The Kennedy bar is another name for which major connector?

The Kennedy bar is another name for which major connector?

• A. Labial bar
• B. Swing lock
• C. Double lingual bar
• D. Lingual plate

Answer: (C)

In removable partial dentures, major connectors tie the framework across the arch and must suit the available space and anatomy. On the mandible, a single lingual bar is preferred when there’s enough space from the gingival margin to the floor of the mouth. When space is limited or extra rigidity is needed without a full-coverage plate, a double lingual bar can be used. This configuration, a pair of narrow bars on the lingual aspect connected behind the teeth, provides cross-arch stability and distributes forces effectively in tight spaces. That design is known as a Kennedy bar, so the correct answer is the double lingual bar. The other major connectors (labial bar on the lipside, lingual plate covering more of the lingual surface, or swing locks as retention devices) don’t carry this historic name.

In removable partial dentures, major connectors tie the framework across the arch and must suit the available space and anatomy. On the mandible, a single lingual bar is preferred when there’s enough space from the gingival margin to the floor of the mouth. When space is limited or extra rigidity is needed without a full-coverage plate, a double lingual bar can be used. This configuration, a pair of narrow bars on the lingual aspect connected behind the teeth, provides cross-arch stability and distributes forces effectively in tight spaces. That design is known as a Kennedy bar, so the correct answer is the double lingual bar. The other major connectors (labial bar on the lipside, lingual plate covering more of the lingual surface, or swing locks as retention devices) don’t carry this historic name.