Minor Connectors Connect components to the major connector

Minor Connectors • Connect components to the major connector – Direct retainer – Indirect retainer – Denture base

Functions of Minor Connectors • Unification and rigidity • Stress distribution • Bracing through contact with guiding planes • Maintain a path of insertion

Types of Minor Connectors • Embrasure Minor Connectors – Between two adjacent teeth

Types of Minor Connectors • Embrasure Minor Connectors – Triangular shaped in cross section – Joins major connector at right angles – Relief placed over free ginigival margin so connector to minimize potential for impingement

Types of Minor Connectors • Embrasure Minor Connectors – Contact teeth at or above height of contour – Prevents wedging & tooth mobility – Alternatively, difficult to seat

Gridwork Minor Connectors • Connect denture base and teeth to major connector

Gridwork Minor Connectors • Adjacent edentulous spaces • Usually connect major connector to direct retainers • Open lattice work or mesh types

Gridwork Minor Connectors • Mesh type – Flatter – Potentially more rigid – Less retention for acrylic if openings are small

Gridwork Minor Connectors • Lattice Type • Potentially superior retention • Interferes with setting of teeth, if struts are too thick – Both types are acceptable if correctly designed

Gridwork Relief • Mechanical retention of denture base resin • Allows acrylic resin to flow under gridwork • ~1 mm thickness (baseplate wax) 1 mm

Gridwork Relief • Relief wax is placed over edentulous areas

Relief Under the Gridwork • Should begin 1. 5 - 2 mm from the abutment tooth 1. 5 -2 mm

Relief Under Gridwork • Creates a metal to tissue contact adjacent tooth – Preferable since it wears less – Less porous, (hygiene)

Junction With Major Connector • Butt joint with slight undercut in metal • Maximum bulk of the acrylic resin • Prevents thin, weak edges fracturing

Mandibular Gridwork Design • Extend 2/3 of the way from abutment tooth to retromolar pad • Never on the ascending portion of the ridge Stewart's, Fig. 2 -55

Maxillary Gridwork Design • Gridwork – 2/3 of the length of from abutment to the hamular notch • Major connector – extends fully to the hamular notch

Maxillary Gridwork Design • Gridwork – Don’t want interference with opposing denture base/tissue

Gridwork Design Facially just over the crest of the residual ridge

Position of Major Connector Junction • Should be ≈ 2 mm medial to lingual surface of denture teeth

Position of Major Connector Junction • Ensures bulk of resin around teeth

Mandibular Tissue Stops • Contact of metal with cast at posterior of distal extension gridwork • Prevents distortion at free end during hydraulic pressure of processing

Mandibular Tissue Stops Without Gap Between Base and Tissue

No Tissue Stops In Maxilla • Maxillary major connector acts as a tissue stop (no relief)

Proximal Plates • Originate from the gridwork minor connector in an edentulous area • Broad contact with guiding planes • May or may not terminate in an occlusal rest

Proximal Plates

Proximal Plates • Shifted slightly lingually – Increases rigidity – Enhances reciprocation – Improves esthetics • Often a triangular space below the guiding plane (undercut)

Proximal Plates • Rigid, cannot be placed in undercut • Block-out placed in undercuts prior to waxing and casting the framework

Zero Degree Block-Out • Does not deviate from path of insertion • Instructions to the laboratory should state “Use zero degree blockout”