Akers' clasp

An Akers' clasp is the classic direct retainer for removable partial dentures. ^[1] Named after its inventor, Polk E. Akers, this suprabulge clasp consists of a rest, a guide plate, a retentive arm and a reciprocal arm. Akers' clasps, as a rule, face away from an edentulous area. Should they face the edentulous area, they are termed reverse Akers' clasps.^{[citation needed]}

It is the most simple and versatile clasp (clasp of choice in tooth-borne cases). Clasp assembly has one retentive arm opposed by a reciprocal arm originating from the rest. The retentive arm begins above the height of contour, and curves and tapers to its terminal tip, in the gingival 1/3 of the tooth, well away from the gingiva. The bracing arm is in the middle 1/3 of the tooth, and is broader occluso-gingivally, does not taper and is either entirely above the height of contour or completely on a prepared guiding plane – it should never be designed into an undercut, as it is a rigid element.^{[citation needed]}

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