Classification of cast clasps

 Suprabulge clasp arm- approaches the undercut area

from an occlusal/incisal direction
 Infrabulge clasp arm – approaches the undercut area
from an apical direction
Types of clasp
 Circumferential clasps
 Vertical projection- Bar - Roach claps
 Ney clasps
 Particular clasps
Circumferential clasps
Characteristics:
- display close adaptation to the abutment
- encircle a large area (more than 180⁰)
- alter the morphology of the clinical crown
- approach the undercut area from occlusal direction
- the terminus retentive is slightly curved, with the tip oriented towards the
occlusal surface
- the retentive arm should be positioned as far apically on the abutment as is
practical
- the depth of the undercut is 0.25 mm
- the retentive arm should terminate at mesial/distal line angle
- the retentive arm should be used to engage the undercut disto-buccal of an
abutment adjacent to a posterior edentulous space
- the retentive arm should be used to engage the undercut mesio-buccal of an the
abutment adjacent to an anterior edentulous space
- they are unaesthetic
The Ackers clasp
- is the prototype of circumferential clasps
- is known as three-arm clasp
The components:
 a retentive arm
 a reciprocal arm
 an occlusal rest
 a minor connector
 The Ackers clasp
The reciprocal arm
The rest

The minor connector The retentive arm

The Ackers clasp opened towards
the tooth
 It is the best choice for teeth-supported RPDs
Components:
 the minor connector- is placed on the proximal surface
of the abutment tooth
 the retentive arm – towards the remaining teeth
 the reciprocal arm – towards the remaining teeth
The Ackers clasp opened towards
the tooth
The retentive arm:
- it starts at the buccal- proximal edge, crosses the
height of contour and finishes in the opposed
infrabulge area of the buccal surface
- the tip of the retentive arm is directed occlusally, never
towards the gingiva
- the length of the retentive arm is at least 2/3 of the
transversal diameter of the buccal area
- it presents the following functions: reciprocation and
encirclement
The Ackers clasp opened towards
the tooth
The reciprocal arm:
- it is situated above/ at the level of the height of
contour
- it presents the same width and thickness on the whole
length
- it has the following functions: reciprocation, support,
horizontal stabilization and encirclement
The Ackers clasp opened towards
the tooth
Advantages:
 excellent support
 horizontal stabilization
 reciprocation
 encirclement
 passivity
 good retention
The Ackers clasp opened towards the
edentulous area
 it is used in Kennedy Class I, II
 the undercut area is located adjacent to the edentulous space
 it is an unaesthetic clasp
 it may be difficult to provide proper space for clasp
 sufficient clearance is required
 it may involve the strength of the assembly clasp
The three - arm clasp with back action
Nally- Martinet clasp
- it is used in tooth-tissue-supported RPD
- it is often used in Kennedy Class I and II
- the undercut area is mesio-buccally
The three - arm clasp with back action
Nally- Martinet clasp
Components:
 a retentive arm – the undercut area is situated mesio-buccally
 a reciprocal arm – on the lingual surface
 a rest- in the mesial pit/fossa
 an interdental minor connector - it is attached to the major
connector
The three- arm clasp with back action
Nally- Martinet clasp
- the clasp body is placed in the occlusal embrasure of the mesial surface
of the abutment tooth
- the rest is applied onto the mesial fossa or supracingulum
- the reciprocal arm is situated on the oral surface, above the height of
contour or at the level of the height of contour
- the reciprocal arm continues with the retentive arm on the buccal
surface
- the retentive arm crosses the buccal surface and then engages in the
mesio-buccal undercut area
- the minor connector joins the major connector (the connection
between them is semi-rigid)
The four-arm clasp (the ring clasp)
It is indicated on:
 tipped mandibular molar (the retentive undercut area is situated
mesio-lingually)
 isolated molars bounding edentulous space posteriorly
 isolated teeth located between two edentulous spaces

