Clinical application of the customizable PEEK healing abutment. A case report

Abstract

The aim of this case report was to present an indication of the PEEK as a material of customizable healing abutment. A 35-year-old male complained about the absence of the right upper first molar that had been previously extracted (2 years) due to unsuccessful endodontic treatment. After the anamnesis, the clinical and radiographic evaluation, a good bone availability that enables a dental implants placement was observed in the edentulous region. A dental implant with hybrid microgeometry and morse taper prosthetic connection was placed. A good primary stability was obtained (32 Ncm), however, the early loading technique was opted for this case instead of the immediate loading, since the implants placed in the posterior region requires to support a high masticatory loading force which could interfere with the healing process of the dental implant. Then, a customizable PEEK healing abutment was installed in order to define the prosthetic emergence profile. There were no signs of complications during the postoperative period, and after the twenty-eight-day healing period, a prosthetic interface for digital transfer was installed and intraoral scanning was performed. The prosthetic rehabilitation was performed by the CAD/CAM system, and a screwed prosthetic rehabilitation was installed at the same day. The patient was followed up for 12 months, and no signs or symptoms of peri-implant pathology or prosthetic complications were detected. The customizable PEEK healing abutment is a good option to induce a properly soft-tissue healing that enables an adequate prosthetic emergency profile.