Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Aim: to evaluate patient`s satisfaction and peri-implant parameters around dental implants restored with customized PEEK abutments compared to Zirconium abutments and loaded with PEEK superstructure. Methodology: 30 implants in the esthetic were restored with custom made hybrid abutments made from PEEK (n=15) and zirconium (n=15), both groups were loaded with PEEK crowns veneered with Visiolign., outcomes were assessed at time of superstructure insertion (T0), 3 months (T1), 6months (T2) and 12 months (T3) after loading. Patient`s satisfaction was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Peri-implant parameters included bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI) and probing depth (PD) were measured using a graduated periodontal probe. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between PEEK and zirconium abutments regarding patient`s satisfaction, Plaque index, Probing depth, however PEEK abutments group showed statistically significant lower BOP results at T1. Conclusions: Within the limitation of the current study it was concluded that PEEK is a viable substitute to zirconium abutments when restoring dental implants, with the advantage of decreasing plaque accumulation.