Dr. Ira Goldberg, owner and lead dentist of Morris County Dental Associates, LLC in Succasunna, recently completed a Mastership program for Zest Locator attachments.
Zest is the company that manufactures Locators. Locators are what are known as “snaps.” These “snaps” are attachments within dental prostheses such as removable dentures and non-removable permanent dentures or bridges. While they are most commonly connected to implants, they can also be used with natural teeth.
“Locators are not new in dentistry. I have been using them for almost 30 years. However, recent developments have opened a whole new set of opportunities for patients. Within the last few months, I have been able to offer a wide variety of options that patients are really capitalizing on,” reports Dr. Goldberg.
“The most common scenario for Locators is the placement of 2 to 6 implants for full denture wearers. Inside the denture are the snaps that click onto the implants. These snaps help to secure the denture so that it does not slosh around in someone’s mouth, and the ability to uncover the roof of the mouth if it is a top denture.”
“One recent development is a different type of snap that allows for a greater divergence with implants. This is important for certain areas of the mouth, such as the top front, where the angulation of bone can put the implants and denture at greater risk of complication.”
Another recent, and really amazing, development is a type of prosthesis (which means “replacement teeth”) that does not come in and out of the mouth by the patient. This was developed to be a competitor with “All-On-Four,” and offers patients a lower price-point. “This is an absolute game-changer: if you’ve been blocked from treatment due to cost, this is an opportunity to really investigate to see if you’re a candidate,” states Dr. Goldberg.
As a leading authority in dental implantology, Dr. Ira Goldberg felt it was important to attend the Mastership program sponsored by Zest. This multi-day program comprehensively covered all the new products and details that are important for treating dentists to know, so that they can treat their family of patients thoroughly and comprehensively. “Again, I’ve been working with Locators for 3 decades. I think it’s a fantastic treatment modality. But it was great to be able to revisit the nuts and bolts in a didactic setting to review and learn the latest developments. This Mastership was well worth it, and my patients should benefit greatly.”
Dr. Goldberg holds many honors in the field of implant dentistry. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Fellow of the AAID, and also a Diplomat of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, just to name a couple. Regarding his Diplomate status in the ABOI/ID, there are less than 1,000 dentists worldwide who hold this distinction.
About the Author
Dr. Ira Goldberg is the owner of Morris County Dental Associates in Succasunna. He performs all phases of implant dentistry, and rarely are referrals required. For a free consultation, including a free 3-D scan (if necessary), please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www.MorrisCountyDentist.com.