How Long Do Locator Abutments Last?
Dental implants have been used to support overdentures for decades, demonstrating years of stability and success. There are a few different types of implant-retained dentures, which rely on surgically implanted dental implant posts embedded in the jaw for stability. These implants emerge from the gums and are used to attach an overdenture that replaces a full row of natural teeth with a denture that supports a row of prosthetic teeth. The locator denture is just one of these types of implant-retained overdentures and uses attachments called locators, a system developed in the 1970s to help enhance denture retention while reducing issues with denture placement and fit. These locator abutments have become an increasingly popular method of retaining dentures, proving to be simple, successful, and cost-effective for many patients who seek to replace one or both rows of missing natural teeth with locator dentures.
While locator dentures are designed to be durable and well-fitting over the long term, the locator abutments they rely on are subjected to daily wear and tear when the denture is snapped out and snapped back in. These abutments are affixed to the tip of the dental implant, where it emerges from the gums, and snap in to their corresponding attachment fixtures built into the locator denture. Locator abutments are designed to hold the denture securely in place while remaining flexible enough to snap the denture out for cleaning and sleeping. Because these abutments are attached to the dental implants following implant placement, they can be removed non-invasively and without affecting the integrity of the implant.
While the lifespan of a locator abutment will vary based on a few different factors, dentists recommend replacing locator abutments around every three years. Your dentist will evaluate your overdenture and abutments during your regular dental checkups, assessing the fit of the denture and the stability of the locator abutments to help determine your own personalized timeline for denture maintenance and abutment replacement. The process for replacing these abutments is simple, quick, and inexpensive, requiring only chairside dental attention. While locator dentures are designed to be a long-term solution for people who are missing one or both rows of teeth, the replacement and refitting of locator abutments should be factored into overall treatment planning; it’s important to maintain your locator denture and abutments properly to ensure the long-term success of your dental prosthetic.
Of course, keeping your denture clean and maintaining the hygiene and health of the oral cavity by keeping it clean and free from bacteria and infection is also integral to the success of your dental implants and the longevity of your locator denture, so be sure to follow your dentist’s recommendations for denture maintenance and general oral hygiene. Dentists recommend removing dental prosthetics while sleeping and to clean the denture and the oral cavity, and your dentist will review these specific guidelines with you as part of your treatment plan. With solid hygiene habits, periodic denture adjustments, and regular locator abutment maintenance, you can help your locator denture keep you smiling securely for decades.