1. Major connectors join the component parts of a removable partial denture together and contribute to its support, bracing, retention, and stabilization functions. 2. The most common types of major connectors include palatal straps and plates. Palatal straps are preferred as they are thinner, cover less tissue, and interfere less with speech and comfort. 3. The design of a major connector depends on factors like the locations of edentulous areas, the need for rigidity and indirect retention, and patient comfort. A middle palatal strap is often the most versatile option.

1. 6- Major Connectors
a. Maxillary Major Connectors

3. Major Connectors
Dr. Amal Fathy Kaddah
Professor of Prosthodontic,
Faculty of Dentistry,
Cairo University

4. Believe
in
your
Dreams

5. Definition
Types
Location and form
Requirements
Indication and contraindication
Advantages
Disadvantages
Support
Retention
Bracing and Stability
Indirect Retention
Function
Major connector (or any component)
+ Special function
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6. CONNECTORS
A- Major connectors
B- Minor connectors

7. A- Major Connectors
It is the component of R P D that connects the
parts of the prosthesis located on one side of the
arch with those on the opposite side.

8. 2. Contribute to the support of
the prosthesis.
3. They may contribute to the
functions of bracing and
reciprocation.
Functions of connectors
4. Contribute to retention of the prosthesis: Palatal
plates provide direct retention.
5. Connectors resting on prepared dental or firm oral
tissues provide indirect retention.
1. Join the component parts of RPD together.

9. 1. Connect the component parts
together.
Functions of connectors

10. 2. Contribute to the support of the
prosthesis, by distribution of stresses
applied to the prosthesis.
Functions of connectors

11. 3. They may contribute to the functions of
stabilization, bracing and reciprocation.
Functions of connectors

12. Contribute to the functions of bracing and
reciprocation

13. This Component Provides Cross-arch
Stabilization.

14. 4. Contribute to retention of the prosthesis:
Palatal plates provide direct retention.
Direct-indirect Retainer (Full Palatal Coverage)
Functions of connectors

15. May Provide Indirect Retention.

16. Anterior Palatal Bar

17. Posterior Palatal Bar

18. Smile when
picking up the
phone. The caller
will hear it in
your voice

20. 1.Rigidity is necessary to transmit
stresses of mastication from one side
of the arch to the other.
2.Must be properly
located in relation to
gingival and moving
tissues and not interfere
or irritate the tongue.
Requirements of Maxillary Major
Connectors

21. 3. Should be self-cleansing
4. Not allow trapping of food particles.
5. Should be made from an alloy
compatible with oral tissues.
6. Relief is avoided under maxillary major
connector except in the presence of
palatal tori or prominent median palatine
raphe.

22. 7. Should not alter the
natural contour of the
palatal surfaces of the
arch.
8. The lateral palatal borders
should be placed at the
junction of the vertical
and horizontal surfaces of
the palate.
9. It should cross the midline
of the palate
perpendicular to it.

23. 10. Bony or soft
tissue
prominences
should be avoided.
11.Cover no more
tissues than
necessary.

24. 12.Thickness of the
metal should be
uniform throughout
the palate.
13. The metal should not
be highly
polished on the
tissue side

25. a- Placed at least 6 mm away from
the gingival margin.
14. The borders should be

26. Rather than diagonal
to the gingival margin
and should be
crossed abruptly
and at right angle to
the margin
b. The borders should run parallel
in order to produce the least possible
soft tissue coverage.

27. slightly towards the tissues, and
Hence they are less
detectable by the
tongue and not
interfere with speech,
and to minimizing
patient discomfort.
c. All borders should be tapered
d. should be smoothly curved.

28. e. The borders should be beaded.
1. Seal along the border
2. Preventing food from
collecting under the
max m c and
3. Preventing over growth
of the palatal tissues.
4. Transfers borders
from master to
refractory cast.
Scraping a groove 3/4 to 1mm wide and deep at
the edge of the design of the max. major connector

30. STRAPS
The Form Of Maxillary Major
Connectors Maybe:
BARS PALATAL PLATES
• 6- 8mm
• Cross section is
half round
• 8 – 12 mm
• 1.5 mm thickness
•Covers more
than half of the
palate
•Anterior
•Middle
•Posterior
•Anteroposterior
•Middle
•Posterior
•Anteroposterior
•Metallic
•Nonmetallic
•Combination

31. •Narrow, (6-8 Mm)
• Half Oval In Cross
Section (Thick).
• Their Margins Are
Beveled And Gently
Curved
• Cover lesser amounts
of tissues.
• Require more bulk of to gain the required
rigidity, may interfere with proper speech and
may be untolerated by patients
BARS

32. STRAPS
• Wide and thin,
• More than 8 mm in width
to gain the necessary
rigidity
• Having a uniform
thickness,
• Well tolerated
• Helps in distribution of stresses over a wider
area thus provides support

33. PALATAL PLATES
• Cover half or more of
the palate
• The maximum area
coverage contribute to
Wide distribution of the
stresses falling on
denture.
• Support and retention
of the prosthesis.
• Horizontal stabilization
of the prosthesis

34. ANTERIOR PALATAL BAR
Indication: It is rarely used alone
Location and form
Anterior palatal region, located 6-8 mm
behind the gingival margin of
anterior teeth.
Disadvantages
intolerable by patients as it crosses
the palatal rugae where tongue
activity is marked.
Speech difficulties may be
encountered.
Support
Retention
Bracing and Stability
Indirect Retention

35. MIDDLE PALATAL BAR
comfortable, away from the rugae area, well tolerated
Bracing are achieved
lacks rigidity unless made bulky.
Indications: In short bounded saddle
It cannot be used in cases having large torus palatinus
or prominent median palatine raphe.

