Introduction
The connector joins a retainer to a pontic. It looks small, but it carries much of the bridge's stress, and its type decides how the bridge behaves under load.
Connectors
Rules for connectors
- Big enough to resist bending: height matters most; extend the connector lingually and toward the occlusal and labial surfaces as far as esthetics allows.
- Shaped to leave open embrasures for cleaning, with no pressure on the papilla.
- Canine connectors are made especially strong: they take vertical, horizontal, tensile and twisting forces.
- Larger for weaker materials: ceramic connectors must be much bigger than metal ones.
Classifying bridges
By how the pontic is held
Other classifications
Rigid, one-piece castings are the strongest. Non-rigid connectors are a solution for special situations, not a routine choice.