Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

The term that describes the means by which one part of a partial denture framework opposes the action of the retainer is reciprocation. In the context of removable partial dentures, reciprocation is essential for ensuring that the retainer (such as a clasp) functions properly without exerting undue displacement forces on the underlying tissues.

When a retainer engages an abutment tooth, it creates a force that has the potential to move the framework. Reciprocation involves the use of a component of the denture (often a rigid arm) that counteracts this movement, providing stability and preventing the denture from lifting off the supporting teeth when in function. This interaction helps maintain the position of the partial denture in the mouth and promotes comfort for the patient.

In contrast, tripoding refers to the use of three points of contact to stabilize a prosthesis, stressing breaking usually involves design features that minimize stress delivered to teeth or tissues, and indirect retention refers to a component designed to prevent dislodgment from forces arising from occlusion. Each of these concepts plays a role in denture design, but they do not specifically address the opposing action of the retainer as effectively as reciprocation.