The hinged-clasp assembly removable partial denture

S t e p h e n D. C a m p b e l l , D.D.S, M.M.Sc.,* and H a r v e y W e e n e r , D.D.S.**

Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass.

Severe undercuts and malpositioning of teeth can create problems with the path of
insertion of removable partial dentures. Prostheses that have conventional clasp
designs are not well-suited for these situations because a common path of place-
ment must exist for all clasps. A technique that incorporates a hinged-clasp
assembly to overcome this problem is described. (J PROSTHETDENT 1990;63:59-61.)

W h e n abutment teeth for a removable partial
denture are elongated as a result of loss of surrounding tis-
sues, severe undercuts are often present. These undercuts,
along with facial tipping and malpositioning of teeth, can
*Assistant Professor of Prosthetic Dentistry, Director Postdoc-
toral Prosthodontics.
**Faculty member.
10/1/15462
create problems with the path of placement of a removable
partial denture. When severe, they preclude the use of
conventional clasp assemblies because the cross-arch un-
dercuts of the teeth are not compatible with a single path
of placement.
A possible solution to this problem is to place crowns on
the abutment teeth and construct a precision removable
prosthesis that has intracoronal or extracoronal retainers.
This eliminates the need to engage the severe undercuts.

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Fig. 1. Hinged-clasp assembly removable partial denture (Oddo Hinge type).

Fig. 2. Retentive-clasp assembly (Oddo Hinge type).
Fig. 3. Opened retentive-clasp assembly.

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 59

 CAMPBELL AND WEENER

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Fig. 4. Closed retentive-clasp assembly.

Fig. 5. Patient's smile reveals part of wrought wire clasp arm on right canine but not
hinged-clasp assembly on left canine.
Fig. 6. Same patient showing different character of HCA and conventional clasp arm.
HCA engages most severe undercut and thereby avoids showing clasp arm.
Fig. 7. HCA retentive arm bypasses contact with compromised first premolar.

However, this is not suitable if the supporting teeth have
a questionable long-term prognosis. A removable partial
denture with a rotational path of insertion can also be
used, 1 thus avoiding the cost of the crowns necessary for a
precision prosthesis. However, contingency planning is
limited since a rotational-path removable partial denture
relies on the teeth adjacent to the edentulous ridge for its
support. An alternative design is the hinged-clasp assem-
bly (HCA) removable partial denture (Fig. 1). This is an
adaptation of the classic swinglock design 2 and was first
introduced by Oddo. 13
HINGED-CLASP A S S E M B L Y
COMPONENTS
The hinged-clasp assembly consists of (1) the retentive-
clasp assembly, (2) the retentive-clasp end--a bar type
(I-bar), (3) the rest seat (conventional), (4) the reciprocal
arm (RPI design or conventional), and (5) the guiding
plane (conventional).
Retentive-clasp assembly
The retentive clasp assembly has the following compo-
nents (Fig. 2):
The hinge. The hinge is prefabricated and allows the
retentive-clasp arm to rotate. There are three types; the D.
E. Hinge (Attachments International, San Mateo, Calif.),
the Nobil Latch (Nobilium Industries, Albany, N.Y.), and
the Oddo Hinge (Ticonium Co. Albany, N.Y.).
Retentive-clasp arm. This extends from the hinge to
the retentive end of the arm. The clasp armis rigid and acts
as a minor connector. A Hader (Hadax, La Chaux DeFond,
Switzerland) bar is frequently used for this purpose.
Latch.The latch locks the retentive-clasp arm in place
so that it will not rotate once it is positioned. This may be

