Comparative Study Clarifying the Usage of PEEK as Suitable Material to Be Used as Partial Denture Attachment and Framework

BACKGROUND: Utilization of attachments in a removable partial denture is highly essential not only as a line of treatment but also as it has a remarkable impact on the denture’s durability during the function. The attachment should act as a stress breaking system preserving the abutment teeth. AIM: This consideration aimed to verify the convention of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) material as an attachment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four groups of different materials for both attachments and partial denture framework were fabricated and tested using strain gauges to compare between them according to the strains originated around both the abutment teeth and edentulous area. RESULTS: PEEK material is one of the esthetic materials used for fabrication of the framework of the RPD. On using it as a precision attachement is shows favorable stress distribution decreasing the strains around the abutment teeth and the alveolar ridge especially distal to the abutment teeth that was significantly reduced in comparison with the other treatment options. CONCLUSION: Utilization of PEEK material as both an attachment and framework decline the strains performed around the abutment teeth and over the edentulous ridge.