PATH OF
INSERTION
IN RPD
PATH OF INSERTION
• It is defined as the direction in which a prosthesis is placed upon and
removed from the abutment teeth. ~GPT
• It is an angle made by the direction of the removable partial
denture with the remaining teeth during insertion.
• A simple method to establish an ideal path of insertion is to
alter the tilt/angulation of the cast on the surveyor.
Changing the tilt will change the guiding plane and the
amount of mouth opening needed to seat a denture.
CLINICAL CONSIDERATION
Class I
Multiple paths of insertion are possible in a class I case.
CLINICAL CONSIDERATION
Class II Mod 1
A class II case with modification 1 will have a single
path of insertion.
CLINICAL CONSIDERATION
Class III
A single path of insertion is possible in a class III case.
CLINICAL CONSIDERATION
Class IV
A class IV case will also usually have a single path of
insertion.
FACTORS INFLUENCING PATH OF
INSERTION
• Retentive undercuts
• Interference
• Aesthetics
• Guiding planes
• Denture base
• Location of vertical minor connector
• Point of origin of the approach arm
RETENTIVE UNDERCUTS
• When the cast is placed horizontally,
favorable undercuts on the abutment teeth
should be identified to obtain good
retention.
• The cast can be tilted until the height of
contour lies between the gingival and
middle third of the crown to obtain a good
undercut.
The advantages of having the height of contour between the gingival and middle third of the
crown are
• Aesthetic placement of the clasp.
• Reduces the rotational forces on the abutment tooth.
• Reduces the forces transferred to the abutment. Tilting of the cast will alter the path of
insertion.
RETENTIVE UNDERCUTS
• When the cast is placed horizontally,
favorable undercuts on the abutment teeth
should be identified to obtain good
retention.
• The cast can be tilted until the height of
contour lies between the gingival and
middle third of the crown to obtain a good
undercut.
The advantages of having the height of contour between the gingival and middle third of the
crown are
• Aesthetic placement of the clasp.
• Reduces the rotational forces on the abutment tooth.
• Reduces the forces transferred to the abutment. Tilting of the cast will alter the path of
insertion.
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can cause interference to
insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to remove these
interferences, the path of insertion should be altered.
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Maxilla
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Torus palatinus
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Maxilla
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Bony exostosis
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Maxilla
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Buccally tipped
teeth
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Mandible
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Lingual tori
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Mandible
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Lingual inclination
INTERFERENCE
• Certain areas of the mouth can Interferences in Mandible
cause interference to insertion.
• If surgery cannot be done to
remove these interferences, the
path of insertion should be altered.
Bony exostosis
AESTHETICS
Aesthetics is a pleasure feeling obtained due to visual perception of an object.
To obtain optimum aesthetics following procedures can be done,
• Clasp arms must be concealed. Positioning the clasp arm at a lower level will help to conceal
the clasp arm. The cast should be tilted so that the height of contour is shifted to a lower level.
This will alter the path of insertion.
• A balance should be obtained between aesthetics and function.
• The artificial teeth should be placed in the same position as the natural teeth.
• Cases with mesially tilted abutments on either side of the edentulous space will have large
unesthetic undercuts with accumulation of plaque and debris. This can be eliminated either by
tilting the cast posteriorly or altering the path of insertion or by selectively grinding the teeth to
establish a proper guiding plane thereby eliminating the undercut.
AESTHETICS
Tipped abutment tooth
with an unfavorable
undercut.
AESTHETICS
Enameloplasty done to
eliminate unfavorable
undercuts.
AESTHETICS
The proximal surface of
such teeth can also be
recontoured using a
crown.
GUIDING PLANES
• The path of insertion will always be parallel to the guide
plane. In other words, the guiding planes determine the path
of insertion.
• The proximal plates on the partial denture should and will
contact the guide planes during insertion. Hence, when
many guide planes are used, multiple paths of insertion are
avoided.
DENTURE BASE
• Shape and extent of denture base determines the path of
insertion.
• If a distal extension denture base is made to extend
anteriorly on both sides it tends to embrace the abutment
limiting multiple paths of insertion.
DENTURE BASE
• Shape and extent of denture
base determines the path of
insertion.
• If a distal extension denture
base is made to extend
anteriorly on both sides it tends
to embrace the abutment
limiting multiple paths of
In a distal extension denture
insertion. base, extending the buccal
flange of the denture base
anteriorly will aid to limit
multiple paths of insertion.
LOCATION OF THE VERTICAL MINOR
CONNECTOR
• The vertical minor connector
connects the auxiliary rest to the
major connector.
• This minor connector will be
parallel to guide plane on the
abutment.
Vertical minor connectors connecting auxiliary
• The path of insertion should be rests also lie close to prepared guide planes
parallel to the guide planes. hence, they also aid to limit multiple paths of
insertion.
