A modification of the Thompson dowel rest for distal-extension removable partial dentures

A prefabricated Thompson dowel rest semiprecision attachment system for distal-extension removable partial dentures deserves consideration in the treatment planning of periodontally involved dentitions. It is a system that provides for rotation and therefore stress-breaking with controlled movement. Many other stress-breaking systems provide for rotation without specific control. In addition, the Thompson dowel rest system is the only stress-breaker that is intracoronal not extracoronal. This prefabricated system offers facilitation of laboratory procedures, eliminates the need for utilization of gold for dowels, reduces the size of the rest seats, and aids in the preservation of the integrity of the hard and soft supporting tissues.