Why I Made the Switch: A Better Angle by Dr. Daniel Fenton

Categories: Implant Dentistry;
Why I Made the Switch: A Better Angle 

How Locator Angled Abutments transformed my full-arch workflow


by Dr. Daniel Fenton


As a dentist who focuses exclusively on tooth replacement, I’ve seen how much a patient’s confidence depends on the comfort and stability of their prosthesis. For years, full-arch overdenture stabilization was one of the most rewarding—and, at times, most frustrating—parts of my work.

Even with careful planning and guided placement, anatomical limitations often force implants into less-than-ideal angulations. Using traditional straight abutments meant accepting compromises. I’d see overdentures that rocked slightly or created uneven pressure points, and I’d spend too much chair time chasing occlusal harmony and retention balance.

Patients noticed, too. They would describe “one side feeling looser” or discomfort when chewing, even when everything looked clinically sound. For those with severe ridge resorption or challenging bone contours, the issue wasn’t technique—it was geometry. Divergent implants made a passive, secure fit nearly impossible without over-adjusting or compensating at the prosthetic level. I needed a better way to manage off-axis cases, without complex bar frameworks or added cost.


The switch

When Zest introduced the Locator Angled Abutment, it caught my attention. I’ve long trusted the Locator system for its reliability and ease of maintenance. What intrigued me was its ability to correct up to 35 degrees of divergence without changing the restorative workflow.

The transition was seamless. There was no steep learning curve or new protocol to master. On my first mandibular overdenture with a buccally angled implant, the prosthesis seated passively, retention was even, and the patient felt an immediate difference. From a clinician’s standpoint, it solved three major frustrations:
  • Technique sensitivity was reduced.
  • Chair time decreased.
  • Quality of life improved—for both my patients and me.

After

Today, Locator Angled Abutments are a standard part of my workflow. My prostheses fit more predictably, seat effortlessly, and maintain retention with fewer insert replacements. Patients report greater comfort and improved chewing efficiency, describing their prostheses as “locked in”—stable yet easy to remove.

Maintenance visits are simpler, tissue health more stable, and biomechanical stress points minimized. The results are cleaner, faster, and more predictable—all without changing the Locator workflow I already trusted.


Takeaway
To colleagues struggling with overdenture cases complicated by implant divergence: this change is worth making. The Locator Angled Abutment isn’t about reinventing your process; it’s about refining it. It offers the same simplicity, compatibility, and durability of the Locator system, but with a biomechanical advantage that eliminates the need for compromise.

In my practice, this small adjustment has produced big results: more stable prostheses, happier patients, and smoother days at the chair. For anyone focused on tooth replacement and long-term prosthetic success, this upgrade results in the kind of outcome worth pursuing.

This content is sponsored by Zest Dental Solutions.
For more information, visit zestdent.com.


Author Bio
Dr. Daniel Fenton Daniel Fenton, DMD, FAGD, AFAAID, DICOI, currently serves as an industry key opinion leader, educator, dental executive, and practicing reconstructive clinician. He is the chief clinical officer at Affordable Care and practices in South Florida, where he specializes in reconstructive and implant dentistry.




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