresses.
rest seat to allow free
•Rest seats
movement asshould be designed
a movement of ballinand
such a way
socket that they are less than
joint.
90 degrees to the path of insertion.
Review of article