1) A minor connector is the connecting link between the major connector or denture base and other parts of a removable partial denture like clasps or indirect retainers. 2) Minor connectors serve to transfer functional stresses to abutment teeth and distribute forces applied to one part of the denture throughout the prosthesis. 3) Types of minor connectors include those joining clasps to major connectors, indirect retainers to major connectors, and denture bases to major connectors. Their design depends on factors like rigidity needed and avoiding tissue irritation.

1. SMILE
TODAY IS FRIDAY…..

2. MINOR CONNECTORS
FATEEMA PRIYAM FEROZ

3. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Definition
• Types
• Requirements
• Functions of minor connectors
• Form&location of minor connector

4. • Tissue stops
• Finish lines
• Distortion or breakage of minor connectors
• Discussion
• Summary
• References

5. INTRODUCTION……

6. • Definition—A minor connector is defined as the connecting link
between the major connector or base of a removable partial
denture and other unit of the prosthesis such as clasps,indirect
retainers and rests.-GPT-9

7. PRIMARY
FUNCTION?????

8. In addition to joining denture parts, the minor
connector serves two other purposes
1)To transfer functional stress to the abutment
teeth.
occlusal force applied to tissue supported RPD
Denture base
underlying ridge

9. • Occlusal forces applied to the artificial teeth
Occlusal rest
Abutment teeth

10. • 2)To transfer the effect of retainers and rests
throughout the prosthesis - forces applied on one
portion of the denture may be resisted by other
components placed in other part of the arch for that
purpose.

11. Types of minor connector
 Joining clasp assembly to major connectors
 Joining the indirect retainer or auxiliary rests to
the major connector
 Joining the denture base to the major connector
 Approach arm in bar type clasp

12. Minor connector that joins the clasp
assembly to the major connectors
• The following design concept should be considered
• It should be broader buccolingually and thinner mesiodistally
• It should be rigid enough to support the active component of a
partial denture like retentive clasp etc

13. • Most minor connectors that support clasp assembly are
located on proximal surface of abutment teeth adjacent to
edentulous area.

14. NEVER POSITION ON THE CONVEX LINGUAL
SURFACE

15. • As a result minor connectors must have sufficient
bulk to ensure rigidity ,yet they must be positioned
so they do not irritate the oral tissues.

16. Minor connectors that join the indirect retainer or
auxiliary rest to the major connector
• The main function of this minor connector is to provide
indirect retention & support to the major connector.

17. • They must be designed to fit into the embrasure space so that
they are not visible.
• They should form right angles with the corresponding major
connectors,but junctions should be gently curved…..

19. Minor connector that joins the denture
base with major connector
These minor connector should fulfill the following
requirements.
• It should be rigid enough to support and resist breakage of
the denture base.
• It must provide minimal interference with the arrangement
of teeth.

20. 1)Lattice work construction (open construction).
2)Mesh work construction.
3)Bead, wire or nail head minor connectors.

21. • In maxillary distal extension cases the minor connector
should extend up to the maxillary tuberosity.
• In mandibular distal extension cases the minor
connector should cover 2/3rd the length of the
edentulous ridge.

22. • Kennedy class 1 and class II open construction , mesh
construction.[open construction and mesh construction
can be used whenever multiple teeth are to be replaced-
Stewart’s clinical Removable Partial prosthodontics]
• Class III and IV bead,nail head or wire construction[used
in short span tooth-supported applications-Stewart’s
Clinical Removable Partial Prosthodontics]

23. Lattice work

24. • It consists of two long struts of metal(16 gauge) placed on the
buccal and lingual slopes of the ridge with smaller struts(12
gauge) running over the crest of the ridge connecting the long
struts. This resembles lattice frame work.

25. • Maxilla
• One longitudinal strut
buccal to the ridge
• The border of the major
connector second
longitudinal strut
• Mandible
• Buccal to the crest
• Lingual to the crest

26. •Relief is given between the struts and the ridge
for acrylic to flow.This is done with the help of
wax
•USE????

27. Mesh work

28. • It consists of a sheet of metal placed over the crest of
residual ridge with small holes for retention of acrylic
denture base.
• Relief and border extension- identical to lattice type

29. Disadvantage
• Additional pressure for acrylic resin to flow into the
holes.
• Retention to the denture base is less, as the holes are
smaller and the attachment to acrylic is weaker
• Interfere with arrangement of teeth
• When restorative space is minimum - compromise
esthetic

30. Bead,wire,nailhead

31. • The minor connector directly lines the edentulous ridge without any
relief.
• Acrylic denture base is attached to the outer surface of the minor
connector and retention is obtained by the projections of metal on the
superior surface.

32. • These projections may be resin bead, nails or pointing
wires
• Beads are prepared by placing acrylic balls on the
meshwork pattern,burn out and cast.
• This minor connector is indicated for tooth supported
dentures with well healed ridges where frequent
relining and rebasing are not anticipated

33. Advantages
• Better soft tissue response to metal than acrylic
• Enhanced thermal stimulation
• More hygienic
Disadvantages
• Relining is difficult
• Difficulty in adjustment
• Weakest attachment

34. Temperatures were recorded in thirty-two gingival crevices adjacent to
proximal surfaces of abutment teeth fitted with minor connectors of an
open space design, and other group proximal surfaces fitted
with minor connectors of a closed design. During the 2 week
experimental period, the twenty-seven removable partial denture subjects
who were involved in the study kept the accumulation of plaque to a
minimum by applying specialized tooth-brushing. It was concluded that
the open space design of minor connector is less conducive to irritation of
the adjacent marginal gingiva than is the closed design.
Runov J et al
J Oral Rehabil. 1980 Mar;7(2):147-53.

