What is an Implant Locator

What is an Implant Locator?

If you’re reviewing your options for replacing multiple missing teeth, especially if you’re looking for solutions for one or both entire rows of missing teeth, you may have heard about dental implants. Dental implants can be used to support missing teeth permanently, providing a comfortable, natural, attractive option for missing teeth, but it can become cost-prohibitive or otherwise unappealing if you’re hoping to replace multiple missing teeth with dental implants. A locator denture can be an ideal solution to these concerns, combining the stability and health benefits of dental implants with the convenience and affordability of a removable denture. A locator denture is an overdenture that snaps into the mouth, attaching to dental implants that have been surgically placed in the jawbone. The dental implants are fitted with attachment abutments called locators, and these locators match corresponding attachments on the locator denture, which is a row of replacement teeth mounted to a resin base that fits over the gums. With a locator denture, it’s possible for dentists to use a minimal number of dental implants to support an entire row of missing teeth.

Dental implants are unique in that they stimulate the bone that surrounds them, encouraging its health and robustness. As the bone heals around the implant posts, following surgical placement, the bone and implant fuse together, creating a permanent bond that helps maintain bone health and density while providing stable support for dental prosthetics. A locator denture that relies on dental implants can be expected to be a long-lasting solution when cared for and maintained properly, providing a stable, attractive solution that allows patients to eat, speak, and smile comfortably while also improving the health of the jaw and helping maintain the shape and structure of the face. The fact of the matter is, the bone in the jaw will shrink over time when there is no tooth root in place to stimulate its health, which can lead to a sunken, prematurely aging appearance; this problem is nipped in the bud with dental implants.

Because there are several steps involved in the construction and placement of a locator denture, the overall treatment process can take a few months. Following an initial consultation and any auxiliary medical procedures that may be necessary, your dentist will make an impression of your mouth and design a temporary denture. Then, the dentist will review your diagnostic images to determine the best possible placement for your dental implants. Once the implants have been surgically placed, your dentist will fit them with healing caps to keep them protected while your bone heals. You will wear your temporary denture during healing, and, once healing has completed, your dentist will attach the implant locators to the implants and take another impression of the oral cavity, with the locators in place. Using this impression, your dentist will work with a dental lab to construct your custom overdenture, which will be precisely fitted and adjusted to ensure proper function and comfort before it is affixed to the implant locator attachments. Once the locator denture has been adjusted for optimal fit, the process is completed, and your new row or rows of teeth will be ready to improve the appearance of your smile and the optimal function of your dentition for the long term.