Locator Attachments Losing Retention

posted in Dental Implant Attachments, Implant Supported Overdentures

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Dr. H asks:

I use Locator attachments (Zest Anchors) for implant-retained overdentures. I am seeing the nitrite coating on the metal Locator component wearing off in normal use. This has resulted in decreased retention in several cases I have recently inserted. In some cases, the overdentures have only been in place for six months. Is anyone else seeing this complication? If so what is going on and what are you doing to remedy these cases? Thanks.

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11 Responses to “ Locator Attachments Losing Retention ”

  • RJM April 9th, 2007

    You may want to try the Sterngold ERA Implant abutment. They do not wear as quickly as the Locator.

  • Richard Urban April 10th, 2007

    Dr H,
    If the implants are not parallel, this is a common problem.

  • Scott Mullaly April 10th, 2007

    Hi Dr. H,

    As the manufacture of the Locator I can assure you that it is rare that a patient wears the coating off of the female. With over 20 Years in the attachment field I have seen some patients wear out everything put in their mouths. We have found that hygiene is the key. Plaque is the death of any attachment not just Locators.
    As always Zest Anchors stands behind it products.
    I would be happy to replace your worn parts at no charge, ask you to place the patient on a 3 month recall and to do some patient education to ensure longevity of their next set of attachments.
    Scott Mullaly
    800-262-2310

  • Bill DeWert April 10th, 2007

    I have been using Locators since they were introduced and have not seen this problem in over 100 cases, including non-parallel fixtures.

    If they are not parallel, I use the green inserts and have very happy patients!

  • kasdds April 11th, 2007

    I’ve rarely seen the metal abutment wear down. Sounds like some other influence is causing this problem. I’ve seen the plastic component wear out fairly quickly when the fixtures are at angles of more than about five to ten degrees, even using the plastic part without that middle connection.
    Question for the Locator inventor. Good product, but can you make one that is a bit smaller in diameter?

  • Dr. Gregori M. Kurtzman April 19th, 2007

    The nitrite coating is very durable and I would question the pt on what toothpaste they are using and any oral rinses. If the coating is only coming off the area where the plastic male is touching then you could say its a wear issue (but the plastic is goig to wear long before the nitrite coated metal is) but of all nitrite is missing then I would suspect something else is causing it that baths the female. Is the pt brushing out the males in the denture with toothpaste that may not be rinsed out well there by placing a mild abrasive between the male and female when seated?

    Have been using the Locator attachment for some time and have not seen any cases of wear of the coating.

  • Dr.R. Mosery April 24th, 2007

    Something else is going on here.It can’t be wearing out from contact with the nylon inserts.I have only praise for this attachment.The ERA doesn’t hold a candle to the locator.

  • Bill Kays January 3rd, 2008

    I have worked with the Locator system as well as many others, and its the best. Only once did we have to replace the metal abutments and there was a parallel issue. Once they were changed snap, snap and we were good to go. We process them in the overdenture using our Ivocap system with great results.

  • Carole Davis April 7th, 2008

    I had zest anchors installed in 11/07 and they were so tight I couldn’t get them off without a painful struggle. A few weeks later my denturist replaced the female part on the denture and they were much easier to deal with but have already lost their ability to hold the denture in place. I see him next week and don’t know where to go from here and would appreciate any input.

  • Dutchy April 7th, 2008

    To Carole Davis,
    You just tell him/ her that the prothesis has not enough retention. There are several different colours for the inserts. Each colour gives another retention. So by a quick change of these inserts your retention will probably as good as before. It is a quick and easy job. Good luck

  • Dr. William Laney November 17th, 2008

    I recently placed two implants with locator attachments in the maxillary arch to help retain a full upper denture. One implant failed. After several months the threaded shaft of the locator broke off inside the implant. Does any one know of a technique to remove this broken shaft without destroying the implant.?

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