Retention of obturator-removable partial dentures: a comparison of buccal and lingual retention.

An in vitro study was performed to measure the influence of a simulated obturator on the amount of force required to dislodge a simulated unilateral removable partial denture with various clasp designs. The presence of an obturator reduces the retentive capability of a removable partial denture. Lingual retention appeared to provide more resistance to displacement than buccal retention. Infrabulge clasp designs appeared to be more retentive than suprabulge clasp designs.