Abstract:

Objective: Although polyether ether ketone (PEEK) shows high biocompatibility in prosthetic dentistry, there is inadequate information about its clinical applications and limits. The purpose of this study was to compare the load-bearing capacities of PEEK, hybrid ceramic and zirconia crowns, which were fabricated using computeraided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Materials and Methods: Three groups (n=10) of high-resistance PEEK polymer, hybrid ceramic and zirconia were fabricated using CAD/CAM. A universal test machine was used to assume the fracture resistance of all specimens. The specimens were loaded until final fracture occurred and load at fracture was recorded. Fracture resistance data were statistically analyzed by Tukey honest significant difference multiple comparison test. Results: There was no significant statistical difference between PEEK group (2214±236 N) and hybrid ceramic group (2325±264 N) in relation to the loadbearing capacities (p>0.05), while zirconia group (3292±192 N) showed the highest values for fracture load. Conclusion: All three crown materials were successful against physiological occlusal forces. Regarding the limitations of this in vitro study, PEEK could be an alternative crown material for fixed dental prostheses.

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