Rests and
Rest Seats
Rests
✓A rigid extension of a partial
denture which contacts a
remaining tooth to transmit
vertical forces
✓A rigid component resting in a
recessed preparation on the
occlusal, lingual or incisal surface
Primary Purpose:
✓To provide vertical support for
the partial denture
Functions:
1. Maintains components in their
planned positions
2. Maintains established occlusal
relationship by preventing settling
of the denture
3. Prevents impingement of the soft
tissues
4. Directs and distributes occlusal
loads to the abutment teeth
Requirements/Design Considerations:
1. Sufficient thickness of metal to prevent
fracture, especially at the junction of
the rest and the minor connector
(1.5mm for chrome cobalt, 2mm for
gold)
2. Should be placed on surfaces which
would direct forces along the long axis
of the teeth, should not be placed on
inclined surfaces
Requirements/Design Considerations:
1. Should be extended to as close to the
center as feasible to promote axial
direction of forces
2. Should be placed in rest seats which
demonstrates smooth and rounded
internal line angle
3. Rest seats should be on enamel or any
restoration that has been proven
scientifically to resist fracture and
distortion when subjected to applied
forces
1. Amalgam 1. Glass Ionomer Cement
2. Metal Inlay 2. IRM
3. Gold 3. Composite
4. Porcelain
Rest Seat
✓Portion of a tooth
prepared to
receive a rest
Preparation of Rest Seats
1. Light pressure
2. High-speed handpiece
3. Water spray
4. Minimal heat is generated
5. Keep it in Enamel
6. No anesthesia
Types of Rest Seats
1. Occlusal Rest
✓Conventional
• Extended
• Onlay
• Embrasure
2. Incisal Rest
3. Lingual Rest
✓Cingulum
• Ball
OCCLUSAL REST
a. Conventional
✓ Rest seats: ~ 1.5 mm reduction of
the marginal ridges
✓ Spoon shaped/rounded, triangular
shape with apex towards the
center of the tooth
✓ Should be as long as it is wide
✓ Base is about 2.5mm
✓ Angle formed by the rest and truss
arm =<90 degrees
(to ensure direction of force to
the long axis)
✓ 1/3 the faciolingual width
✓ ½ the width of the tooth at the
cusp tips
Preparations of Rest Seats
•8801-014
Diamonds
•38006-135
Medium
Round Carbide •#2, #4
Burs
Occlusal Rest Preparation
Occlusal Rest Preparation
Occlusal Rest Preparation
Occlusal Rest
b. Extended
✓ for tooth borne cases where the abutment is tipped/severely
tilted
✓used to ensure transmission of forces towards the long axis
✓In a form of onlay to restore occlusal plane
✓1-2 mm bevel on the buccal and lingual occlusal surfaces to allow
the extended rest
✓Toot preparation must include 1-2 mm guiding plane on the
mesial surface of the abutment
Incisal Rest
✓Saddle shaped
✓Concave when viewed frontally
✓Convex when viewed proximally
✓Greater mechanical leverage than a cingulum
rest
Incisal Rest
✓Usually placed on the mesio- or disto-incisal angle of the incisor teeth
with the deepest portion towards the center of the tooth.
Predominantly used as indirect retainer.
✓Usually used on mandibular incisor where the lower lip can cover as
much as possible, the metal of the rest that shows at the incisal edge
Lingual Rest
• A lingual rest is preferable to an incisal rest because it is placed closer
to the horizontal axis of rotation (tipping axis) of the abutment and
therefore will have less of a tendency to tip the tooth. In addition,
lingual rests are more esthetically acceptable than are incisal rests.
• Lingual or cingulum rests on anterior teeth are often utilized when no
posterior teeth are present or when indirect retention is necessary
✓Usually the canine, due to its well developed cingulum
Lingual Rest
1. Cingulum Rest
2. Ball Rest
Cingulum Rest
✓Inverted V or U shaped when viewed from the lingual
✓V or U shaped when viewed from the proximal
Cingulum Rest Preparation
1. The cingulum rest seat should be prepared in the bulk of the cingulum to
minimize tooth reduction. The cavosurface should be less than 90° to prevent
orthodontic movements of the tooth.
2. Inverted V- maintain natural contour (often seen in the canine cingulum)
3. The proximal view demonstrates the correct angulation for the floor of the rest
(<90 degrees)
4. An explorer tip must be scaled unto the preparation to check for a positive
basal seat preparation.
Cingulum Rest Preparation
• The Preparation must not be
too high for it may cause the
rest to interfere with the
opposing tooth
• If the preparation is too low,
enamel on the area is too
thin and it may cause
sensitivity and fracture.
• A medium or large diameter cylindrical fissure bur should be utilized
approaching along the long axis of the tooth.
• Approcahing from a horizontal direction will often result in creation of
undercut incisal to the rest seat
✓Avoid opposing occlusion
✓1.5-2.0mm clearance of metal
✓Check with mounted diagnostic casts
Bonded Cingulum Rests
• When cingulum is poorly developed
• Can provide acceptable strength and longevity
Bonded Cingulum Rests
• Flat emergence profile
• Pumice, rinse, etch, bond using rubber dam
• Ensure cervical composite, should be well adapted
Ball/Round Lingual Rest Seat
• Prepared on the mesial of the canine teeth when use of typical
cingulum rest is contraindicated
• (e.g. large restoration, lack of clearance with opposing, poorly
developed cingulum)
Ball/Round Lingual Rest Seat
• Spoon shaped, similar to the occlusal rest seat
• More difficult due to incline of the lingual surface
• Easily incorporated with crowns
