Flexi Clasps in Acrylic
Posted on 07/08/2011
Patients today are rarely willing to allow metal to show in their smile. While functionally a metal cast clasp may offer the best long term support and strength, most practioners today try to avoid metal clasps bicuspid forward - especially on the maxillary arch. As a result, labs have worked for years to offer more aesthetic clasp options. Part of the challenge is creating clasps that can work with acrylics - since acrylics themselves do not lend to clasping. A number of manufacturers have introduced products - many in the last couple of years. We offer both a gingival colored valplast clasp (by Valplast International) and various tooth shaded flexi clasps. These clasps work only if the tooth has natural undercuts or prepared undercuts...otherwise the flexible clasps will not give sufficient support to maintain the stability of the partial. Both clasps can be embedded in acrylic but should ideally be attached to some sort of metal understructure to give longer term support.