Kennedy's Classification

Partially edentulous arches

So many classification in Nallaswamy.

Kennedy's Classification

Kennedy classified partially edentulous arches and not the denture. The classification is positional or anatomical and conveys a picture of certain teeth and their relationships, but gives little information about the teeth present and their positional relationships.

Class I: Bilateral edentulous areas located posterior to the remaining natural teeth, i.e. there are two edentulous spaces located in the posterior region without any teeth posterior to it (Fig. 16.10).

Class II: Unilateral edentulous area located posterior to the remaining natural teeth, i.e. there is a single edentulous space located in the posterior region without any teeth posterior to it (Fig. 16.11).

Class III: Unilateral edentulous area with natural teeth anterior and posterior to it, i.e. this indicates a single edentulous area which does not cross the midline of the arch,with teeth present on both sides (anterior and posterior) of it (Fig. 16.12).

Class IV: Single, bilateral edentulous area located anterior to the remaining natural teeth. This is a single edentulous area, which crosses the midline of the arch, with remaining teeth present only posterior to it (Fig. 16.13).

Applegate modified the above classification based on the condition of the abutment to include two more additional groups:

Class V: Edentulous area bounded anteriorly and posteriorly by natural teeth but in which the anterior abutment(e.g. lateral incisor) is not suitable for support.It is basically a class III situation where the anterior abutment cannot be used for any support. Hence,it cannot be treated like a conventional class III edentulous space (Fig. 16.14).

Class VI: Edentulous area in which the teeth adjacent to the space are capable of total support of the required prosthesis. This denture hardly requires any tissue support.Most of the removable partial dentures are tooth tissue supported.

The following rules should be considered to classify partially edentulous arches based on Kennedy's classification. During the initial examination of the patient, if it is diagnosed that any teeth require extraction, it should be done prior to

Rule 1 Classification should follow rather than precede any extractions of teeth that might alter the original classification.

Rule 2 If a third molar is missing and is not to be replaced, it is not considered in the classification.

Rule 3 If a third molar is present and is to be used as an abutment, it is considered in the classification.

Rule 4 If a second molar is missing and is not to be replaced, it is not considered in the classification (e.g., if the opposing second molar is likewise missing and is not to be replaced).

Rule 5 The most posterior edentulous area (or areas) always determines the classification.

Rule 6 Edentulous areas other than those that determine the classification are referred to as modifications and are designated by their number

Rule 7 The extent of the modification is not considered, only the number of additional edentulous areas.

Rule 8 No modification areas can be included in Class IV arches. (Other edentulous areas that lie posterior to the single bilateral areas crossing the midline would instead determine the classification; )

AREAS TO BE MODIFIED OR CONTOURED LABORATORY INSTRUCTIONS DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS: 1. RESTS 2. RETENTION PATIENT NUMBER 3. RECIPROCATION 4. MAJOR CONNECTOR 5. INDIRECT RETENTION 6. GUIDE PLANES 7. BASE RETENTION