Materials

Titanium

Titanium is a well-known metal for its resistance to corrosion (similar to platinum) and its high strength-to-weight ratio.
In the biomedical field, titanium is used either pure in its commercial grades (CP Ti grade 2, CP Ti grade 3, CP Ti grade 4) or as an alloy (usually shorten as Ti grade 5).
Our implantable components are manufactured using commercially pure titanium CP Ti grade 4 or the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V ELI, which is the most widely used titanium alloy for long-term orthopaedic and dental prosthesis. Raw materials undergo a severe metallographic examination to guarantee the highest quality of implant prostheses. We use exclusively North American or Japanese titanium.

Stainless steel

In the biomedical field we use martensitic and austenitic stainless steel for drilling and surgical equipments.

Martensitic stainless steel

It features excellent mechanical properties, it is magnetic and contains carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium and molybdenum. Thanks to its high hardness, AISI 440 stainless steel is used for cutting tools or special tools.

Austenitic stainless steel

It contains nickel and chromium, in such a proportion that its austenitic structure is preserved even at ambient temperature. It is classified according to its Ni and Cr percentage; in the ASTM classification system it makes up the 300 series.

Its main properties are:

• excellent resistance to corrosion;
• ease of cleaning and excellent hygienic coefficient;
• easy to work, forgeable and weldable;
• it can be work-hardened at low temperatures and is not hardenable by heat treatment;
• in case of total annealing it does not magnetize.

PMMA

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate, is a very versatile material and is used in several fields, such as the biomedical sector:

• PMMA features a high biocompatibility with human body tissues and is usually used to manufacture intraocular and contact lenses.
• In orthopaedics, PMMA is used as bone cement to affix endosseous implants and to remodel lost bone. It is used as a filler to prevent any movement of endosseous prosthesis and doesn’t act as glue. PMMA features a modulus of elasticity that falls between those of cortical bone and trabecular bone.
• In dentistry, PMMA is a common material of choice for the production of removable dental prosthesis thanks to the possibility to get the desired colour. Moreover, it is used as castable material. Plan1Health uses PMMA to manufacture castable abutments and castable abutments with a precious metal alloy base as it can be easily shaped and if used pure, without any additives, it does not leave any carbon residue during the lost-wax casting or the overcasting of the abutment with a precious metal alloy base.

PEEK

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a technopolymer featuring high chemical resistance and, in its version for medical use, a high biocompatibility.
PEEK features an excellent combination of mechanical properties (resistance, rigidity, hardness and plasticity) and a particularly suitable shade for the dentistry sector.
The main characteristics of this technopolymer can be summed up as follows:

• extraordinary chemical resistance;
• excellent mechanical resistance;
• extraordinary dimensional stability;
• excellent impact resistance;
• can be sterilized many times, undergoing the most common sterilization methods;
• high resistance to hydrolysis, even at high temperatures;
• can be moulded into very thin walls.

The main applications of PEEK in the biomedical sector are:

• drug delivery systems, such as catheters, balloons, stents, tubes, etc.;
• devices that come into contact with pharmaceuticals and blood (dialysis);
• transplants and temporary dental restorations;
• applications in the neurological, urological and gynaecological fields;
• applications involving contact with pharmaceuticals.

All types of PEEK for medical applications meet FDA specifications and USP testing requirements. Each lot of raw material and semi-finished product undergoes cytotoxic testing according to the norm ISO 10993-5/EN 30993-5.
We use PEEK to manufacture temporary abutments.
This polymer is suitable to be used in contact with human tissues for more than 30 days (up to 6 months) and its creamy white colour makes this material perfect for producing temporary abutments with high aesthetic value.