ABSTRACT
As there is an increase in the rate of oral cancer, the surge for the various maxillofacial materials is increasing as well. Materials used for rehabilitation of congenital or acquired defects of patients should fulfil the requirements such as function, longevity, and aesthetics. Defects of face which may be congenital or acquired makes the condition of the affected person very disastrous mentally, physically as well as emotionally. Patient wants facial rehabilitation for a healthy happy life. To provide rehabilitation of these patients, re-evaluation of materials used in the field of maxillofacial prosthesis seems essential. Maxillofacial material should best suit the ideal selection criteria to satisfy the functionality, biocompatibility, aesthetics as well as durability. While the new materials have exhibited many desirable properties, there are also many insufficiencies involved in it. This article presents a systemic review of the evolution, current trends, and future requirements in maxillofacial materials for ensuring psychological well-being.In the recent years, a dramatic increase in the demand for prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with facial defects is seen. Increasing awareness of cancer is resulting in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, many of the surgical techniques are extensive and thus leave large defects that compromise not only function and aesthetics, but also psychosocial status of the patient. These problems require prompt rehabilitation with surgery or prosthetics.1 However, surgical reconstruction is often contraindicated in the presence of large defects or in high-risk patients. Prosthesis offers the advantage of quick, reversible and medically uncomplicated rehabilitation. In addition, the restoration may be readily removed to allow evaluation of the health of the underlying tissues. Historically, many types of materials have been used. Wood, wax metals, vulcanite and many types of plastics have been used as rigid materials while flexible ones like gelatin glycerine mixtures, latex and elastic plastics have also found some usefulness.2Presently, materials used for the maxillofacial prosthesis are vinyl plastics, polyurethane, silicone rubber and acrylic types.
ABSTRACT
Life is becoming more convenient as advancement in materials has been taking place since the beginning of human history. The increased demand of aesthetics in day to day life and on the other hand disadvantages of the existing materials, clinicians are shifting their paradigms towards metal free restorations. Various researches are going on to identify the ideal restorative material with all the improved mechanical and physical qualities. Advances in the field of dental materials are providing promising results but each material is falling short of being an ideal one. One such material is biomaterials. Biomaterials are mainly used in medical sciences to replace or augment a natural function. Biomaterials are widely used in dentistry, they are divided into four categories metal, composites, polymer and resins. Biomaterials are considered as materials which replace the defects by either replacements or repair. Presently Poly-Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) is a semi crystalline, synthetic, aromatic, thermoplastic material. Previously, it was used for industrial purposes but due to its excellent properties and biocompatibility, it has been used in medicine and dentistry. There are various applications of PEEK in dentistry such as orthodontic wires and brackets which are made from it to achieve aesthetics and strength. In endodontics PEEK posts and PEEK endocrowns are used when extensive tooth structure loss occurs, even due to its aesthetic property, it is used for anterior restorations. PEEK is a synthetic polymer and is greyish in colour which has a monomer unit of ether ether ketone. In prosthodontics, aesthetics plays an important role. Therefore, PEEK is considered as an alternative option to conventional dental materials because of its aesthetics and it being a scientifically approved material. In prosthodontics, it can be used in removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, dental implants and abutments, implant crowns as well as for restoring the maxillofacial defects. This review article describes the various applications of PEEK in prosthodontics in detail.