LOCATOR FIXED™ vs. All-on-4: What Patients Should Know

If you are looking to replace a full set of teeth with a permanent, secure option, you have likely come across the All-on-4 bridge. It has long been the primary option for screw-retained teeth. However, a new option called LOCATOR FIXED™ from ZEST Anchors is offering a highly reliable and patient-friendly alternative.

How Do They Differ?

Both systems give you a full set of teeth that are fixed in place—meaning you do not remove them at night, they do not require adhesives, and they cover less of the roof of your mouth. The main difference lies in how they attach to your implants:

• All-on-4: The prosthetic bridge is secured directly onto the implants using small screws. The bridge can only be unscrewed and removed by your dentist during your routine annual cleanings.
• LOCATOR FIXED™: This system uses ZEST's specialized snap-in housing technology. It remains completely secure and permanent for you at home, but it allows us to remove and clean it in the clinic without having to deal with tiny, fragile screws.

Comparing the Features

Clinical and Surgical Benefits

To fit an All-on-4 bridge, dentists often need to smooth down a significant amount of your jawbone to ensure the bridge stays hidden when you smile. Because LOCATOR FIXED has a thinner profile, it requires far less bone leveling, meaning we can preserve more of your natural bone and support a faster recovery.

Additionally, if you already have a snap-on overdenture with four or more implants, we can often upgrade you to a fixed set of teeth without any new surgery. We simply replace the snap inserts inside your denture with the FIXED housings, converting your removable teeth into permanent ones in a single clinic visit.