36. POSTERIOR PALATAL BAR
• limited indications
for use as single bar.
• Location and form
in close relation to the
junction of the hard and soft
palate, or placed in level with
the second molar.
• Advantages: exhibits
limited coverage and well
tolerated by the tongue It is
not likely to affect taste.
•Bracing, indirect retention for Kennedy class IV cases.
Disadvantages: lacks of rigidity.
It cannot be used in with large torus palatinus.

37. ANTERO-POSTERIOR PALATAL BAR
(Ring Design, A-P bar)
(Ring Design, A-P bar)
Location and form: Anterior, Posterior bars and Longitudinal bars:
, the metal forming the connector lies in two different directions giving the
connector strength and rigidity
Indication: in any design especially in the presence of torus palatinus
Advantages: the most rigid bar major connector, minimal soft tissue
coverage
Disadvantages: Poor support, annoy the tongue and are intolerable
Contraindications: high, narrow palatal vault
large tori extending to the junction of the hard and soft palate.

38. ANTERIOR PALATAL STRAP
Location and form: in the valleys rather than the crests of the
rugae area.
Indications: a large torus or a hard prominent median palatine
raphe exists.
Advantages: some vertical support. Indirect retention may be
provided.
Disadvantages: a poor connector because it lacks the rigidity,

39. ANTERIOR PALATAL STRAP
Disadvantages: a poor
connector because it
lacks the rigidity, that
causes movement or
spreading of the lateral
borders of the connector when vertical force is
applied.
•Interfere with phonetics and might cause
discomfort

40. MIDDLE PALATAL STRAP
Advantages
• Rigid.
• Reduces gingival margin coverage
to a minimum
• Well tolerated
• Away from the tactile receptors
• Rarely annoying to the patient.
• Relatively narrow
• Minimal interference with
phonetics.
The most versatile and
widely used maxillary
major connector

41. The strap
lies on the
central
portion of
the hard
palate
MIDDLE PALATAL STRAP

42. POSTERIOR PALATAL STRAP
A minimum of 8
mm. in width, and
1.5mm thickness
Has a thicker
central area for
increased rigidity.
Cross section of posterior
palatal strap showing a
thicker central area for
increased rigidity

43. Indicated in cases of
1- Short bounded saddle.
2- In Kennedy class II PD
supplying one or two teeth.
POSTERIOR PALATAL STRAP
• Placed in the first and
second molar region
• Same as the bar except that
it provides better support.
• Increased palatal coverage.
• Taste alteration

44. ANTRO-POSTERIOR STRAP
Location and form: a rigid connector; similar location and
structure to that of the a p bar
Indicated in Kennedy class I or II partial denture bases, when a
large torus exists.
Advantages: Rigidity and strength of the connector allow the
metal to be used in thinner sections. Support due to wide palatal
coverage. Good retention and stability.

45. ? ? ?
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Contraindications
Anterior : speaking area??
Posterior : too far posterior for
comfort
Middle : food impaction??

46. Extended palatal plate
Covers half or more of the palatal surface.
Metal plate
Resin plate
Combination, metal, and resin plate

47. Anterior metallic
part having
provisions for
mechanical
retention to attach
an acrylic posterior
portion.
Combination,
metal, and resin
plate

48. Extended palatal plate
Complete Palatal Coverage
Covering
two
thirds of
the
palate
The posterior border
a- Is extended as in complete
denture.
b- Is post-damed.

49. Complete palatal plate
Resin plate Cast metal plates
A palatal plate connector covers
half or more of the palatal surface

50. Complete palatal plate
1. Long free end saddle cases.
2. Free end saddles with anterior
modification spaces.
3. In cleft palate patients.
4. Resin plates in temporary
prosthesis.
5. Heavy occlusion.
6. Poor flat ridges.
Indications:

51. Long free end saddle cases.
Class I
Class IV
Cast metal
plates

52. Factors affecting selection of the
maxillary major connector design
1- The need for rigidity and support.
2- Sites of the edentulous areas.
3- Patient’s comfort :
a- Taste sensation.
b- Gagging sensation.
c- Torus palatinus.
d- Presence of palatal defects.
e- Amount of palatal coverage.
4- The need for indirect retention.

53. All anterior Max. M. C.
Disadvantages
intolerable by patients as it crosses the palatal rugae where
tongue activity is marked.
Speech difficulties may be encountered.
All Max. M. C.
Bracing is achieved by the vertical parts of the connector
All Max. M. C. except single bar and ant pal. strap
Provide Rigidity, Support.
All Max. M. C. except middle palatal MC
Provide indirect Retention
Give
reasons
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All Max. M. C. except Bar major connectors
Provide Retention

54. ANTERIOR PALATAL STRAP
A poor connector because it lacks the rigidity,
Interfere with phonetics and might cause discomfort
Used only with the presence of torus palatinus and
acc. median palatine raphe
MIDDLE PALATAL STRAP
Extended Palatal PLATES
Is the most versatile and widely used max. m. c.
Provide Direct -indirect Retention (Full
Palatal Coverage)

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