PEEK vs Metal Bar Attachments

Overview

This study is being conducted to compare two types of bar attachments used to support lower dentures in patients who have lost all their lower teeth. Many people who wear a single lower denture experience problems with stability, chewing, and comfort. Placing two implants in the lower jaw and attaching the denture to a bar can greatly improve how well the denture stays in place. Traditionally, these bars have been made from metal. While effective, metal bars can place higher stress on the bone around the implants, which may lead to more bone loss over time. A newer material, PEEK (polyetheretherketone), is lighter and has flexibility closer to natural bone. This may reduce stress on the implants and help protect the surrounding bone. In this randomized clinical trial, patients are assigned to receive either a PEEK bar or a metal bar to retain their lower denture. All participants receive two implants placed in the canine region of the lower jaw, followed by a bar-retained overdenture after healing. The study follows patients for 12 months and measures: Marginal bone loss: how much bone is lost around each implant, assessed through radiographs. Patient satisfaction: how comfortable and functional the denture feels, including stability, chewing, speech, hygiene, and overall handling. Early results show that both types of bars support the denture well, but implants connected to PEEK bars tend to show less bone loss after several months compared to those connected to metal bars. Patient satisfaction is high in both groups, with slightly higher scores reported by patients using PEEK bars, although not significantly different. This study may help dentists choose the best bar material to improve long-term implant health and denture comfort.

This randomized, parallel-group clinical trial evaluates the clinical performance of CAD/CAM-fabricated PEEK bars compared with traditional metal bars for retaining mandibular single overdentures supported by two implants. The study includes 20 fully edentulous mandibular patients aged 40-70 years who report functional difficulties with a single lower denture. All participants undergo placement of two dental implants in the mandibular canine regions using a two-stage surgical protocol. After osseointegration, patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: PEEK bar group: overdentures retained using a digitally designed and milled PEEK bar. Metal bar group: overdentures retained using a conventional metal alloy bar. The scientific rationale for evaluating PEEK is based on its lower elastic modulus, which may allow more favorable stress distribution to peri-implant bone compared with the higher stiffness of metal bars. This biomechanical difference may influence implant survival, marginal bone remodeling, and perceived comfort. Clinical outcomes are assessed at insertion and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Marginal bone loss is measured radiographically using standardized periapical images. Patient-reported satisfaction is captured using a validated Visual Analogue Scale across major functional domains. The statistical approach uses Aligned Rank Transform ANOVA due to non-normal data distribution, with Tukey post-hoc testing for pairwise comparison. This trial contributes new data on material selection for bar attachments in implant-retained mandibular overdentures. The findings suggest that PEEK bars may offer biomechanical advantages by reducing bone loss while maintaining patient satisfaction comparable to metal bars. Further long-term studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these results and support broader clinical adoption.