This study was designed to investigate the influence of the clasp arm length on the change of retentive force with repeated placement or removal. The author measured the retentive force of Akers clasp and I-bar clasp in the depth of undercut 0.5mm, 0.25mm, respectively, varying the length of clasp arm, that is, 10mm, 14mm, 17mm in Akers clasp and 16mm, 18mm, 20mm in I-bar clasp. The retentive force was measured just before the placement of removal, after 100 times repeated placement or removal, after 300 times repeated placement or removal. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The shorter the clasp arm, the greater retention in Akers clasp and I-bar clasp(p<0.05). 2. There was decreased retentive force of Akers clasp and I-bar clasp after 300 times repeated placement or removal(p.<0.005). 3. The decreasing rate of retentive force in Akers clasp with 10mm was higher than that with 17mm, after 300 times repeated placement or removal, but there was no statistica difference(p>0.05).