Telescopic prosthesis for extensive mandibular tooth loss with a polyetherketoneketone framework fabricated using...

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Biomaterials science
• Digital dentistry

Background:

• Extensive mandibular tooth loss presents significant restorative challenges.
• Traditional prosthetic materials may have limitations in durability and biocompatibility.
• Digital workflows offer potential for precise and efficient fabrication of complex dental restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the digital workflow for fabricating a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) telescopic prosthesis.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a PEKK telescopic prosthesis over a four-year follow-up period.
• To assess the suitability of PEKK as a material for tooth-supported telescopic prostheses.

Main Methods:

• Intraoral scanning for digital impression capture.
• Computer-aided design (CAD) for prosthesis framework and crown design.
• Digital milling of PEKK components and 3D printing of casts.
• Fabrication and clinical placement of a PEKK telescopic prosthesis for a patient with extensive mandibular tooth loss.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of a PEKK telescopic prosthesis using a digital workflow.
• Demonstrated initial retention values sufficient for intraoral function.
• Observed good retention, mastication, aesthetics, and biological outcomes at four-year follow-up.
• No significant wear or decline in retention force noted over the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• PEKK telescopic prostheses can be effectively fabricated using digital workflows.
• The material demonstrates durable performance and sustained retention over four years.
• PEKK is a suitable material for fabricating tooth-supported telescopic prostheses in cases of extensive mandibular tooth loss.