Partial denture design
Survey casts and design support, retention, reciprocation, connectors and hygiene access. Protect remaining teeth and tissues.
Understand
A partial denture distributes force through teeth and mucosa. Support, retention, bracing, reciprocation and major connector design should be intentional.
Assess
Survey the cast, identify path of insertion, undercuts, rests and guiding planes, and assess periodontal health and caries risk of abutments.
Apply
Design for cleansability and repair as well as retention. Avoid clasping a compromised tooth without accounting for its prognosis and the forces imposed.
Key distinctions
Kennedy classification describes edentulous pattern but does not design the denture. Distal-extension saddles behave differently from tooth-bounded spaces because mucosa compresses more than teeth. Rest seats, guide planes and clasp position control forces. Aesthetic wishes must be balanced with periodontal support and the ability to clean around connectors.
Think through a case
A partial denture rocks because a clasp is retentive but rests and reciprocation are poorly designed. Retention is only one part of support.
The distinction to remember
Do not use undercuts on a periodontally compromised abutment without considering the load it will receive.
Test your recall
Why are rests important?
Show answer
They provide support and help direct forces appropriately.