1. Minor Connectors Connect components to the major connector
Direct retainer
Indirect retainer
Denture base

2. Functions of Minor Connectors
Unification and rigidity
Stress distribution
Bracing through contact with guiding planes
Maintain a path of insertion

3. Types of Minor Connectors
Embrasure Minor Connectors
Between two adjacent teeth

4. Types of Minor Connectors
Embrasure Minor Connectors
Triangular shaped in cross section
Joins major connector at right angles
Relief placed so connector not directly on soft tissue

5. Types of Minor Connectors
Embrasure Minor Connectors
Contact teeth above height of contour
Prevents wedging & tooth mobility
Alternatively, difficult to seat

6. Gridwork Minor Connectors
Connect denture base and teeth to major connector

7. Gridwork Minor Connectors
Adjacent edentulous spaces
Usually connect major connector to direct retainers
Open lattice work or mesh types

8. Gridwork Minor Connectors
Mesh type
Flatter
Potentially more rigid
Less retention for acrylic if openings are small

9. Gridwork Minor Connectors
Lattice Type
Potentially superior retention
Interferes with setting of teeth, if struts are too thick
Both types are acceptable if correctly designed

10. Gridwork Relief Mechanical retention of denture base resin
Allows the acrylic resin to flow under the gridwork

11. Gridwork Relief Relief wax is placed in edentulous areas
1 mm of relief

12. Relief Under the Gridwork
Should begin mm from the abutment tooth

13. Relief Under Gridwork Creates a metal to tissue contact adjacent tooth
Preferable since it wears less
Less porous, (hygiene)

14. Junction With Major Connector
Butt joint with slight undercut in metal
Maximum bulk of the acrylic resin
Prevents thin, weak edges fracturing

15. Mandibular Gridwork Design
Extend 2/3 of the way from abutment tooth to retromolar pad
Never on the ascending portion of the ridge
Stewart's, Fig. 2-55

16. Maxillary Gridwork Design
2/3 of the length of from abutment to the hamular notch
Major connector
extends fully to the hamular notch

17. Maxillary Gridwork Design
Don’t want interference with opposing denture base/tissue

18. Facially just over the crest of the residual ridge
Gridwork Design
Facially just over the crest of the residual ridge

19. Position of Major Connector Junction
Should be ≈ 2 mm medial to lingual surface of denture teeth

20. Position of Major Connector Junction
Ensures bulk of resin around teeth

21. Mandibular Tissue Stops
Contact of metal with cast at posterior of distal extension gridwork
Prevents distortion at free end during hydraulic pressure of processing

22. No Tissue Stops In Maxilla
Maxillary major connector acts as a tissue stop (no relief)

23. Proximal Plates
Minor connectors originating from the gridwork in an edentulous area
Broad contact with guiding planes
May or may not terminate in an occlusal rest

24. Proximal Plates

25. Proximal Plates Shifted slightly lingually
Increases rigidity
Enhances reciprocation
Improves esthetics
Often a triangular space below the guiding plane (undercut)

26. Proximal Plates Rigid, cannot be placed in undercut
Block-out placed in undercuts prior to waxing and casting the framework

27. Zero Degree Block-Out Does not deviate from path of insertion
Instructions to the laboratory should state “Use zero degree blockout”