Marginal healing using Polyetheretherketone as healing abutments: an experimental study in dogs

To evaluate the marginal soft and hard tissue healing at titanium and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) healing implant abutments over a 4-month period.

In six Labrador dogs, all mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted. After 4 months of healing, flaps were elevated, and two implants were installed at each side of the mandible, one in the premolar and the other in the molar regions. Four different types of healing abutments were positioned on the top of each implant: (i) titanium (Ti); (ii) PEEK material bonded to a base made of titanium (Ti-P), randomly positioned in the premolar region; (iii) PEEK, pristine (P); and (iv) PEEK, roughened (P-R), randomly positioned in the molar region. The flaps were sutured to allow a non-submerged healing, and after 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections obtained for histological evaluation.

A higher resorption of the buccal bone crest was observed at the PEEK bonded to a base made of titanium abutments (1.0 ± 0.3 mm) compared to those made of titanium (0.3 ± 0.4 mm). However, similar dimensions of the peri-implant mucosa and similar locations of the soft tissues in relation to the implant shoulder were observed. No statistically significant differences were seen in the outcomes when the pristine PEEK was compared with the roughened PEEK abutments. The mean apical extension of the junctional epithelium did not exceed the implant shoulder at any of the abutment types used.

The coronal level of the hard and soft tissues allows the conclusion that the use of PEEK as healing abutments may be indicated.