Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
What is the primary function of the lingual bar major connector in this design?
Patient case: Removable Partial Denture Design
demo: 64-year-old male
chief: “I want to replace my back teeth on both sides.”
history: Has not attended a dentist in several years. Reports dry mouth.
meds: Amitriptyline, hydrochlorothiazide
findings: Mandibular arch missing #17–19 and #30–32 bilaterally, with all anterior teeth present. Generalized marginal inflammation and heavy calculus. Xerostomia. No frank cavitated lesions found today.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. To provide rigidity, so that forces are distributed among the supporting structures
- A. Correct. Rigidity is the defining requirement of any major connector. Without it, forces concentrate on individual abutments instead of being distributed across the arch.
- B. Vertical support comes principally from rests on the abutment teeth and, in a distal extension, from the residual ridge.
- C. Indirect retention comes from rests placed on the opposite side of the fulcrum line, not from the connector itself.
- D. Direct retention is supplied by the clasp assemblies, not the major connector.
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