Advantages:
• good support
• maximum encirclement
• efficient horizontal stabilization
The four-arm clasp (the ring clasp)
Components:
 a retentive arm – on the lingual surface, the undercut is
situated – mesio-lingually
 a reciprocal – on the buccal surface
 two occlusal rests - mesial and distal – pit
 a minor connector - on the proximal surface
 it may present a bracing arm – on the buccal surface
The reverse action clasp (the
hairpin clasp)
 It is used in tooth-supported RPD
 The undercut area is situated adjacent to the edentulous
space
Indications on:
• mesially tipped mandibular molar
• premolars with large crowns, when the bar –type clasp could
not be used
Disadvantages:
• poor esthetics
• it covers considerable tooth surface
• it can entrap and accumulate food debris
The multiple clasp(the six-arm clasp)
 It consists of two simple circlet clasps, which join
at the terminal portion of the reciprocal arms
Indication:
 on the abutments with a decreased periodontal support
Advantages:
• retention
• support
• horizontal stability
The embrasure clasp (the Bonwill clasp, the
double Ackers clasp, the six-arm clasp)
Indications:
 in Kennedy class II, IV; it is placed between two molars,
or a molar and a premolar situated on the side of the
arch where there is no edentulous space
 on isolated adjacent teeth
 on canine and premolar, uni-, bilateral edentulous space
The embrasure clasp (the Bonwill clasp, the
double Ackers clasp, the interdental clasp)
Components:
 two retentive arms
 two reciprocal arms
 two occlusal rests
 an interdental minor connector
The bar-type clasps (Raoch clasps)
 Bar-type clasp
 Particular bar clasp
Bar clasps
Characteristics:
 The clasp is divided into :
 a rigid part
 an elastic part (a retentive arm and its own minor connector;
this minor connector joins the denture base/saddle)
 The retentive arm
 approaches the undercut area from gingival direction
 its flexibility depends on: its length and its taper
 it is more esthetic than the circlet clasp
Disadvantages:
 the tendency to accumulate food debris
 the increased flexibility of the retentive arm reduces the
horizontal stabilization
The T-bar clasp
Components:
 a minor connector
 an occlusal rest
 a reciprocal arm
 a retentive arm and its own minor connector
The T-bar clasp
Components:
The minor connector of the retentive arm:
 originates from the denture base/saddle
 projects horizontally across the soft tissues
 turns vertically to cross the free gingival margin at 90⁰
 is placed away from the tissues (0.2-0.3 mm)
The vertical part of the retentive arm contacts the abutment at the height of
contour:
 2 horizontal parts :
 one part:
 is oriented towards the edentulous space
 is situated below the height of contour
 the tip engages the undercut area disto- buccally
• the other part:
• is placed towards the adjacent tooth
• is situated above or at the level of the height of contour
• ensures support
• improves bracing and stabilization of RPD
Design rules of the T-bar clasp
- the approach arm of an infrabulge clasp must not impinge
on the soft tissues adjacent to the abutment
- the marginal gingiva is crossed by the minor connector at a
right angle
- the tip of retentive arm is placed at the gingival third
- the undercut is present near the edentulous space
- the approach arm should be uniformly tapered from its
origin to the terminus
- the minor connector of the occlusal rest must be rigid
- the bar clasps are contraindicated when the alveolar ridge is
retentive
The T- bar clasp
Indications:
o Kennedy class I, II – the undercut area is D-B (N.B. However it is
advisable to apply this clasp on a tooth supported partial
denture)
o can also be used for a tooth supported partial denture, when the
mesial abutment is visible in speech and smile
Contraindications:
o Kennedy class I, II – the undercut area is mesio-buccal
o the height of contour is close to the occlusal surface
o the alveolar process presents a large retentive area
Advantages:
o it limits the movement in a gingival direction of the distal extension
partial denture
o it opposes to the displacement of the denture
o it presents good esthetics
Modified T – bar clasp
 it is similar to the T clasp, but the suprabulge part of
the retentive arm is missing
Components:
 a minor connector and retentive arm
 a distal occlusal rest
 a minor connector
The Y-bar clasp
 it is identical to a T- clasp
 the approach arm terminates in the cervical third of
the abutment
 the mesial and distal projection are positioned near
the occlusal surfaces
The I- bar clasp
Indications:
- Kennedy class I and II
Components:
 a retentive arm and its own minor connector
 a mesial occlusal rest
 a minor connector
The I- bar clasp
Components:
The retentive arm:
o contacts the buccal surface below the height of contour
o should be situated at or mesial to the midfacial prominence of the
abutment
o the contact area is 2-3 mm in height and 1.5-2 mm in width
o has half –round cross - sectional form
o has a gradual and uniform taper throughout its length
The I-bar clasp
 the retentive arm is a retentive component in two distinct
design I-bar and RPI clasp
The clasps applied onto the frontal teeth
a) Mesio-distal lingual clasp applied onto one tooth
b) Mesio-distal lingual clasp applied onto two adjacent
teeth
The clasps applied onto the frontal teeth
a) 1. Mesio-distal lingual clasp applied onto one tooth
- the minor connector is placed between the proximal surfaces of two
teeth (canine and lateral incisive)
- the arm of the clasp is situated above the cingulum
