Topic 73 of 96 in the MU Plovdiv syllabus for Preclinical Prosthetic Dentistry (Dental Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 6 sections, about 112 words (2 min of reading), with 13 flashcards.
In this note
Introduction
Precision and semi-precision
Where they sit
How much they let the denture move
Indications and contraindications
Advantages and disadvantages
Introduction
An attachment is a connector of two or more parts that lock together: one part (the matrix, female) is fixed to an abutment, usually inside or on a crown; the other (the patrix, male) is built into the removable denture. Attachments replace visible clasps and give precise retention and bracing.
How much they let the denture move
Rigid attachments allow no movement: for tooth-supported dentures (Kennedy Class III) and fixed connections.
Resilient attachments let the denture sink or rotate toward the mucosa under load: for free-end dentures, so the abutment isn't twisted.
Advantages and disadvantages
Every attachment in a denture must share one path of insertion. They are placed with a surveyor or milling machine, and abutments carrying attachments are often splinted.
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