What is the LOCATOR® Overdenture Implant System?
The LOCATOR Overdenture Implant (LODI) System uses abutments (posts) and attachments to secure a removable denture to dental implants. This popular, durable, cost-effective option holds dentures in place, giving them much needed retention while facilitating improved chewing function.
This stability is critically important; it can make the difference between using dentures or leaving them in the glass and not wearing them at all.
As you probably know, dentures move when chewing. This makes life without teeth distinctly unpleasant for millions of denture wearers. Some people experience denture discomfort to the point that they refuse to wear them and take them out when eating. But the LODI system allows you to snap a denture onto implants using special retentive implant attachments. Even though the denture is removable, the attachments create denture stability that can be a lifesaver if you cannot otherwise wear regular removable dentures.
What is the process for placement of the LODI System?
After two to four dental implants are surgically placed and have completely osseointegrated—osseointegration is the process by which bone grows around the implant threads and “locks” the implant into the bone—a conventional acrylic denture is secured to the implants with LOCATOR inserts. These inserts (or snaps) engage the implants and give the denture much-needed retention for chewing and stability.
You should expect three to four days of soreness or discomfort after the implant surgery, but postoperative pain can be controlled with medication. The total recovery time for placement of the LOCATOR Overdenture Implant System is comparable to other implant surgery procedures.
How do you determine if you’re a good candidate for the LODI System?
If you wear dentures you understand the pain and frustration that can come with false teeth. In particular, lower dentures are notorious for causing pain—to the point that many people forego wearing them. But if you’re someone who has problems wearing dentures, implant-supported LOCATOR snaps may be the miracle solution you are looking for.
Keep in mind that LOCATOR overdentures are removable by design; the Overdenture system does not create screw-retained or “permanent” dentures or bridges.
Implants with LOCATORS are designed to create stability and keep the denture in place, but don’t replace dentures. In other words, the goal of the Overdenture Implant System is to make dentures fully functional and tolerable.
Average price of LOCATOR Overdentures
According to Implant Evolution’s research, the average cost of two to four implants and a LOCATOR-retained overdenture ranges between $4,800 and $8,900, depending on the number of implants needed. These figures include the cost of a new denture. If you have an existing denture that can be retrofitted, the total cost may be less.
Bone density issues and preoperative scans
Severe atrophy or bone shrinkage is a real problem for people who have had all of their teeth removed. This resorption continuously occurs for years after the teeth are removed and causes dentures to become loose and mobile. Many times the last area of bone resorption is in the lower anterior (chin) mandible. As such, it’s usually the last remaining area of bone that can be used for two to four implants, giving retention to a lower denture that would otherwise move around and be painful.
As with any implant surgical procedure, preoperative planning is essential to success. State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment—typically cone beam or CBCT imaging—allows your implant surgeon to see detailed 3-D images of the surgical area and to produce a surgical plan that will produce the best possible results.
Anesthesia: Can you be put under sedation for this procedure?
Yes, and the method selected is based in part on your level of apprehension. While LOCATOR implants can be placed with local anesthetic (administered in the area where the surgery is performed), you may choose to be sedated or put to sleep using general anesthesia (with medication delivered intravenously).
Anesthesia and sedation options should be discussed early in the treatment planning process, but in many instances it is the patient’s choice.
Duration of the operation: Is this a same-day procedure?
No. LOCATOR implants must heal for eight to ten weeks before the denture itself is attached. If implants are loaded sooner than this, the chance of failure increases and implants may be lost.
Post-surgery tips and advice for proper healing
Similar to regular dental implant surgeries, LOCATOR implants require postoperative care to ensure the best osseointegration possible. Three to four days of soreness is normal, but postoperative pain can be controlled by medication. An antibiotic or antimicrobial mouth rinse may also be prescribed in the wake of the surgery. It is very important that you follow all postoperative instructions to ensure proper healing.
Proper upkeep, issues with recovery & rejection, and peri-implantitis
Most implants have success rates greater than ninety-five percent but proper postoperative care is needed for healing. And peri-implantitis—a condition characterized by inflammation and progressive loss of supporting bone—can occur over time in the absence of regular checkups and ongoing home care. Without proper home care—including brushing and caring for implants—dental implants can develop bone loss just like natural teeth. And just like any dental implants, LOCATOR implants can be damaged by smoking, which can lead to implant failure.
Alternative treatments
For individuals who are missing all of their natural teeth, there are few options available for replacing them. Assuming you have adequate bone, the only alternatives are an “All-On-Four” type treatment, implant-supported bridges, or conventional dentures (“false teeth”).