Prettau has far more runs on the board than peek does, peek could be the future but its the composites that are stuck on to the framework etc that are the problem.I use composite resins for my temp full arches for gum effect and so on .Im sorry they don't hold up like porcelain they stain chip and gather plaque.The patient pays a lot for theses restos and expects the bridge to look good all the time.If the resins weren't a problem then people wouldn't go to the trouble of putting emax and zirc teeth on the peek frameworks. drizzt I think your zero faith in zirc full contour full arch restos is unfounded as there is now ten years worth of real use in real dental labs with virtually no problems no bone loss no tooth abrasion no fractures of the frame work no chipping of the teeth this is far better than 5 years from one or two labs using peek .I think people are looking for a marketing edge we have seen this many times ie emax and their interesting approach to why zirc was no good .People like myself may seem negative that way when Im talking about my concerns about peek .That doesn't mean that I wont use it in the future as im using it now but given the past 10 -15 years of our industry we have been thru a lot of change a got caught up a few times from exaggerated marketing claims and I see this happening again if we are not careful.
Grantoz , I would never put a restoration like this in my own mouth . For many many reasons . First of all , it is too damn heavy . Second , it is too damn hard . This without a doubt will kill the opposite dentition . Can you swear that the dentist will polish perfectly the zirconia after adjustments so it will not wear the opposite ? Also zero elasticity . From what I have learned so far , this is not implant's best friend . Please , share studies showing us the long term effect . Independent studies , not ZZ sponsored studies .
Also 10 years doing Prettau ?? Wow , you must have worked with this material before it was even released to the public , because from what I know this kind of restorations are around for 6-7 years now . So not much diffrence with the PEEK stuff right ? You say no chipping of the teeth . Natural teeth are not indestructable . They crack , they chip , they break . Why should we put something indestructable in our mouth ?
Also composites not looking good ? Really ?? I have seen far more porcelain not looking good than composite . Plus composite can be fixed really easily chairside , can you say the same about Prettau ?
Also what about fatigue ? Doesn't this concerns you ? I have seen many many prettau or prettaue style bridges snap in half after 2-3 years in the mouth . Too many variables .
My concern is the best for the patient , and my criteria for pushing a restoration like this , is if I would chose it if I was the patient , or my family . plain and simple . I this is not a restoration I would choose for me or my family . And I have more faith in a high quality lab that I know is doing things like they were supposed to be done , not cutting corners , than a company that wants to make the more money they can .
So , let's agree we disagree on that subject .
