Outline the advantages and disadvantages of plates or bars when used as major connectors.

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of plates or bars when used as major connectors.

1. Maxillary major connectors

   • Posterior palatal bar
     • + Rigid
     • - Difficult for patient to adjust to due to bulkiness
     • - Provides little vertical support
     • - Should be limited to 1-2 tooth replacements
     • - Cannot be used with Kennedy class I or II
     • Anteroposterior palatal bar
       • - Provides little vertical support
       • - Should not be considered as a first choice
       • - May interfere with phonetics in high narrow vaulted palates
       • - Lack of comfort
       • + Rigid
       • Palatal strap
         • + Rigid
         • + Great resistance to bending
         • + Less bulk
         • +Contributes to indirect retention
         • - Patient complains of palatal coverage
         • - Adverse soft tissue reaction; papillary hyperplasia may occur
         • Anteroposterior palatal strap
           • + Rigid
           • + Great resistance to bending
           • + Provides good support
           • + Strong
           • + More open palate
           • - May interfere with phonetics in some patients
           • U-shape
             • + Reasonable short connector
             • + Some vertical support
             • + Open palate
             • - More flexible;tendency to spread laterally
             • - Lack of cross-arch stability
             • - May interfere with phonetics
             • Complete palate
               • + Rigid
               • + Great resistance to bending
               • + Provides good support
               • + Strong
               • - Patient complaints of palatal coverage
               • - Adverse soft tissue reaction; papillary hyperplasia may occur
               • - May interfere with phonetics in some patients
               • + Contributes to indirect retention
   • Advantages
   • Disadvantages

2. Mandibular major connectors

   • Advantages
   • Disadvantages
   • Lingual bar
     • + Simplest
     • + Most accurate
     • + Minimal contact with soft tissues
     • + Does not contact teeth
     • Lingual plate
       • + Most rigid
       • + Provides most support
       • + May provide indirect retention
       • + Provides splinting of teeth
       • + Insufficient space for lingual bar
       • + Mandibular tori
       • - Extensive coverage of teeth and soft tissues
       • - Oral hygiene