60 JANUARY 1990 VOLUME 63 NUMBER 1

HINGED-CLASP ASSEMBLY R P D
either a prefabricated part of the hinge (Oddo Hinge) or a
replaceable H a d e r bar nylon clip.
M E T H O D S OF C O N S T R U C T I N G THE
HINGED-CLASP ASSEMBLY
The HCA is constructed by one of two methods. In the
first method an HCA incorporating an Oddo Hinge and
Latch apparatus is assembled and attached to the R P D
frame with acrylic resin. The locking mechanism of the
latch results in metal-to-metal contact between the pins on
the retentive arm and grooves in the latch housing.
In the second method, an HCA using a D.E. Hinge or
Nobil Latch a p p a r a t u s has the hinge and clasp arm cast to
the R P D frame. The latch for the clasp arm is constructed
separately and consists of a metal housing t h a t will accept
a nylon Hader clip for locking the clasp arm in place.
During the try-in, the clasp assembly is positioned in the
wax. The clinical aspects are similar to conventional
removable partial dentures. The p r i m a r y difference is t h a t
during insertion, the retentive clasp assembly is opened
and the prosthesis is positioned (Fig. 3). Once properly
seated, the assembly is closed and locked into place (Fig.
4). T h e tightness of the retentive arm can be adjusted in the
prefabricated assemblies.
ADVANTAGES AND INDICATIONS
1. Stress on the a b u t m e n t teeth is minimized during in-
sertion. The height of contour is not engaged by the reten-
tive arm during insertion of the prosthesis. The role of the
reciprocal arm is, therefore, no longer i m p o r t a n t in bracing
a tooth during placement of the prosthesis. This results in
a passive clasp assembly. Reciprocation is required, how-
ever, to maintain support and retention once the clasp arm
is closed.
2. Esthetics are improved by allowing the facial reten-
tive arm to be placed as far gingivally as the soft tissues
permit, regardless of the severity of the undercut in the
tooth structure (Figs. 5 and 6).
3. Modification of existing tooth structure is minimized.
4. P a t h of insertioll problems are overcome. Each clasp
assembly can be treated separately and hence a common
path of insertion is not necessary.
5. Contingency planning in the design of the removable
partial denture becomes more flexible when teeth of ques-
tionable prognosis are involved. Teeth other t h a n the ones
adjacent to the edentulous ridges can be used (Fig. 7).
6. Deepest tooth undercut can be engaged.
T H E JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY
7. A bar-type retentive arm can be used where soft tis-
sue undercuts would otherwise preclude it for a conven-
tional prosthesis.
8. Use of a nylon H a d e r clip with the D.E. Hinge HCA
results in no metal-to-metal contact of the locking compo-
nents of the latch. The nylon H a d e r clip is easily replaced
and little wear occurs on the metal.
DISADVANTAGES AND
CONTRAINDICATIONS
1. The HCA R P D cannot be used when there is insuffi-
cient vestibular space.
2. The facial retentive assemblies may have a little
movement if not properly constructed.
3. Poor manual dexterity on the p a r t of the patient is a
contraindication.
4. Increased maintenance of the assembly is required.
This is particularly true of the Oddo Hinge apparatus,
which has metal-to-metal contact of the locking compo-
nents during opening and closing of the retentive arm. This
contact results in increased wear of the metal and a need
for more frequent adjustments.
SUMMARY
The hinged-clasp assembly is an alternative to conven-
tional clasp designs for removable partial dentures. The
HCA was described and its advantages and disadvantages
were discussed. The primary indication for its use is the
patient with a compromised prognosis that has an associ-
ated problem with the p a t h of insertion. Such patients are
well suited for a hinged-clasp assembly removable partial
denture.
We express our gratitude to Mr. Ara Dickerman of Myron Dick-
erman Laboratory, Sharon, Mass.
REFERENCES
1. Firtell DN, Jacobson TE. Removablepartial dentures with rotational
paths of insertion: problem analysis.J PROSTHETDENT1983;50:8-15.
2. Antos EW, Renner RP, Foerth D. The swing-lockpartial denture: an
alternative approachto conventionalremovablepartial denture service.
J PROSTHETDENT1978;40:257-62.
3. Oddo VJ. The movable-armclasp for completepassivityin partial den-
ture construction.J Am Dent Assoc1967;74:1009-15.
Reprint requests to:
DR. STEPHEN D. CAMPBELL
HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE
188 LONGWOODAVE.
BOSTON, MA 02115
61