International Journal of Dental and Health Sciences

Review Article Volume 04,Issue 05

SWING LOCK DENTURE : A REVIEW ARTICLE

Naorem Jenny1, Puyam Dhiraj Singh2
1.MDS , Private Practitioner ,PD Dental Health Care& Research centre Canchipur, Manipur, India.
2.BDS, Private Practitioner, PD Dental Health Care & Research centre, Canchipur , Manipur

ABSTRACT:
A swing lock denture is an alternative approach when conventional removable denture have limited
value for patients whose remaining teeth have advanced periodontal disease, generalized mobility
and a questionable prognosis. It is a treatment option for those patients who, for a variety of
reasons, are not suitable for fixed prosthodontics or implant retained prostheses or conventional
removable partial denture therapy. It is treatment facet with high degree of clinical effectiveness
,however it is a little-taught RPD concept that offers clinicians additional choices in the treatment of
perplexing situations which a conventional RPD design may not be feasible.This article attempts to
reviews the past and current literature concerning the swing-lock RPD and its modifications
providing some clinical considerations involving the treatment planning and fabrication of this RPD
to promote the dentist, the use of swing lock denture as which is gradually fading into oblivion .This
might might help in evolution of newer design and modifications to overcome its design
complexities.
Key-words: Periodontal weak anterior, splitting, swing lock, hinge and lock denture

INTRODUCTION

Conventional removable denture may be Swing lock denture provides maximizing

of limited value for patients whose stability and retention stability by access
remaining teeth have advanced to more tooth structures and undercuts
periodontal disease, generalized mobility with the unique clasping mechanism
and a questionable prognosis. Swing lock offered by the incorporation of lock,
denture as treatment option for those hinge and gate assemblies .It consists of
patients who, for a variety of reasons, a labial or buccal bar with projections
are not suitable for fixed prosthodontics fastened to the RPD framework by a
or implant retained prostheses or hinge at one end latch at the other end.
conventional removable partial denture Reciprocation is achieved through a
therapy. In these situations, a swing lock lingual plate that contacts all of the teeth
denture is an alternative approach.[1,2] by the projection of the labial bar. It was
This article reviews past and current first described by Dr Joe J. Simmons In
literature concerning the swing-lock RPD The Texas Dental journal in February
and provides some clinical 1963.[1,2] This was also described at later
considerations involving the treatment dates by Brown, 1970 Sprigg, 1977. It is
planning and fabrication of this often- indicated in missing or weakened key
useful RPD. abutment teeth, such as a bilateral distal
extension.[3,4]Tooth mobility in patients
who have undergone periodontal

*Corresponding Author Address: Dr. Naorem Jenny. E-mail: [email protected]