35. Minor connector that serves as an
approach arm for bar type clasp
• Acts like a clasp.It helps to position the retentive
tips of the gingivally approaching clasps.
This type of minor connector has the
following characteristics
1)It is not rigid, as it does not have to bear any
load.It should have limited flexibility to aid in
removal

37. 2) It supports the direct retainer, which engages the
undercut of the tooth by approaching it gingivally.
3)It is more flexible; hence the retention is improved by
its springy action

38. • Whenever possible the minor connector of a removable partial
denture is located in the interdental embrasure
• Recent evidence suggest that gingival attachment loss is more
probable on the proximal aspect, thus minor connectors located in
embrasures cover susceptible sites
[A variation in minor connector design for partial dentures.Radford
DR,Walter JD.Int J of Prosthodontics1993 Jan-Feb;6(1);50-54]

39. Design consideration
• Since minor connector lies below the height of contour of
the tooth,it should be made slightly flexible for easy
insertion and removal.
• A partial cut on the root of the minor connector makes it
flexible.

41. • Techno-polymer clasps were developed for addressing
the aesthetic concerns.
• They are manufactured from thermoplastic acetal-
resin.
• [Dr SB Khan ;aesthetic clasp design for removable
partial dentures;a literature review;june 2005
vol.60.no5]

42. Tissue stops
• Integral parts of minor connectors.
• Provide stability for frame work during the stages
of transferring & processing.
• Prevents distortion of frame work during acrylic
resin processing.
• Engage buccal & lingual slopes for stability.
• Give adequate space for acrylic to flow.

44. Fabrication
• Removing approximately 2 square mm of relief
wax
[where posterior strut crosses the center of the
ridge]
This depression is incorporated with refractory cast

46. Casting
Returning to master cast
Cast stop contact master cast
Bending of frame work is eliminated during acrylization

47. Attachment to major connector
• Acrylic resins over minor connector must be joined to
major connector with sufficient bulk to avoid fracture.
• Must join in a smooth, even finish.
• Irregularity b/w surfaces irritates tongue or mucosa of
the ridge.
• Acrylic resin butt joint must be made on both internal
& external surface of the major connector.

48. Finish lines
• The term finish line in a partial denture denotes the
junction between the acrylic denture base and the
major connector or any polished metal surface.

49. • Outer aspect - external finish line
• Inner aspect - internal finish line

50. Internal finish line
• Space between the metal framework and the tissue
surface of the cast is provided by adding relief
wax[24 to 26 guage] onto the edentulous ridge on
the master cast prior to duplication.

51. • Finish line angle- not greater than 90 degree.
• Located too far medially—natural contour of palate
altered by thickness of acrylic resin.
• Too far buccal – difficult to create a natural contour
of acrylic resin on lingual surface of artificial teeth.

54. • It is the junction between the acrylic and the exposed
metal on the external or polished surface
EXTERNAL FINISH LINE
• Sharp & definite and should be slightly undercut to
help lock acrylic resin securely to major connector.
• Angle finish line forms with major connector– less
than 90 degree.

57. • The external finish line begins from minor
connector on proximal surface of tooth adjacent to
edentulous area.
• Should extend from the lower border of major
connector denture base junction.

58. When viewed from an occlusal perspective,the external finish
line should follow an arc established by the lingual surfaces of
the remaining teeth.Lesser irritation to the patient.

59. Distortion or breakage of minor
connector

60. SUMMARY

61. TEXT REFERENCES
• Alan B Carr, Glen P. Mc Givney, David T Brown. Mc Cracken’s
Removable Partial Prosthodontics, 11th edition,Elsevier publishers.
• Rodeney D. Phoenix, David R.Cagna, Charles F.De Freest. Stewart’s
Clinical Removable Partial Prosthodontics, 4th edition, Quitessence
publishers.
• Nicholas J A Jepson. Removable Partial Dentures 1st edition,
Quintessence publishers.

62. • Rudd, Morrow, Eissmann, Dental laboratory procedure;
Removable partial denture,volume 3; Mosby publishers
• John Osborne, George Alexander Lammie, Partial Dentures, 4th
edition CBS publishers.
• The Glossary of Prosthodontics Terms;9th edition.

63. 1) Dunny J A, king G E, Minor connector design for anterior acrylic
resin bases;A preliminary study; J of Prosthet Dent.1975 ;34(5);496-98
2) Brown T D, Ronald P D. Chao E Y, Fatigue failure in acrylic resin
retaining minor connectors ;J of Prosthet Dent. 1987 56(3);329-331
3) Radford Dr, W alter J D, A Variation of minor connector design for
partial dentures. Int J Prosthedont 1993;6(1);50-54
JOURNAL REFERENCES

64. 4)Sharp B, Morton D, Clark E C, Microleakage of acrylic resin metal
framework interface;J Prosthet Dent2000;84;617-22
5)Bathal M, Batra J, Atresh G,Sabyal S . A Review on stress induced by
removable partial dentures. Int J of contemp dent &med review 2015;open
access journal;citation;doi;10.15713/insp.ijcdmr.56
6)Mizuuchi W, Yatabe M, Sato M, Nishiyama A,Ohyama T. The effect of
loading locations and direct retainers on the movements of the abutment tooth
and denture base of removable partial dentures.J Med Dent Sci.2002;49(10);11
7)Prof Gavm Geerts.Aesthetic clasp design for removable partial dentures; A
literature Review.SADJ 2005;60(5);190-94