- the arm starts from the clasp body, crosses the lingual surface and
finishes on the proximal surface adjacent to the edentulous space
The clasps applied onto the frontal teeth
a) 2. Mesio-distal lingual clasp applied onto one tooth
- it is indicated on isolated canines
- the minor connector is placed on the middle of the lingual surface
- two arms start from the clasp body and finish on the proximal surfaces
of the canine
- the arms are situated above the cingulum
The clasps applied onto the frontal teeth
b) Mesio-distal lingual clasp applied on two adjacent
teeth
- the body and minor connector are placed on the oral surface
interdentally
- two arms start from the body, cross the lingual surfaces and finish on
the proximal surfaces oppose to the minor connector
Particular bar clasp – Ney clasps
Components:
 the bi-active Ney
 it has two retentive arms – placed at the same level, on the
oral and buccal surfaces
Indication:
 teeth with favorable undercut areas (buccal and oral)
Advantages:
 double retention
 reciprocation
Drawback:
 relative horizontal stability
The Ney No. 1 clasp
 it is similar to Ackers clasp
 it presents 2 retentive arms
Indication:
 premolars and molars – the undercut area is situated
orally and buccally
Advantages:
• excellent retention
• reciprocation
The Ney No. 1 clasp
The Ney No. 2 clasp
Indication:
- tooth - supported RPDs
Components:
Rigid part:
- rest is situated in the fossa adjacent to the edentulous space
- minor connector connects the saddle
Flexible part:
- two arms retentive, which are similar to the T-bar clasp
- the arms are situate on the buccal and oral surfaces
- the terminus portion of the retentive arm is placed in the undercut area
close to the edentulous space
- the undercut area is 0.50 mm
Disadvantages:
-reduced horizontal stabilization
The Ney No. 2 clasp
The Ney No. 3 clasp
It is a combination between Ney No.1 and Ney No. 2
Indication:
- terminal edentulous space/distal extension
- the undercut areas are diagonally situated
Components:
Rigid part:
- the rest and minor connector are situated on the proximal surface adjacent to
the edentulous space
- the shoulder of the circlet clasp’s retentive arm
Flexible part:
- the terminus portion of the retentive arm of the circlet clasp
- the terminus portion of the retentive arm of the T-bar and its own minor
connector
- the undercut area is 0.75 mm
Disadvantages:
-reduced horizontal stabilization
The Ney No. 3 clasp
It is a combination between Ney No.1 and Ney No. 2
Particular clasp - The RPI clasp
Indication:
• unilateral and bilateral edentulous area/distal extension
Components:
• the I - bar retentive arm – is situated in the mesial
undercut area
• a distal proximal guide plate
• an occlusal rest – which is situated in the mesial
pit/fossa
The RPI clasp
Components:
• the I - bar retentive arm – is situated in the mesial
undercut area
• a distal proximal guide plate
• an occlusal rest – which is situated in the mesial
pit/fossa
The RPI clasp
The mesial rest:
- provides vertical support against the occlusal forces
- controls the vertical relationship between the
prosthesis and the supporting structure
- directs the forces vertically onto the bearing tissues
beneath the extension bases
- directs tipping forces towards the mesial surfaces
The RPI clasp
The proximal guide plate:
- covers the guiding planes from the marginal ridge to tooth-
tissue junction and extends onto the attached gingiva 2mm
- guiding planes are prepared on proximal tooth surfaces
adjacent to the edentulous space
- the prepared guiding planes are 2-3 mm high occluso-
gingivally
- the proximal plate contacts the apical 1 mm of guiding
plane
- relief is provided at the tooth-tissue junction to allow the
proximal plate to disengage when load is applied
- the proximal plate is connected to the saddle through a
short and thick minor connector
The RPI clasp
Advantages:
 it protects the abutment by the non-physiological forces
that could appear during denture wearing
 it presents good esthetics; the approach is infrabulge
 it limits the number of paths of insertion and removal,
improving retention
 the proximal plate – offers a good reciprocation during
insertion and removal of the prosthesis
 the proximal plate protects the tooth-tissue from the
food impact
 it distributes occlusal forces throughout the arch
Particular clasp - The onlay clasp
- it is indicated when the occlusal surface of the
abutment lies significantly apical to the occlusal plane
- the rest establishes an acceptable occlusal plane
Components:
- a rest that covers the entire occlusal surface
- two arms: buccal and lingual
The mixed clasps
Components:
- one part is rigid: minor connector, rest
- the other part is elastic: two retentive arms are
attached to clasp’s body
Types of mixed clasp:
- Ney no.4 clasp
- Mc Cracken clasp
- the clasp with an internal rest
Particular clasp - The clasp with an internal rest
Indication:
- reduced lateral edentulous spaces
- is used for an aesthetic reason
Components:
- an internal rest
- is placed onto the thickness of the proximo-occlusal incrustation
- ensures: support, horizontal stabilization and reciprocation
- a retentive arm
- is situated on the oral surface
- starts from rest and finishes in the undercut area which is situated
opposed to the edentulous space
- a minor connector
- connects the saddle
- provides a rigid connection with the saddle
Particular clasp - The clasp with an internal rest
Indication:
- reduced lateral edentulous spaces
- is used for an aesthetic reason