Oral Surgery
WHAT IS A LOCATOR ATTACHMENT
Huntersville (Charlotte Metro), NC
What is a Locator Attachment at Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery
What is a Locator Attachment at Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery
A denture with locator attachments is a restoration appliance that replaces all your teeth in one jaw. It is not fixed in your mouth and can be taken out. Locator attachments are connected or attached to dental implants that are surgically placed in your jawbone. The locator attachments then connect the denture tray to the implants. Usually, two implants and attachments are necessary for a lower jaw denture, and four implants and attachments are required for an upper jaw restoration.
Locator attachments make a huge improvement with the retention and chewing ability of a denture appliance. If you have a dry mouth or have fragile tissue you may have some difficulty with retention and comfort of a traditional and conventional denture and the benefit from locator attachments. Lip support is also better compared to an implant retained fixed restoration. A removable denture appliance is more easily repaired, and the oral hygiene is also easier.
The denture locator implants are surgically placed in very specific locations within your jaw to securely and effectively stabilize the overdentures in place. The number of implants placed depends on various factors such as the number of teeth being replaced with the overdenture, as well as the shape and size of your jaw.
In addition to determining the number of implants that must be placed, the shape and size of your jaw will also dictate the angle and orientation which the implants are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The goal of your dentist will be to provide you with the most secure, stable, and long-lasting connection for the dentures, so they will design and plan their approach on the number of implants to use, and how they must be positioned to provide the best possible treatment results.
The visible top end of each locator attachment implant is shaped to plug or snap securely into the connections in the backside in the overdenture appliance. These implant connections are also often capped with a soft material that adds a level of shock absorption and even flexibility to the overdenture when biting pressure or movement is applied to avoid pain or discomfort while biting, eating, drinking, and talking.
If you are currently using traditional dentures or have found yourself in need of a solution to replace multiple lost teeth, then denture locator implants supporting an overdenture might very well be the best choice for you. Before you can commit to a set of implant-secured overdentures, you will need to have an in-depth dental examination and consultation to discuss your goals, your health history, and the available options with your dentist.
You will need a customized plan that meets your needs and takes into consideration the factors that determine the best approach to replacing your lost teeth will be. During your appointment, your dentist will identify your potential options and describe them in detail, including all the advantages and disadvantages that they could have for you and your lifestyle. It is important to consider all the factors and make the choice that is best for you.
Words cannot express enough, how wonderful, caring and professional Dr. Haigney and his staff are! After being rushed to the Huntersville hospital with an orbital fracture, broken nose and other facial damage, Dr. Haigney rushed me into surgery (on his day off I must add) and corrected all my problems. I only wish all doctors cared as much about their patients and their recovery as Dr. Haigney and his staff did. Thank you so much for everything! Your attention and compassion has helped me make my recovery as comfortable as possible. 5 star service!
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