Characterisation of machinable structural polymers in restorative dentistry

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Dental restorations require materials with excellent mechanical and physical properties.
• Machinable polymers and ceramics are increasingly used for fabricating dental prosthetics.
• Evaluating the performance of novel materials like Pekkton® is crucial for advancing dental restorative techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the mechanical properties of Pekkton®, Lava Ultimate®, Vita Enamic®, and IPS e.Max Press®.
• To determine the structural integrity of full coverage crowns made from these materials.

Main Methods:

• Biaxial flexural strength (BFS), Vickers Hardness (VH), and Hygroscopic Expansion Change (HEC) were measured.
• Structural strength (SS) of monolithic crowns was assessed.
• One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• IPS e.Max Press® exhibited the highest BFS (317MPa) and VH (5064MPa).
• Pekkton® demonstrated superior structural strength (2037N) without fracture, and low hygroscopic expansion (0.14%).
• Lava Ultimate® and Vita Enamic® showed intermediate properties across the tested parameters.

Conclusions:

• Monolithic PEKK crowns possess adequate mechanical and physical properties for posterior dental applications.
• The study highlights the potential of Pekkton® as a viable material for dental restorations.
• Clinical evaluation is necessary to complement these material property findings.