How Long Do Locator Abutments Last?
Dental implants may last the entire life cycle of the patient, if managed properly and cared for meticulously. We are entering rare air here, materials and advancements are extending the life of dental implants and their components every day. Locator abutments are often a key component of implant supported overdentures. Some studies have suggested abutment pieces should be replaced as regularly as every three years. The main thing to be wary of are signs that your implant or its components need to be replaced.
What is a Locator Abutment?
A locator abutment is an implanted dental prosthetic which helps to strengthen the jaw, and support additional prosthetic attachments to the jaw structure. Many patients with missing teeth will experience loss of supporting jaw structure. Once the root of the tooth is lost, the osteoclasts within the jaw lose stimulation, and eventually those tissues degrade. This can lead to altered shape of the jaw, pain, and further tooth loss. Dental implant helps to stimulate those bone tissues when the patient speaks, chews, and swallows.
What are implant supported dentures?
Implants help to stabilize dentures, allowing the patient the freedom and confidence to speak and enjoy the foods they love. Dentures are a wonderful option for replacement teeth, and are often more cost effective. However, many patients report discomfort around the dentures natural mobility. Locator abutment supports are a cost effective option to provide an implanted support, without full mouth dental reconstruction.
What are warning signs of Locator Abutment wear, or Dental Implant breakdowns?
- Visible wear- While the prosthetic pieces may show casual wear, patients should be fastidious in their inspection of the pieces throughout regular maintenance. Whenever you are removing your prosthetics, be sure that you or your dentist are checking them. The abutments themselves may show discoloration, physical damage, or structural damage. The dentures should be regularly checked for jaw/bite fit, as well as comfort. The primary inspection points should be where they attach to the abutment buttons.
- Mobility- One of the reasons patients select implant support or locator abutments is to limit the internal mobility of the dentures.
- Pain- Pain is almost always a sign that something is wrong. If chewing, speaking, swallowing, or living with you dentures causes you any pain-make an appointment to follow up right away.
What happens when a piece of your prosthetic needs to be replaced?
Your dental professional will assess the situation. If they decide that a piece needs to be replaced, they will work with you to find a solution that accommodates your needs. In some cases, the prosthetic can be removed and the patient can use a traditional temporary denture. If the implant piece has failed in some way, your dentist will work with you to develop a recovery plan, or assess a replacement option.
Replacement and repair options for locator abutments are often cost effective and do not require a long time. It is neither super common or uncommonly rare, everyone’s dental journey is their own. Every patient has a specific situation that led them to this place, and their recovery process is dependent on their whole health. The only way to know for sure what option is right for you is to see your dental care professional regularly and frequently.