Extended Arm Clasp
Posted on 12/14/2011
The extended arm clasp is a modified circumferential clasp where the retentive and/or the bracing arms extend beyond the abutment tooth to an adjacent tooth. The design is indicated for the following situations:
1. Tooth supported RPD (not distal extension RPDs)
2. Tooth near the saddle does not have a sufficient buccal or lingual undercut
3. Infrabulge retainer is not possible due to embrasure space constraints
4. Adjacent tooth has a usable buccal or lingual undercut
The main disadvantages of this design are:
1. Tooth structure covered by the extended clasps
2. High incidence of clasp fracture
*Picture and portions of the text adapted from An Atlas of Removable Partial denture Design by Dr. Russell J. Stratton and Dr. Frank J. Wiebelt published by Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. in 1988. Page. 63.
1. Tooth supported RPD (not distal extension RPDs)
2. Tooth near the saddle does not have a sufficient buccal or lingual undercut
3. Infrabulge retainer is not possible due to embrasure space constraints
4. Adjacent tooth has a usable buccal or lingual undercut
The main disadvantages of this design are:
1. Tooth structure covered by the extended clasps
2. High incidence of clasp fracture
*Picture and portions of the text adapted from An Atlas of Removable Partial denture Design by Dr. Russell J. Stratton and Dr. Frank J. Wiebelt published by Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. in 1988. Page. 63.