POINT OF ORIGIN OF THE APPROACH
ARM OF A BAR CLASP
• It arises from the denture base minor
connector.
• The approach arm of the clasp descends
down and loops up to end in a ‘T’ shaped
tip. Since the approach arm of the bar
clasp forms a loop, it is capable of
producing interference during insertion.
• The bar clasp should be designed to
reduce least resistance according to the Approach arm or bar clasp
path of insertion.
POINT OF ORIGIN OF THE APPROACH
ARM OF A BAR CLASP
• But in some cases where the approach arm
cannot be modified, the path of insertion
is altered.
• When the path of insertion is altered, the
resulting bar clasp will not provide
retention in the vertical direction, instead
it will provide resistance to removal only
against the path of insertion.
• Other factors that control the path of Coronal view
insertion will provide resistance to vertical
displacement of the denture.
GUIDING PLANES
• Two or more vertically parallel surfaces of abutment
teeth so oriented as to direct the path of placement
and removal of removable partial dentures. ~GPT
• Guiding planes play an important role in retention of
the prosthesis.
de plane functions to guide the
nt of the denture only along the
path of insertion.
GUIDING PLANES
Two or more vertically parallel surfaces of abutment teeth so oriented as to direct
the path of placement and removal of removable partial dentures. ~GPT
depicts the guide plane (red line) The guide plane functions to guide the
ed on an abutment tooth. Proximal
he vertical minor connector should be placement of the denture only along the
e association with the guide plane. path of insertion.
GUIDING PLANES
Two or more vertically parallel surfaces of abutment teeth so oriented as to direct
the path of placement and removal of removable partial dentures. ~GPT
rface of the direct retainer Arrow depicts the guide plane (red line) The guide plane functions to gu
prepared on an abutment tooth. Proximal
g the guide plane is called the plate of the vertical minor connector should be placement of the denture only al
place of the direct retainer. in close association with the guide plane. path of insertion.
GUIDING PLANES
Two or more vertically parallel surfaces of abutment teeth so oriented as to direct
the path of placement and removal of removable partial dentures. ~GPT
mal plate of the direct retainer The surface of the direct retainer Arrow depicts the guide plane (
prepared on an abutment tooth
closely associated with guide contacting the guide plane is called the plate of the vertical minor connect
of the primary abutment. proximal place of the direct retainer. in close association with the gui
GUIDING PLANES
Two or more vertically parallel surfaces of abutment teeth so oriented as to direct
the path of placement and removal of removable partial dentures. ~GPT
The proximal plate of the direct retainer The surface of the direct re
should be closely associated with guide contacting the guide plane is c
plane of the primary abutment. proximal place of the direct r
STRUCTURES
• Guide planes are usually 2-3 mm in
occlusogingival height parallel to the path
of insertion.
• The guide should be flat and contain no
undercuts.
• Guide planes do not occur naturally on the
abutment teeth, instead they should be Ideal contour of guide plane
prepared by the clinician during prosthetic
mouth preparation.
• They are prepared by selective grinding of teeth or by appropriate shaping of
wax patterns, crowns or cast restorations on the abutment teeth.
TYPES OF GUIDE PLANES
Guide planes are classified based on their function and location as follows:
Guide planes on abutment
teeth supporting a tooth
supported partial denture.
TYPES OF GUIDE PLANES
Guide planes are classified based on their function and location as follows:
Guide planes on abutment
teeth that support a
secondary distal extension
denture base.
TYPES OF GUIDE PLANES
Guide planes are classified based on their function and location as follows:
Guide planes prepared on
lingual surfaces of abutment
teeth. (Usually they are
adjacent to the proximal plate
of the minor connector that
connects the auxiliary rest).
TYPES OF GUIDE PLANES
Guide planes are classified based on their function and location as follows:
Guide planes on anterior
abutments.
[(A) Canine and (B) Incisors]
ADVANTAGES OF GUIDING PLANES
Guide planes prepared on anterior teeth have the following
advantages:
• Provides parallelism for stabilization.
• Reduces the wedging action between the teeth.
• Reduces the space between the abutment tooth and the denture.
• Increased retention.
• Improves the aesthetics (space between the abutment and the
denture is avoided because the denture adapts completely to the
guiding plane.
FUNCTIONS OF A GUIDING PLANES
• It minimizes the wedging stresses on the abutments.
• Makes insertion and removal easier.
• Aids to stabilize the prosthesis against horizontal stresses.
• Aids to stabilize individual teeth.
• Reduces the block out area and eliminates the space between the
minor connector and the tooth. Hence, it improves oral hygiene
along with easy maintenance.
• Contributes to indirect retention and frictional retention.
