title: Marginal healing using Polyetheretherketone as healing abutments: an experimental study in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the marginal soft and hard tissue healing at titanium and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) healing implant abutments over a 4-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  In six Labrador dogs, all mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted. After 4 months of healing, flaps were elevated, and two implants were installed at each side of the mandible, one in the premolar and the other in the molar regions. Four different types of healing abutments were positioned on the top of each implant: (i) titanium (Ti); (ii) PEEK material bonded to a base made of titanium (Ti-P), randomly positioned in the premolar region; (iii) PEEK, pristine (P); and (iv) PEEK, roughened (P-R), randomly positioned in the molar region. The flaps were sutured to allow a non-submerged healing, and after 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections obtained for histological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher resorption of the buccal bone crest was observed at the PEEK bonded to a base made of titanium abutments (1.0 ± 0.3 mm) compared to those made of titanium (0.3 ± 0.4 mm). However, similar dimensions of the peri-implant mucosa and similar locations of the soft tissues in relation to the implant shoulder were observed. No statistically significant differences were seen in the outcomes when the pristine PEEK was compared with the roughened PEEK abutments. The mean apical extension of the junctional epithelium did not exceed the implant shoulder at any of the abutment types used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The coronal level of the hard and soft tissues allows the conclusion that the use of PEEK as healing abutments may be indicated.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medical Science, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.affiliation: University of Padoa, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: University of Padoa, Padova, Italy.|Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Università degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghensi
authors.affiliation: Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Niklaus P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medical Science, La Habana, Cuba.|ARDEC Academy, Ariminum Odontologica, Rimini, Italy.|POI - Programa Odontológico Internacional, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botticelli
authors.affiliation: CLC Scientific, Vicenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soldini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001577:Benzophenones; D001641:Bicuspid; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D004285:Dogs; D007659:Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008963:Molar; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014025:Titanium; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D015921:Dental Implants; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014025:Titanium
keywords: animal study; bone; dental implants; healing; healing abutment; histology; implant dentistry; polyetheretherketone; soft tissue