The MALO CLINIC's presentation incorporated the results of a three-year follow-up study of the use of the CAD/CAM-millable JUVORA disc as a substructure for the Clinic's signature All-on-4® procedure, where prostheses supported full-arch implant-supported restorations for edentulous patients.
"Our conclusion, after three years of follow-up, is that it must be the PEEK-OPTIMA biomaterial that is helping to enhance patient results, and we think this is really exciting," commented Miguel Nobre, Director of Oral Hygiene and R&D, MALO CLINIC. "What JUVORA offers us is confidence that patients are receiving the best possible treatment, and not experiencing unnecessary bone loss."
Specifically, the evidence presented at the EAO in September showed that compared to metal, use of the JUVORA-based prostheses had positive results[1]
• 3X-lower marginal bone loss
• Peri-implant disease avoided in most patient cases
• Patients reported an improved quality of life
• Absence of correlation between plaque and bleeding
• High implant survival – close to 100%
PEEK-OPTIMA™ offers several mechanical benefits over metal frameworks, namely, a more favorable strength-to-weight ratio and the potential for shock absorbtion. Metal prosthetics are naturally stronger; however they are less resilient and can be less comfortable for the patient[2].
If left untreated, bone loss can lead to pain, infection and loss of lower facial structure as the infection eats away at the jaw bone.
Added Director Nobre, "The All-on-4 technique has not changed; our experienced surgeons have not changed – the only change is the material substructure. Therefore, when the JUVORA disc is used as the substructure for All-on-4, the PEEK-OPTIMA material mimics the behaviour of natural periodontal ligament by providing a cushioning and shock-absorbing effect in the mouth, under extreme force.”
The MALO CLINIC did not discriminate in its patient selection and included a number of cases with complex histories, including heavy bruxers. This means that even in complex cases, JUVORA exhibits better performance than conventional dental materials such as titanium.
Shock-absorbing properties of JUVORA
The shock-absorbing properties of PEEK-OPTIMA are explained by its modulus of elasticity, which is very similar to that of cortical bone. When stress transfer is measured against conventional dental materials, PEEK exhibits the most shock absorption[3].
EAO 2019 video
Watch a video of The MALO CLINIC presenting its research at EAO, September 2019.
Further information is available at https://www.invibio.com/dental
References
1. Nobre, M; Guedes, M; Silva A. European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) Congress Symposium: What if dental prosthetic could influence quality of life? September 2019.
2. Kurtz, S (2012). “PEEK Biomaterials Handbook”. Edition 1, Oxford, Elsevier Inc.
3. Based on the tendency of a material to deform when opposing forces are applied as expressed by the average elastic (Young’s) modulus values of the two materials (Titanium 110 GPa or PEEK 4GPa).
® All-on-4 is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare.
+++
About Juvora
Juvora Limited is the legal manufacturer of the JUVORA dental disc and alongside Invibio (see below) is part of the Victrex plc group of companies (see below). The JUVORA solution can be used as a metal alternative for long-term implant borne, fixed and removable prosthetic frameworks made with precision through CAD/CAM workflows. It is made from Invibio Biomaterial Solutions´ PEEK-OPTIMA high performance polymer. Find out more at https://invibio.com/dental
About Invibio Biomaterial Solutions
Invibio, part of the Victrex plc group of companies, is a global leader in providing high-performance biomaterial solutions to medical device manufacturers. The company provides PEEK-OPTIMA™ polymers, advanced technical research and support and manufacturing of components for spine, trauma and orthopaedic and dental medical segments for the development of long-term implantable medical devices. Today, Invibio’s PEEK-OPTIMA™ polymers are used in approximately 9 million implanted devices worldwide.
JUVORA™, INVIBIO™, PEEK-OPTIMA™, INVIBIO BIOMATERIAL SOLUTIONS™ are trademarks of Victrex plc or its group companies. All rights reserved. Find out more at https://invibio.com/