Acceptability of maxillary major connectors in removable partial dentures

Background: The choice of connector lies between plate, a bar or a combination of bars, which may cross the palate in various positions. Many opinions have been expressed concerning the acceptability to the patients of the various forms of palatal connectors but there have been few investigations. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare subjective patients' reactions to three maxillary major connectors: metal bar, metal plate, and acrylic connectors and to establish the most acceptable and the least acceptable maxillary major connectors. Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients attending the prosthetic out–patient clinic of Dental Center, University College Hospital, Ibadan who had never worn dentures were recruited into the study. Three dentures each with a different maxillary major connector design were fabricated for each patient. A questionnaire was administered to ascertain their reactions to each of the three denture designs. Results: Fourteen patients (93.3%) preferred the denture with metal palatal bar major connector whereas only one patient preferred the denture with acrylic plate major connector design. No patient preferred the palatal metal plate connector design. Conclusions: The metal bar major connector was the most acceptable maxillary major connector while acrylic resin plate was more acceptable than metal plate maxillary major connector. It also confirmed the influence of connector design on patient acceptance of removable partial denture. African Health Sciences Vol. 6(2) 2006: 113-117