American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Dental Hygiene Licensing Examination 2025 - Free Dental Hygiene Practice Questions and Study Guide

The initial step in preparing for removable partial dentures is to prepare the guide planes. Guide planes are critical because they define the path of insertion and removal for the partial denture. Properly shaped guide planes help ensure stability and facilitate the accurate positioning of the prosthesis in the mouth during its placement and removal. They also aid in the overall fitting of the partial denture by providing a guide that helps align it correctly with the remaining natural teeth and supporting structures.

Addressing the other tasks, preparing rests is important but comes after establishing the guide planes since rests must fit precisely within the defined guide planes to function effectively. Adjusting occlusion is also essential but is generally performed later in the process, once the initial framework has been established. The creation of the framework itself is a significant step that follows the initial preparation of the guide planes, as the framework’s design and fit rely heavily on the exact configuration of these guide planes. Thus, preparing guide planes first sets the foundation for the accurate and functional design of the entire removable partial denture.