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Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question

How is a Kennedy Class I arch identified?

Patient case: Radiographic findings, prosthodontic planning and periodontal diagnosis

Scenario: Five items.

  1. A unilateral edentulous area with teeth both anterior and posterior to it
  2. A single edentulous area crossing the midline, anterior to the remaining teeth
  3. A unilateral edentulous area posterior to the remaining teeth
  4. Bilateral edentulous areas posterior to the remaining natural teeth
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Bilateral edentulous areas posterior to the remaining natural teeth

  • A. That describes Class III, a bounded unilateral saddle, which is entirely tooth-borne.
  • B. That describes Class IV, a single anterior edentulous area crossing the midline. By definition Class IV admits no modification spaces.
  • C. That describes Class II, the unilateral distal extension.
  • D. Correct. Class I is the bilateral distal extension case — the most demanding to design, because support is shared between teeth and mucosa and rotation about the fulcrum line must be controlled.

Note: Applegate's rules: classify after any extractions, and let the most posterior edentulous area determine the class.

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