 Jenny N..et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2017; 4(5):1255-1261
therapy or have major bone loss and the periodontal health of potential
require some type of stabilization. It is abutment teeth when considering
also indicated in those patient who have a swinglock removable partial denture.
undergone ablation surgery for the Specific instructions for blockout, relief,
therapy for oncology and have few and position of hinge and clasp
remaining teeth, for example patients assemblies should be part of the written
who have had a hemimaxillectomy or laboratory instructions.[5] Fabrication of a
mandibular resection. It is economical. It swing lock partial denture the following
provides inadequate retention.. It is steps:
contraindicated when a patient exhibits
poor oral hygiene, when a patient's Selection of Metal for Swing-lock
manual dexterity is so poor that he or Framework: Chrome alloy is chosen
she could not open or close the clasp instead of gold alloy because gold alloy
portion of the swing lock, when a patient shows wear (due to constant movement
presents with a shallow vestibule or high of the hinge) after a short time of use. If
frenal attachments, and when gold alloy is to be used a greater deal of
interocclusal or interarch space would metal has to be incorporated into the
prevent the successful accommodation framework to increase rigidity and
of the prosthesis.[3,4] It is relatively strength.
inexpensive method of using all or most
Surveying and Design: The cast is
of the remaining teeth for the retention
mounted on a surveyor with the occlusal
and stabilization of a prosthesis either
plane parallel to the base and surveyed.
fixed splinting of the remaining teeth
The path of insertion is from a lingual
and the construction of a conventional
direction with the labial arm open.[6]
removable partial denture.[4] It provides
a poor esthetics and in case of a long Lingual plate: It should be designed to
distal extension base it is likely to move end above the survey line and hence it
towards the tissue under the forces of prevents the tissue ward displacement of
occlusion.it is technique-sensitive, the denture.
especially during hinge and lock
fabrication, and the durability of the Occlusal rest : It helps to prevent tissue
retentive element of the locking ward displacement of the denture.
mechanism decreases with the
Major connector: The mandibular major
progressive wear of the metal latch
connector of choice is a lingual plate. It
attachment. This infrequently utilized
extends above the survey line with
technique allows the use of undercuts
scallops extending up to contact points.
that are unapproachable with other
The maxillary major connector of choice
partial denture designs.
is a complete palate or a closed
The clinician must consider lip position, horseshoe with borders extending up to
facial sulcus depth, position of frena, and or above the survey line.
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Labial arm design : The vertical master cast is duplicated to form the
projections of the labial bar should be refractory cast. The design of the
designed to touch the teeth below the denture is transferred to the refractory
height of contour. Hence, they prevent cast. After design transfer, the wax
occlusal movement. The design of the pattern is fabricated on the refractory
labial arm can be of two types. In cast. The refractory cast is invested, wax
conventional design it consists of a labial is burned out and casting is done. The
bar with metallic vertical I-bar or T-bars resultant framework is trimmed, finished
attached to it. They contact the teeth and polished.
below the survey line .In the modified
form acrylic resin retention loops is used Tray Selection: A custom tray is essential
.It is indicated for patients with short or for recording maximum labial and buccal
hypermobile lips and where aesthetics is vestibular depths. Secondary impression
of concern. The acrylic loops are procedures should be carried out. Holes
translucent or tooth colour hence, they should be made in the tray to help retain
are more aesthetic. Rests are placed on the alginate.
teeth adjacent to the edentulous ridge.
Fitting the Framework.: A framework is
Placement of hinge is determined by the
tried in the patient before arranging the
patient comfort.
artificial teeth .The procedure is similar
Selection of impression material : to that done for conventional removable
Alginate is the impression material of partial dentures except that the fit of the
choice. Large gingival embrasures and labial bar and the rest of the framework
gingival recession will usually be present are checked separately.
in these cases, the impression material
Jaw Relations: After framework try-in, a
should tear in the interproximal areas
temporary denture base is fabricated
during removal. This will allow easy
using the framework. Occlusal rims are
removal of the impression without any
fabricated over the temporary denture
damage to the teeth. This is not possible
base. The framework with the temporary
in rubber base impression materials.
denture base and occlusal rim is inserted
Heavy bodied Alginate is preferred.[6]
into the patient's mouth and all the
.Making the Impression: Impression
three jaw relations are recorded .After
procedure for swing lock dentures is
jaw relation, the casts with the jaw
similar to conventional dentures. Dual
relation records are mounted in an
impressions may be required for distal
articulator.
extension cases.
Arranging artificial teeth to Occlusion:
Framework Fabrication: A master cast is
Occlusion should be such that no lateral
poured from the secondary impression.
forces act on the prosthesis during
The master cast is waxed and under-cuts
occlusion. Simultaneous contact
are blocked out before duplication. The
between natural and artificial teeth
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should be present. These factors are results in the prosthesis grasping the
checked during denture try in. After teeth gently and less rotational and
arranging the artificial teeth, the horizontal loading on the abutment
modelling wax that is to form the teeth whenever the prosthesis moves
denture base is contoured and polished . downward against the mobile mucosa.
Consecutively the trial denture is flasked Adjustment of the labial bar, the vertical
and acrylized as usual. struts are not required with the modified
SL-RPD. Hader bar vertical attachment is
Insertion: A lingual path of insertion is the ability to cast the plastic attachment
used.[6] Pressure indicator paste is used as an integral part of the metal
to detect pressure areas. Occlusion is framework unlike the conventional SL-
evaluated in centric and eccentric RPD in which the prefabricated plastic
relations. In case of distal extension RPD, hinge and latch attachment need to be
the vertical projections should be bent cast separately before the metal
away from the teeth so that the anterior framework is cast.
teeth are not tipped lingually by the
labial bar under occlusal load. 2) Production of a split-post lock can be
used as an alternative in the construction
Post-insertion Care: Oral hygiene of custom-made hinge clasps or for
measures must be emphasized. Distal swing-lock dentures. If a loss or
extension RPD has to be frequently reduction in lock strength occurs through
relined. Loosened lock mechanisms wear of components, then this split-post
should be tightened. Teeth can be added lock can be reactivated.[8]
to the frame work at later stages after
the removal of any tooth.[6] 3) A wrap around swing-lock design using
the white acetyl resin which not only
THE MODIFIED SWING-LOCK: increased the retention and stability
without compromising the esthetics.[9]
New designs for a swing-lock RPD as an
alternative to the hinge and latch 4) When labial bar is added to an
attachment came up for instance use of existing removable partial denture,
a vertical bar and plastic clip attachment swing lock can also function as an
.This modification in the locking orthodontic retainer to inhibit tooth
mechanism overcomes some of the migration of poorly aligned teeth.[10]
problems associated with the
conventional swing-lock RPD. 5) Swing lock partial denture removal
tool consist of a wire loop that can be
1) Used of a vertical bar and plastic clip placed under the clasp of swing lock
attachment as an alternative to the denture and with the application of force
hinge and latch attachment.[7] .Use of a perpendicular to clasp the catch can be
resilient extracoronal attachment as a infasterned .This design especially for
hinge joint and locking mechanism
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patients who has lose their manual designs were proposed to overcome the
dexterity.[11] drawbacks.

