title: A theoretical analysis of the mechanics of the Thompson dowel semiprecision intracoronal retainer.
abstract: An analysis has been made of the mechanics of the Thompson dowel retainer. The analysis locates the center of rotation during function and identifies the factors that affect its position. The degree to which the dowel should be relieved to permit unrestricted rotation has been established. The rationale of an occlusal bevel and the limits of its positioning have been analyzed. The importance of aligning the shelves of the dowel wells in two planes is emphasized and ways of handling the problem of disparity of shelf heights are given.
mesh_terms: D000044:Dental Abutments; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003781:Denture Retention; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D012399:Rotation