Prostheses on implants: locator latches or Dolder beam

Unstable, flying lower prosthesis in the mouth can effectively make life more difficult. In order to solve this discomfort, we offer our patients to stabilize the prosthesis with implants or mini-MDI implants. Below we describe the course of treatment that allows the total prosthesis to be attached to up to 2 or 4 implants using ball latches, locator latches or a special retention beam – dolder beam. A complete prosthesis placed on locator latches on implants shows much better fixation and lack of mobility than a regular total prosthesis. It is also possible to significantly reduce its size, as its maintenance is ensured by implants and not through the adhesion forces between the gums and the disc of the prosthesis. Such prosthesis is much better tolerated, because it can have a completely cut palate. This solution is a very comfortable and increasingly used alternative for patients with edentulism. In the case of a lower prosthesis , 2 implants are usually sufficient. Following the birth of bone implants, the following procedures shall be carried out:

• prosthesis on Locator latches: after a period of 2 months after the implant procedure, the dentist unscrews the healing screws and screws the ball latches or Locator latches to the implant. It then retrieves the squeezes to perform a new prosthesis.If the prosthesis used so far is in good condition, immediately on this visit the doctor attaches the latches to the prosthesis and the patient leaves with a stable prosthesis fixed on the implants. If you need to perform a new prosthesis, then after downloading the squeezes, prosthetic techniques perform a prosthesis and then the doctor cements in it after matching it in the patient's mouth to stabilize the patient's mouth.
• prosthesis on the Dolder beam: making this type of dentures requires making a new prosthesis tailored to the shape of the beam fixed in the patient's mouth, it usually takes about 4-5 visits, but thanks to this the patient obtains the highest possible comfort of using a stable prosthesis with a cut palate.

• what is a Dolder beam? – Dolder beam is a system of fixing the prosthesis in the patient's mouth with the highest possible stabilization. This beam is screwed up to 3-4 implants and only on it are the latches that stabilize the prosthesis. Such a solution ensures the greatest stiffness and stability of the prosthesis when chewing food while at the same time the least load on the patient's gums. It provides the highest possible comfort of use of prosthesis among all mobile solutions.
• How should I take care of the prosthesis attached to the implants?– the way of taking care of hygiene is no different from the way of maintaining hygiene of an ordinary prosthesis. However, be aware of periodic inspection visits to correct possible balancing or overloading forces. Usually such visits are carried out every 6~9 months.
• Is it possible to attach an upper prosthesis to implants? – yes, it is possible to attach the upper prosthesis on implants, usually in the case of the upper jaw due to the rarer bone structure plans locator latches or the Dolder beam are attached to 3 or 4 implants. Everything depends on the patient's bone conditions.
• Is the prosthesis on the locator latches actually stable in the mouth? – Yes, there are as many as 3 hardness of silicone caps placed in the prosthesis and designed to stabilize its position. Initially, soft or medium caps are used, with time, when the patient gets used to putting on and removing the prosthesis, they can be replaced with "hard" matrices that provide the greatest stability and maintenance of the prosthesis.
• Can this type of treatment be given to every patient? – As a rule, even in patients with severe bone atrophy in the anterior segment of the jaw and mandible, it is possible to implant implants to stabilize the total prosthesis. Qualification of the patient for surgery and treatment planning is carried out through the analysis of computed tomography and assessment of bone conditions in the patient's mouth. In extremely difficult bone conditions, a prosthesis can be made on MDI mini-implants.