The document discusses the history and development of various classification systems for partially dentulous arches. It describes over a dozen systems proposed between 1905-1960, including those by Kennedy, Cummer, Bailyn, Mauk, Beckett, Friedman, Austin-Lidge, Skinner, and Applegate-Kennedy. The Applegate-Kennedy system, which is a modification of Kennedy's original system, is highlighted as being the most universally used today for its simplicity.

2. The Prime purpose for creating a classification system
for partially dentulous arches is to enable the dentist
to clearly communicate to a listener or reader the
condition of an oral cavity in which missing teeth are
to be replaced with a prosthesis.
An additional benefit of a workable classification
system is that it is a contributing aid in the learning of
the fundamentals of design.

3.  Swenson classification system 1905
 Cummer’s classification system 1922
 Kennedy’s classification system 1925
 Bailyn’s system 1928
 Neurohr’s system 1939
 Mauk’s system 1942
 Beckett’s system 1953
 Friedman’s system 1954
 The Austin-Lidge classification system 1957
 Skinner’s system 1959
 Applegate-Kennedy’s system 1960

4. The four primary classes represent only slight
modification of the kennedy’s system, whereas the
modifications of these four classes are changed
more drastically.

5. Class I – An arch with one free end denture base.
Class II – an arch with two free end denture bases.
Class III – an arch with an edentulous space posteriorly
on one or both sides of the mouth but with teeth
present anteriorly and posteriorly to each space.
Class IV – an arch with an anterior edentulous space
and with five or more anterior teeth missing.

6. Swenson’s class I partially Swenson’s class II partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition
Swenson’s class III partially
edentulous condition
Swenson’s class IV partially Swenson’s class V partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition

7. The first system to receive recognition from the
profession was one proposed by Cummer in
1920. His classification based upon the choice of
natural teeth for direct retainers
Class I – a partially edentulous arch in which two
diagonally opposite teeth are chosen as abutment
teeth
Class II
- a partially edentulous arch in which two
diametrically opposite tooth are chosen as
abutment teeth for the attachment of the direct
retainers with an indirect retainer as an auxillary
attachment.

8. Class III – a partially dentulous arch in which
one or more teeth on the same side are chosen
as abutment teeth for the attachment of the
direct retainers with or without indirect
retainer.
Class IV - a partially dentulous arch in which
three or more teeth are chosen as abutment
teeth for the attachment of direct retainers.

10. It is based on the relationship of the edentulous spaces to
the abutment teeth.
Class I – Bilateral edentulous area located posterior to the
remaining natural teeth.
Class II – Unilateral edentulous area located posterior to the
remaining natural teeth.
Class III – Unilateral edentulous area with natural teeth remaining
both anterior and posterior teeth
Class IV – A single but bilateral (Crossing the mid-line) edentulous
area located anterior to the remaining natural teeth.

11. Class I maxillary arch Class II mandibular arch
class III mandibular arch Class IV maxillary arch

12. Bailyn introduced a classification system
based on whether the prosthesis is tooth-
borne, tissue, or a combination of the two.

13. Class P I – Edentulous region posterior to the cuspid
between two available abutments not more than three teeth
distant from each other.
Class P II – Edentulous bilateral regions posterior to the
cuspids with one available abutment tooth for each denture
base area.
Class P III – edentulous region atleast three teeth posterior
to the distal abutment.
Class A III – edentulous space anterior to the first bicuspid
and between two teeth, more than three teeth distant from
each other.

14. Class A I P II – Edentulous region anterior to the first bicuspid
and between two available abutments less than three teeth distant
from each other.
Class P I P II – both edentulous regions posterior to the cuspids:
only one tooth available for anchorage, the other two separated
by a distance of at least three teeth.
Class A I P III – has three edentulous spaces : One of these is
anterior to the first bicuspid with two available anchor teeth
separated by a distance of less than three teeth, another
posterior to the cuspid with only one tooth for anchorage, third
one posterior to the cuspid with two teeth available for
abutments separated by less than three teeth

15. Class P1 Class PII
Class P III Class A III

16. Class A I P II Class P I P II
Class A I P III

17. A partial denture situatin falls under this
classification when there are teeth posterior to all
spans and when there are no more then four teeth
missing in any space.
A - Posterior teeth are missing and the anterior
teeth are in place.
B - Posterior teeth are missing, and some anterior
teeth are missing
C -Anterior teeth are missing and posterior teeth
are in place.
D-Anterior teeth are missing, and some posterior
teeth are missing. These may be unilateral or
bilateral spaces.

