Mar 19 2007
Invibio®, a leading provider of biomaterial solutions to the medical device market, today announced its PEEK-OPTIMA® polymer will serve as the platform for a new generation of non-metallic and non-ceramic biomaterials from Dentanium Technologies AG for use in oral applications including crowns, bridges, implants and attachments.
Dentanium, which will introduce its new product line at the International Dental Show (Cologne, Germany, March 20-24), chose PEEK-OPTIMA polymer because its combination of biocompatibility, mechanical performance and physical properties significantly outperforms metals and ceramics. Additionally, it offers aesthetic and processing benefits over other materials. Since PEEK-OPTIMA polymer has greater elasticity than ceramics, it is well-suited for use as a base material for dental restorations.
In the past, few available materials could satisfy all of the complex requirements for dental biomaterials; however Invibio's PEEK-OPTIMA polymer now offers the platform for viable solutions. By using specific additives and fillers, in combination with special processing technologies, Dentanium Technologies AG has leveraged the unique properties of PEEK-OPTIMA polymer to develop DENTANIUM®, a non-metallic and non-ceramic biomaterial that is ideal for the oral device market. DENTANIUM can be tailored to provide the best properties for particular dental applications.
Replacing Metallic Alloys in Dental Restorations
PEEK-OPTIMA polymer alleviates the several disadvantages to using metallic alloys in the mouth. The dental industry has constantly been looking for alternative materials to replace metals to improve the biocompatibility of the traditionally applied materials in the oral environment. Additionally, since alloys conduct electricity, dental restorations made from metal alloys can produce a "battery effect" in the mouth, which has been known to cause, headaches, fatigue and metallic taste in patients. Since PEEK-OPTIMA polymer is non-metallic, metal ions are not released into the body, therefore avoiding allergies and these other concerns with metallic restorations.
Furthermore, dental devices developed from PEEK-OPTIMA polymer are more aesthetically pleasing than those developed from metals.
"In addition to PEEK-OPTIMA polymer's unique properties, our long-standing relationship with Invibio factored heavily into our decision to work with the company," said Franz Vekoerrer, president of Dentanium Technologies AG. "The combination of Invibio's expertise and highly-successful biomaterials will help Dentanium meet the demanding needs of the dental industry for years to come."
"Since its introduction, PEEK-OPTIMA polymer has been embraced by the medical device market as a reliable and stable biomaterial," said Michael Callahan, president of Invibio. "This agreement with Dentanium enables the dental crown and bridge market to capitalize on the same benefits that have made PEEK-OPTIMA polymer the biomaterial of choice in the spine, orthopedic, cardiovascular and arthroscopy markets."
Invibio's PEEK-OPTIMA polymer is a thermoplastic designed for medical device applications requiring blood or tissue contact of more than 30 days. Its combination of strength, stiffness and toughness, together with biocompatibility and the ability to be repeatedly sterilized without the degradation of its mechanical properties, make it ideally suited for long-term implantable medical device applications.
DENTANIUM is a special compound developed and tailored for specific dental applications in the oral environment based on PEEK-OPTIMA polymer.