• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.209-222
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• 2011

Missing anterior teeth can be replaced using any of a number of methods. Patients may choose to replace missing teeth with a prosthesis that is either removable, fixed, or retained with implants. For patients faced with financial, anatomical, and/or esthetic limitations, the edentulous region can be restored successfully and esthetically with a properly designed and fabricated rotational path RPD. The rotational path RPD is a partial removable dental prosthesis that incorporates a curved, arcuate, or variable path of placement allowing one or more of the rigid components of the framework to gain access to and engage an undercut area. The rigid retainer must gain access to the infrabulge portion of the tooth by rotating into place. Either a minor connector or proximal plate provides retention through its intimate contact with a proximal tooth surface. A specially designed dovetails or asymmetric rest seats provides support and embracing effects. Correctly designed and fabricated rotational path RPD can provide improved esthetics, cleanliness, and retention. But rotational path RPDs are technique sensitive since the rotational path RPD has little margin of laboratory error that rigid retainers cannot be adjusted like conventional clasps can, RPD framework must be remade once the retention is lost. The sufficient understanding of the concept for the rotational path RPD is required for clinically successful treatment. This clinical report describes in detail the theoretical, laboratory considerations and the treatment of a patient with an anterior maxillary edentulous area treated by an AP path rotational RPD that had a difficulty in long term maintenance and describes another clinical case in which more reasonable treatment procedures were approached after analyzing the former case.