Evonik showcases an intelligent technology for dental prostheses based on Vestakeep PEEK, a high-performance plastic for a variety of dental applications.

A wide, toothy grin is often considered one of the hallmarks of beauty. But for those who want beautiful teeth ready for public display, many have to first go through a bit of discomfort at the dentist – as millions of people of all ages can attest to… Although modern dental practices make visits as pleasant as possible with a friendly atmosphere, soothing background music and bright furnishings, conventional dental techniques do not always offer a comfortable solution for patients.

Evonik shows how the experience can be improved, illustrated by an intelligent technology for dental prostheses that is based on VESTAKEEP PEEK, a high-performance plastic perfect for a variety of medical applications.

In the United States, more than 40 million people wear a partial or total denture prosthesis. For many patients, a denture supported by implants is the preferred option for a beautiful smile. But dentures don't just have to look good. They have to fulfill important tasks. Without a functioning denture, the proper biting and grinding of food is not possible.

A high-quality denture should also be tailored to the patient's individual appearance, without impairing natural articulation when speaking. And lastly, they should fit snugly, be comfortable to wear and have a natural appearance when worn.

New quality in dental care with PEEK

Whether crowns, bridges or implants, most current dental restoration materials are based on metals, plastics or ceramics. However, there are also new, intelligent metal-free dental applications that are made of the incredibly versatile, high-performance polymer, polyetheretherketone, or PEEK for short.

"PEEK brings a new quality to dental care for patients. Thanks to its outstanding material properties, this high-performance plastic fulfills all the aesthetic and functional tasks of a modern, implant-supported dental prosthesis," says Dr. Bernd Siewert, dentist and director Clínica Somosaguas SLP in Madrid, Spain. As a specialist in implant therapies for many years, a former instructor at the International Training Center for Dental Implantology (IFZI) in Nuremberg, and the developer of his own PEEK-based technique for implant-supported dentures, Siewert knows what he is talking about.

"Dental prosthesis techniques have come a long way in enabling first-class restorations. However, some of these techniques have material-related weaknesses that can negatively impact a patient’s well-being," said Siewert, who started working with polyetheretherketone more than 15 years ago. "With PEEK, we can get closer to perfecting modern dental care for patients."

The SIEWERTBRIDGE is composed of a material containing a mix of zirconium oxide and a high-performance polymer from Evonik, VESTAKEEP® PEEK. From this clinically proven and extremely biocompatible polymer, the fully anatomical bridge framework – including the tooth stumps – is designed and milled to match the plastic. Different color variants of the Evonik’s PEEK material, ranging from white to tooth color to gingiva, expand the esthetic possibilities of these resin-based bridge constructions. As a final step, the bridge framework is veneered with abrasion-resistant individual ceramic crowns. Relatively simple, the fully digitized procedure can be adapted for any dental laboratory through the use of computer-aided-design and -manufacturing.

"When it comes to screw-retained dentures on implants, SIEWERTBRIDGE® offers the most precise restoration compared to traditional solutions such as metal-ceramic bridges or hybrid dentures. As it is a metal-free and relatively flexible solution, the technology significantly reduces the likelihood of mechanical or biological complications," says Tanja Bücken-Thielmeyer, Product Manager at Dental Direkt.