Akers' clasp

An Akers' clasp is the classic direct retainer for removable partial dentures. Named after its inventor, Polk E. Akers, this suprabulge clasp consists of a rest, a guide plate, a retentive arm and a reciprocal arm. Akers' clasps, as a rule, face away from an edentulous area. Should they face the edentulous area, they are termed reverse Akers' clasps.

It is the most simple and versatile clasp (clasp of choice in tooth-borne cases). Clasp assembly has one retentive arm opposed by a reciprocal arm originating from the rest. The retentive arm begins above the height of contour, and curves and tapers to its terminal tip, in the gingival 1/3 of the tooth, well away from the gingiva. The bracing arm is in the middle 1/3 of the tooth, and is broader occluso-gingivally, does not taper and is either entirely above the height of contour or completely on a prepared guiding plane – it should never be designed into an undercut, as it is a rigid element.