18. Neurohr’s Class II division 1
Variation 1a partially edentulous
Condition
Neurohr’s Class II division 1
Variation 1a partially edentulous
Condition
Neurohr’s Class II division 1
Variation 1b partially edentulous
Condition
Neurohr’s Class II division 2
Variation 1a partially edentulous
Condition

19. Mauk offered the profession a system of classification
based on the
1)Number, length and position of the spaces and
2)The number and position of the remaining
teeth

20. Class I – has bilateral spaces and teeth remaining in
anterior segment.
Class II – has bilateral posterior spaces and one or more
teeth at the posterior end of the one space.
Class III – bilateral posterior spaces and one or more teeth
at the posterior end of both space.
Class IV – unilateral posterior space with or without teeth
at the posterior end of the space.
Class V – Has anterior space only
Class VI – Has irregular spaces around the arch.

21. Class I Class II
Class III
Class IV
Class V Class VI

22. Godfrey described a system based on the location
and extent of the edentulous spaces where teeth are to
be replaced. A feature of Godfrey's system is that there
are no subdivisions or modifications to the main classes.

23. Class A – has tooth borne denture bases in the
anterior part of the mouth
Class B – has mucosa borne denture bases in the
anterior of the mouth
Class C – has tooth borne denture bases in the
posterior part of the mouth
Class D – has mucosa borne denture bases in the
posterior part of mouth

24. Godfrey’s class A partially Godfrey’s class B partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition
Godfrey’s class C partially Godfrey’s class D partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition

25. Beckett proposed a system which, like the one
suggested by Bailyn, is based on whether the denture
base is tooth-borne, tissue-borne, or a combination of
the two. The three basic classifications were:
Class 1- saddles (denture bases) which are tooth-borne;

26. Class 2, saddles (denture bases) which are mucosa-
borne;
Class 3, inadequate abutments to support the saddle
(denture base)

27. Friedman introduced a system in 1953 based on three
essential segment types occurring either as discrete or as
continuous segments. The letter A designates an anterior
spaces (i.e., one or more of the six anterior teeth). The
letter B designates a bounded posterior spaces. The
letter C refers to a cantilever situation or a posterior free-
end spaces.

28. Friedman’s type A partially Friedman’s type B partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition
Friedman’s type C partially
edentulous condition

29. The Austin-Lidge classification system in which the
letter A is used to designate an anterior spaces of spaces,
P designates posterior spaces, and Bi designates a
bilateral conditions.
Class A1

30. Class A 1 – a missing anterior tooth on one side only.
Class A 2 – anterior teeth missing on both right and left
sides.
Class P 1 – Posterior teeth are missing on one side only
Class P 2- Posterior teeth are missing on both right and
left sides
Class A 1 P1 – anterior and posterior teeth are missing on
one side only.

31. Austin and Lidge class A2 Austin and Lidge class P2
Partially Edentulous condition Partially Edentulous condition
Austin and Lidge class AB1 Austin and lidge class PB1
Partially Edentulous condition Partially Edentulous condition

32. Skinners offered the profession a new and different
classification in 1957. He noted that many removable
partial denture classification in the past have been based
on the number of teeth remaining, as exemplified by the
work of Cummer.

33. Skinner’s class I partially Skinner’s class IV partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition
Skinner’s class II partially Skinner’s class V partially
edentulous condition edentulous condition

34. Applegate offers a system which is a modification
of the Kennedy system.

35. Kennedy-Applegate’s class I Kennedy-Applegate’s class II
partially edentulous condition partially edentulous condition
Kennedy-Applegate’s class V
partially edentulous condition

36. Conclusion
 The treatment plan of any edentulous region depends
on its classification which eventually decides the
success of the prosthesis.
 Though many systems of classifications are available,
the most universally used one is the Applegate –
Kennedy System for its simplicity.