Cast circumferential and wire clasps for obturator retention.

The indications and rationale for using cast circumferential and wire clasps for obtaining retention of obturator prostheses have been presented and discussed. Only the test of time can prove the effectiveness of an obturator design. The infinite variability of physical and patient factors demands understanding and application of basic fundamentals and, in the final analysis, good clinical judgment. Clasping is only one part of the obturator, and it must fit harmoniously into the overall design of the prosthesis. How the clasp contributes to support and bracing as well as retention must always be considered.