MAXILLARY MAJOR
CONNECTORS
MAJOR CONNECTOR
Component of partial denture.
Connects the parts of the prosthesis located
on one side of the arch with those on the
opposite side.
Unit of partial denture to which all other parts
are directly or indirectly attached.
Functions of major connector
Unification of the major parts of prosthesis.
Distribution of applied force throughout the
arch to selected teeth and tissue.
Minimization of torque to the teeth.
Provides cross arch-stability to help resist
displacement by functional stresses.
Failure of major connector to provide rigidity
may be manifest by
traumatic damage to periodontal support of
abutment teeth,
injury to residual ridges, or
impingement of underlying tissue.
It is the dentists responsibility to ensure that
the appropriate design and fabrication of the
major connector are accomplished.
Location
The following guidelines are kept in mind :
Major connectors should be free of movable tissue.
Impingement of gingival tissue should be avoided.
Bony and soft tissue prominences should be avoided
during placement and removal.
Relief should be provided beneath a major connector
to prevent its settling into areas of possible
interference.
They should be located and/or relieved to prevent
impingement of tissue because the distal extension
denture rotates in function.
Characteristics of major connectors
contributing to health and well-being
Made from an alloy compatible with oral tissue
Is rigid and provides cross-arch stability through
the principle of broad distribution of stress
Does not interfere with and is not irritating to the
tongue
Does not substantially alter the natural contour
of the lingual surface of the mandibular alveolar
ridge or of the palatal vault
Does not impinge on oral tissue when the
restoration is placed, removed, or rotates in
function
Covers no more tissue than is absolutely
necessary
Does not contribute to the retention or
trapping of food particles
Has support from other elements of the
framework to minimize rotation tendencies in
function
Contributes to the support of the prosthesis
TYPES OF MAXILLARY MAJOR
CONNECTORS
Single palatal strap
Combination anterior and posterior palatal
strap-type connector
Palatal plate-type connector
U-shaped palatal connector
Single palatal bar
Anterior-posterior palatal bars
SINGLE PALATAL STRAP
Single Palatal Strap
Used to connect bilateral tooth-supported
prosthesis, even those with short edentulous
spaces, particularly when the edentulous
areas are located posteriorly.
It can be made rigid without objectionable
bulk and interference with the tongue
provided the cast framework material is
distributed in three planes.
A, this single palatal strap type major connector is better suited for the
restoration of short span tooth supported bilateral edentulous areas.
B, sagittal section. Midportion of major connector demonstrates slight
elevation to provide rigidity. Such thickness of major connector does not
appreciably alter palatal contours.
For reasons of torque and leverage, it should
not be used to connect anterior replacements
with distal extension bases.
To be rigid enough to resist torque and
provide adequate vertical support and
horizontal stabilization, a single palatal strap
would have to be objectionably bulky. When
placed anteriorly, the bulk would become
even more objectionable to the patient
interfering with speech.
More frequently used in class III situations.
COMBINATION ANTERIOR AND
POSTERIOR PALATAL STRAP-TYPE
CONNECTOR
Combination Anterior and Posterior
Palatal Strap-type Connector
Structurally a rigid major connector.
May be used in any maxillary partial denture
design.
Posterior palatal strap :
Design- flat and minimum 8 mm wide.
Location- as far posteriorly as possible to
avoid interference with tongue but anterior to
line of flexure formed by the junction of hard
and soft palates.
Anterior component is a flat strap located as far posteriorly as
possible to avoid rugae coverage and tongue interference.
Anterior border of this strap should be located just posterior to a
rugae crest or in the valley between two crests. Posterior strap is
thin, a minimum of 8 mm wide, and Is located as far posteriorly as
possible, yet entirely on hard palate. It should be located at right
angles to midline rather than diagonally.
Contraindication: inoperable maxillary torus that
extends posteriorly to soft palate (a broad Ushaped major connector is used).
Anterior connector :
Location: extended anteriorly to support anterior
tooth replacements. In this form, a U-shaped
connector is made rigid because of the added
horizontal strap posteriorly. If a maxillary torque
exists, it may be encircled by this type of
connector without sacrificing rigidity.
Strength: lies in the fact that anterior and
posterior components are joined together by
longitudinal connectors on either side, forming a
square or rectangular frame. Each component
braces the others against possible torque and
flexure.
Use: used most frequently in classes II and IV.
All maxillary major connectors should cross the
midline at a right angle rather than on a diagonal.
PALATAL PLATE-TYPE
CONNECTOR
Palatal Plate-type Connector
Thin, broad, contoured palatal coverage,
covering one half or more of the hard palate.
Anatomic replica palatal castings have uniform
thickness and strength because of their
corrugated contours.
Palatal major connector covering two thirds of palate. Anterior
border follows valleys between rugae and does not extend
anterior to indirect retainers on first premolars. Posterior border is
located at junction of hard and soft palates but does not extend
onto soft palate.
Anatomic replica palatal major connector has
several advantages:
Permits making of a uniformly thin metal plate
that reproduces the anatomic contours of the
patients own palate.
The corrugation in the anatomic replica permits
fabrication of a thinner casting with adequate
rigidity.
Intentional surface irregularities maintain the
original uniform thickness of the plastic pattern
(only electrolytic polishing is needed).
By virtue of intimate contact, interfacial surface
tension between metal and tissue provides the
prosthesis with greater retention. (to resist the
pull of sticky foods, the forces of gravity,
coughing, sneezing etc.)
Uses of palatal plate-type
connector :
May be used in one of three ways :
as a plate of varying width that covers the
area between two or more edentulous areas,
as a complete or partial cast plate that
extends posteriorly to the junction of hard and
soft palates (figures A & B), or
in the form of an anterior palatal connector
with a provision for extending an acrylic resin
denture base posteriorly (figures C & D).
A, Palatal plate major connector for a Class I, modification I,
removable partial denture. Posterior border lies on movable hard
palate and crosses the midline at a right angle. Total contact
provides excellent auxillary retention without objectionable bulk.
Location of palatal Plate-type
Connector :
Anterior to posterior palatal seal area.
The maxillary complete dentures typical
posterior palatal seal is not necessary with a
maxillary partial dentures palatal plate
because of the accuracy and stability of cast
metal.
When the last remaining abutment tooth on
either side of a class I arch is canine or first
premolar, complete palatal coverage is
strongly advised, especially when the residual
ridges have undergone excessive vertical
resorption. This may be accomplished in one
of two ways :
Use a complete cast plate extending to
junction of hard and soft palates (figure B).
Use a cast major connector anteriorly, with
retention posteriorly, for the attachment of an
acrylic-resin denture base to the anatomic
landmarks (figures C & D).
B, Complete coverage palatal major connector. Posterior border
terminates at junction of hard and soft palates. Anterior portion, in the
form of palatal linguoplate, is supported by positive lingual rest seats
on canines. Location of finishing lines is most important in this type of
major connector. Anteroposteriorly, they should be parallel to a line
along the center of the ridge crest and located just lingual to an
imaginary line contacting lingual surfaces of missing natural teeth.
C, maxillary major connector in the form of palatal linguoplate with provision
for attaching full-coverage resin denture base.
D, completed removable partial denture with resin base. Palatal linguoplate is
supported by rests occupying lingual rest seats prepared in cast restorations on
canines. This type of RPD is particularly applicable where 1) residual ridges
have undergone extreme vertical resorption and 2) terminal abutments have
suffered some bone loss and splinting cannot be accomplished.
