DR SARA

DEPARTMENT OF BASHIR

PROSTHODONTICS. HOUSE
OFFICER
 NEW CLASP ASSEMBLY FOR
DISTAL EXTENSION REMOVABLE
PARTIAL DENTURES: THE
REVERSE RPA CLASP
JANUARY 15, 2015
M o h a m m a d Ay h a m
H a k ko u m , D D S ,
MS
Department of
Prosthodontics,
F a c u l t y o f D e n t i s t r y,
University of
Kalamoon, Der Atiah,
Syrian Arab Republic
 T YPES OF CLASP ASSEMBLIES:

 RPI,RPA AND BAR CLASPS:

 RPI stands for:

 R- Rest(mesial)
 P-Proximal plate
 I- I bar clasp

 RPA stands for:

 R- Rest
 P- Proximal plate
 Aker’s Clasp(wrought wire)

 Bar Clasps:
 T clasp
 Modified T clasp
 Y clasp
 T YPES ON THE BASIS OF DESIGN:

CIRCUMFERENTIAL OR VERTICAL PROJECTION OR

AKERS’s CLASP BAR CLASPS
 Simple circlet  T clasp
 Reverse circlet  Modified T clasp
 Fish-hook or hairpin  Y clasp
 Embrassure clasp  I clasp and I bar
 Multiple circlet
 Ring clasp
 Combination clasp
 T YPES ON BASIS OF CONSTRUCTION:

 Cast
 Wrought wire
 Combination
 RPI CLASP:

 The rest is located on the mesio-occlusal surface

of a pre-molar.
-The minor connector is located in the mesio-lingual
embrasure but is not in contact with the adjacent
tooth (prevents wedging).
 CONTINUATION OF RPI:

 The I-bar originates at the grid work and approaches the tooth
from the gingival direction.

 The bend in the I-bar should be located at least 3mm from the
gingival margin.

 This distance will prevent food entrapment.

CONTRAINDICATIONS TO THE RPI CLASP:

 Insuf ficient depth of the vestibule(The inferior border of the I -

bar must be located at least 4 mm from the gingival margin)

 No labial or buccal undercut on the abutment.

 Severe soft tissue undercut.

 Disto-buccal undercut.
 RPA CLASP:

 This clasp assembly is similar to the RPI design except a

wrought wire circumferential clasp (Akers) is used instead of
the I-bar.

 This clasp arises from the proximal plate and terminates in

the mesio-buccal undercut.

 It is used when there is insuf ficient vestibule depth or when a

severe tissue undercut exists.
 NEW DESIGN- A REVERSE RPA CLASP:

 Mesial rest with minor connector as in RPI & RPA clasps.

 Distal guiding plate as in RPI & RPA clasps.

 Buccal circumferential retentive arm arises from mesial rest

and extends to reach the distal undercut (while in RPA clasp
retentive arm arises from distal guiding plane & engages in
mesial undercut)

RPA CLASP Reverse RPA clasp

 PROCEDURE:

 1 . Accomplish diagnostic procedures.

 2. Surveying.
 3. Selection of clasp.

a-Distal retentive undercut,use a T or modified T-bar clasp.

b- Retentive undercut located at the greatest

mesio-distal prominence use an RPI clasp.

c- If bar clasps are contraindicated, use RPA or combination

clasp.

d- Retentive undercut located to the distal,use the new clasp

design ie REVERSE RPA.
 3.Buccal circumferential retentive arm arises from the
mesial rest and extends to reach the distal retentive undercut
(while the retentive arm in an RPA clasp arises from the distal
guiding plate and engages a mesial undercut ).

 4.Perform the necessary mouth preparation .

 5.Accomplish the conventional steps of RPD fabrication.

 A REVERSE RPA CLASP

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Harmful forces are not  Transversing the
transmitted to the abutment mesial
abutment. marginal ridge.
 Retentive arm gets  Esthetics may be
direct support from the compromised.
rest.  May cause occlusal
interference.
 CONCLUSION:

 Reverse RPA clasp provides a suitable solution for direct

retention in distal extension RPDs when the abutment has a
distal retentive undercut, especially when the bar clasp is
contraindicated.

 This clasp disengages the abutment when excessive forces are

applied and prevents its injury.