The all-acrylic resin mandibular removable partial denture: Design considerations

John W. McCartney, DDS, aand Serg Fiksb

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Removable partial dentures (RPDs) with major and

minor connectors and denture bases made of acrylic resin
are frequently made for diagnostic or transitional pur-
poses, but some patients may wear the prosthesis for
prolonged periods of time. Sometimes patients leave the
area served by the dentist or discontinue pursuing treat-
ment for financial or other reasons. With proper adapta-
tion to the remaining teeth and palatal tissues, ~ maxil-
lary acrylic resin RPDs can function well over prolonged
periods of time ifa thorough, routine oral hygiene regi-
men is followed.
However, mandibular acrylic resin RPDs, which rely
totally on ridge tissues for vertical support, often "settle"
over time, which causes damage to periodontal tissues
Fig. 1. Modified Ball Clasp adapted to function as occlusal
with loss of attachment, adjacent bony support for teeth,
rest in conjunction with wrought-wire circumferential
and ridge height. The simple addition ofocelusal rests extracoronal retainers.
(Ball Clasp, OSE, Gaithersburg, Md.) (Fig. 1), where
interocclusal distance permits, can provide substantial
vertical support that will minimize or eliminate these
adverse effects. Occlusal rest preparations may be re-
quired for stability and clearance with the opposing oc-
clusion.
Although these prostheses are sometimes designed
without extraeoronal retainers, conventional wrought-
wire clasps are preferred. A prefabricated wrought wire
"T-Bar" component (Stainless Steel Roach Clasp, Na-
tional Key Stone, Cherryhill, N.J.) is useful when
distofacial retention on the mesial a b u t m e n t or
mesiofacial retention on the distal abutment (Fig. 2) is
desired.
Comprehensive communication with the patient re-
garding the usual diagnostic/transitional indication for
acrylic resin RPDs is desirable and often achieved. How-
ever, preventive design principles that incorporate sup-
port, stability, and retention can provide for unantici-
pated events. Fig. 2. Wrought-wire T-Bar used in combination with occlusal
rest adapted Ball Clasp.

aChier, Veterans Affairs Central Dental Laboratory. REFERENCE

bSenior Dental laboratory Technician, Veterans Affairs Central Den- 1. McCartney J. The acrylic resin base maxillary removable partial denture:
tal Laboratory. technical considerations. J Prosthet Dent 1980;43:467-8.
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of
the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting Reprint requests to:
DR. JOHNW. McCARTNEY
the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Commercial
CENTRALDENTAL[_ABORArORY(| 60C]
materials and equipment are identified in this report. Such identi- VA MEDICALCENTER
fication does not imply official recommendation or endorsement 50 [RVINGST., NW
or that the materials and equipment are necessarily the best avail- WASHINGTON, DC 20422
able for the purpose.
J Prosthet Dent 1997;77:638. 0022-3913/97/$5.00 +0. 10/4/81528

638 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY VOLUME 77 NUMBER 6

 Maintaining proper framework/altered master cast relationship when processing the distal
extension removable partial denture: A simple technique

Steven K. Nelson, D M D / a n d Gregory R. Parr, DDS, MS b

School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ga.

No single impression material can record both the

supportive hard tissue and the functionally or selectively
placed form of the residual ridge at the same time. I
Therefore a dual impression technique is often used when
distal extension removable partial dentures are fabricated.
With the selective pressure technique, the first impres-
sion accurately captures the anatomic form of the teeth
and edentulous ridge (Fig. 1), and the second impres-
sion captures the cdentulous ridge under a selective pres-
sure load)
The altered master cast generated wpically shows a
discrepancy between the tissue stop of the partial frame-
work and the stone cast ridge in the distal extension
area(s) (Fig. 2). To prevent rotation and movement of
the framework during resin packing procedures, this dis-
crepancy must be addressed (Fig. 3). Fig. 2. Partial denture framework on altered master cast. Space
A simple technique to avoid rotating or tipping the between tissue stop of framework and new ridge relationship
framework during processing is outlined. generated from selective pressure impression (arrow).

PROCEDURE
1. The partial framework tissue stop surface is coated
with Triad (Dentsply, York, Pa.) adhesive and cured
in a light-curing unit for 2 minutes.
2. The altered cast approximating the tissue stop is
coated with Triad model release agent.
3. Triad VLC (visible light cure) clear material is placed
on the tissue stop(s), and the framework is seated on

Fig. 3. Triad VLC dear material cured to framework tissue stop

to prevent rotation of framework when processing (arrow).

the altered master cast, correctly relating the frame-

Fig. 1. Removable partial denture framework on master cast
and intimate tissue stop ridge relationship (arrow).
~Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Rehabilitation.
bprofessor, Department of Oral Rehabilitation.
J Prosthet Dent 1997;77:639-40.
work.
4. The material is cured with a hand-held curing light
for 1 minute.
5. The framework is removed from the cast, and the
VLC material is coated with Triad air barrier coating.
6. The framework is placed back on the cast and placed
in the curing unit for 9 minutes.
The result is a stable, nondisplaced framework that
maintains proper tooth and ridge relationship during
the processing procedure.

JUNE 1997 THE JOURNAl.OF PROSTHETICDENTISTRY 639