Harshit Aggarwal describes the Incorporation of an ERA attachment as

fabrication of a maxillary complete the latch assembly of
removable dental prosthesis with the a swinglock framework for an obturator.
swing lock system. For a patient The premise behind this design was that
presented with large undercuts on the wear would be at the expense of the
buccal and labial areas of the edentulous nylon retention male component, which
maxillary arch and with a history of is easily interchangeable, rather than the
various failed alveoloplasty procedures metal component of the assembly. The
that had attempted to remove the life of the latch assembly, framework,
exostoses preventing denture and prosthesis would thereby be
insertion.[12] prolonged.

Swing lock denture in maxillofacial A surgical obturation using a gated

defects: Conventional and swing-lock prosthesis. : It was based on swing lock
obturator prostheses can be highly concept. The prosthesis allows for simple
effective in restoring maxillary defects transition from wire retained/ stabilized
when careful attention is paid to the to removable obturation .Wound access
principles of framework design. This and transitional to an interim or
modality, offers a conservative design definitive prosthesis was made easier.[14]
option that lies somewhere between the
conventionally designed obturator Ronald e Myers did a study on the a
prosthesis and the prosthesis designed photo elastic study of stress induced by
to use extensive fixed reconstruction or framework design a maxillary resection
endosseous implants. When the Swing by four common removable partial
lock obturator is considered, single, denture obturator design. They were
double, or dual labial bar designs are facial cast circumferential retention with
possible and may be required by the palatal plating , swing lock design with
length and complexities of the arc of palatal plating, facial cast circumferential
closure. Such designs provide a flexible retention and palatal cast
labial bar that transmits less stress to circumferential clasp reciprociation and
abutment teeth.[13] facial cast circumferntial reciprociation
with palatal I bar retention. and
Mandibular resections compromise the reported that swing lock with palatal
balance and symmetry of mandibular plating and facial cast circumferential
functions. Swinglock framework designs reciprociation with palatal I Bar
have been used to retain obturators for retention frameworks demonstrated
some time. Various modification and the greatest stress on all teeth.[15]

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Special cases: A new type of prosthesis, The swing-lock removable partial
with collapsible mandibular swing-lock dentures are used relatively infrequently
complete denture, was introduced as and little-taught concept that offers
prosthodontic treatment modalities for clinicians additional choices in the
an edentulous patient with microstomia treatment of perplexing situations
which is often difficult and ingenious. involving periodontally compromised
The prosthesis incorporates a cast dentitions, missing key abutments, and
cobalt-chromium framework with a other clinical situations of compromised
lingual hinge and a conventional labial anatomy or where the pattern of tooth
swing-lock. This combination allows the loss is unfavourable where a
prosthesis to be collapsible while conventional RPD design may not be
maintaining structural durability. John feasible.
J.Wahle ( 1992).[16]
The concept is recommended for
SWING LOCK AND ORAL HYGIENE maximizing stability and retention by
access to more tooth surfaces and
John k. Schulte did a clinical evaluation of undercuts with the unique clasping
swing lock partial dentures and he found mechanism offered by the incorporation
that there was no significant changes in of lock, hinge, and gate assemblies Since
mobility , sulcus depth, bone level , its introduction, the swing-lock RPD has
caries. He also found that patience gained some degree of acceptance
acceptance of the swing lock denture However there are some of the problems
was good and concluded that swing lock associated with the conventional swing-
removable partial denture will function lock RPD. This article reviews past and
satisfactory if the dentist follows the current literature concerning the swing-
basic principles of construction and if lock RPD and the various modification of
the patient maintains a good level of swinglock and provides some clinical
oral hygiene.[17] B C Gomes did a study considerations involving the treatment
on clinical study of periodontal statues planning and fabrication of this often-
of abutments teeth supporting swing useful RPD. This comprehensive
lock denture and he found that there is maxillofacial rehabilitation plays a pivotal
no differences in pocket depths and role towards upliftment of patient’s
plaque scores and the degree of overall quality of life.
inflammation of the gingival status that
were covered and uncovered by the Acknowledgments: Special thanks to
components of the swing lock Naorem Lokhendro Singh, Naorem
removable partial denture.[18] Ibemhal Devi and Naorem Chitaranjan
for their constant encouracement.
CONCLUSION:

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