A 91-year-old male patient presented for a specialist consultation complaining of a loose maxillary fixed partial denture (FPD). The FPD was supported by an implant in position No. 4 and two natural teeth, Nos. 7 and 8, which were nonrestorable with severe decay. On the left side two implants, Nos. 11 and 12, held an implant-supported FPD with a cantilever on tooth No. 10. Implant No. 13 had an implant-supported crown. After several treatment modalities were reviewed with the patient, he opted for an implant-supported overdenture (ISO). Because of financial limitations and dexterity issues, three implants were used instead of the four remaining in the maxilla, which would make it easier for the patient to remove the denture. Retained using Locator R-Tx™ abutments (ZEST Anchors, www.zestanchors.com), the maxillary ISO proved highly retentive despite severe divergence between the implants. As demonstrated, the Locator R-Tx abutment offers an excellent service to both patients and their treating dentists.
• Locator R-Tx abutments were used to retain both the immediate denture and the implant-supported overdenture.
• Convenient all-in-one double-ended vial packaging contained all required components, including the R-Tx abutment, denture attachment housing, block-out spacer, and four retention inserts.
• The Locator R-Tx abutment demonstrated superiority to the traditional Locator by allowing more divergence between implants.
Nadim Z. Baba, DMD, MSD
Professor and Director
Hugh Love Center for Research and Education in Technology
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
Loma Linda, California
Private Practice
Glendale, California
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