Acceptability of maxillary major connectors in removable partial dentures

Acceptability of maxillary major connectors in removable partial dentures
Abiodun Olabisi Arigbede*, Oluwole.O Dosumu*, Temitope Ayodeji Esan,** Patricia A. Akeredolu.*** * Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ibadan. ** Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. *** Department of Restorative Dentistry,School of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine University of Lagos.
Abstract Background:The choice of connector lies between plate, a bar or a combination of bars, which may cross the palate in various positions. Many opinions have been expressed concerning the acceptability to the patients of the various forms of palatal connectors but there have been few investigations. Objectives:The aim of thisstudy is to compare subjective patients’ reactions to three maxillary major connectors: metal bar, metal plate, and acrylic connectors and to establish the most acceptable and the least acceptable maxillary major connectors. Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients attending the prosthetic out–patient clinic of Dental Center, University College Hospital, Ibadan who had never worn dentures wererecruited into the study. Three dentures each with a different maxillary major connector design were fabricated for each patient. A questionnaire was administered to ascertain their reactions to each of the three denture designs. Results: Fourteen patients (93.3%) preferred the denture with metal palatal bar major connector whereas only one patient preferred the denture with acrylic plate major connectordesign. No patient preferred the palatal metal plate connector design. Conclusions:The metal bar major connector was the most acceptable maxillary major connector while acrylic resin plate was more acceptable than metal plate maxillary major connector. It also confirmed the influence of connector design on patient acceptance of removable partial denture. African Health Sciences 2006; 6(1):113-117

Introduction Major connector is an important component of removable partial denture (RPD). It is a part of the partial denture to which all other parts are directly or indirectly attached 1, 2. . It provides cross arch stability, which helps to resist displacement by functional stresses. It contributes to the support and bracing of a partial denture by distributing functional loads widely tothe teeth, and in case of the maxilla, to the mucosa. It also provides indirect retention by contacting guide surfaces and in upper jaw the palatal mucosa2 The choice of connector lies between a plate, a bar or a combination of bars, which may cross the palate in various positions. Plates usually offer more palatal coverage than bars. Although there are controversies about what constitutes thedimensions of plates and bars in the upper arch, the difference is clear-cut in the lower arch 3. A maxillary major connector type which one investigator calls a broad bar may be referred to as a strap,
Corresponding author: A.O Arigbede Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry University of Ibadan e-mail address, ayo672002@yahoo.com
African Health Sciences Vol 6 No 2 June 2006that is, a modified palatal plate by another1,2,7. Also, the choice of the shape and location of major connectors is greater in the upper jaw because of the larger area available for coverage offered by the hard palate 2 The location and areas of tissue coverage by a major connector is of uttermost importance, as these features will affect the acceptability of the prosthesis and its eventualperformance. Even though, over the years, it has been observed that patient’s tolerance of the various major connector designs was as great as the number of dentists involved in making the designs 4,5 it is still imperative to establish the most acceptable maxillary major connector design. The single palatal bar has perhaps been described as the most widely used and the most preferred maxillary major...