OnePro Dental PEEK Discs-Natural color

CAD/CAM Milling & Processing Workflow:

Step 1: CAD Design & Milling Preparation (20-30 minutes)

• Design implant framework or restoration in CAD software (3Shape, Exocad, DWOS)
• Design with appropriate framework thickness (minimum 1.5-2.0mm for PEEK)
• Verify screw access channels for implant-supported restorations
• No enlargement factor needed - PEEK does not shrink during processing
• Export STL file with correct orientation for milling
• Select the PEEK-specific milling program in CAM software

Step 2: PEEK Milling (30-60 minutes) - Demanding Process

• Recommended Parameters:
• • Bur type: Carbide burs specifically designed for PEEK (TiAlN coated recommended)
• • Bur size: 0.5-2.0mm diameter, depending on detail level
• • Spindle speed: 12,000-25,000 RPM (lower than PMMA, similar to titanium)
• • Feed rate: 0.8-1.5 mm/s (slower than PMMA - PEEK is tough)
• • Cooling: Wet milling mandatory - PEEK generates significant heat
• • Milling strategy: Climb milling is preferred to reduce tool wear
• Important: PEEK is significantly tougher than PMMA - expect longer milling times and higher tool wear
• Use fresh, sharp burs - dull burs cause excessive heat and poor surface finish
• Monitor coolant flow continuously - inadequate cooling damages both material and tools

Step 3: Surface Treatment & Finishing (20-30 minutes)

• Mechanical Finishing:
• • Remove milling tabs with carbide burs or diamond discs
• • Smooth surfaces with PEEK-specific polishing burs
• • Use progressive grits: coarse → medium → fine
• • Achieve smooth surface to reduce plaque accumulation
• Surface Treatment Options:
• • Sandblasting: 50-110 micron Al₂O₃ at 2-4 bar for roughened surface (bonding)
• • Plasma treatment: Atmospheric plasma for enhanced surface activation
• • Acid etching: Sulfuric acid treatment for improved bonding (optional)
• • Polishing: High-gloss finish for supragingival surfaces
• Clean thoroughly with ultrasonic cleaner and steam

Step 4: Quality Control & Delivery (10-15 minutes)

• Verify fit on model or analog
• Check screw access channels (for implant restorations)
• Inspect surface finish and margins
• Verify no sharp edges or rough areas
• Clean and sterilize if required
• Package in protective container

⚠️ Critical Milling Considerations for PEEK: PEEK milling requires specialized equipment and parameters. The material's toughness and low thermal conductivity make it challenging to machine. Always use PEEK-specific carbide burs, maintain adequate wet cooling, and expect 2-3x longer milling times compared to PMMA. Proper parameters prevent tool breakage and ensure quality results.

PEEK vs Other Dental Materials

Recommendation: Choose Natural PEEK for implant frameworks requiring bone-like flexibility and minimal stress shielding. Choose Titanium for permanent implant restorations requiring maximum strength. Choose Zirconia for permanent esthetic crowns and bridges.

Designed for Dental Laboratories

OnePro Dental collaborates closely with dental laboratories worldwide, offering reliable CAD/CAM materials that strike a balance between performance, consistency, and cost efficiency.

The Natural PEEK Discs are an excellent choice for labs seeking medical-grade, biocompatible materials for implant frameworks and provisional restorations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💎 Product Features & Material Properties

Q: What makes PEEK different from titanium for dental implant applications?
A: PEEK's key advantage is its elastic modulus (3-4 GPa) close to natural bone (10-30 GPa), compared to titanium's 110 GPa. This bone-like flexibility reduces stress shielding - the phenomenon where stiff metal implants bear most of the load, causing bone resorption. PEEK allows natural stress distribution to surrounding bone, maintaining bone density and improving long-term implant success. Additionally, PEEK is 70% lighter than titanium, fully MRI compatible with no artifacts, and hypoallergenic.

Q: What is stress shielding and why does it matter?
A: Stress shielding occurs when an implant material is much stiffer than bone. The stiff material (like titanium or zirconia) bears most of the mechanical load, reducing stress on surrounding bone. Bone needs mechanical stimulation to maintain density - without it, bone resorbs (loses density) around the implant, potentially leading to implant failure. PEEK's bone-like elastic modulus (3-4 GPa) allows appropriate stress transfer to bone, preventing this problem.

Q: Is PEEK biocompatible and safe for long-term use?
A: Yes! PEEK is for biocompatibility and has been successfully used in orthopedic and spinal implants for over 30 years. It's hypoallergenic with no known allergic reactions, and chemically inert in the oral environment. PEEK has proven long-term clinical success in dental applications, including implant frameworks, temporary abutments, and removable prosthetics.

Q: Why choose natural PEEK instead of yellow or white PEEK?
A: Natural PEEK is the medical-grade standard color used in orthopedic and spinal implants - it represents the purest form of PEEK without added pigments or colorants. Benefits include: closest to original PEEK formulation, most widely recognized in medical applications, indicates no additional processing or additives, preferred by many dental laboratories for its medical-grade appearance, and suitable for all PEEK applications. All PEEK colors (natural, yellow, white) have identical mechanical and biological properties - the choice is primarily for workflow preference and quality control.

🔧 Milling & Processing

Q: Which CAD/CAM systems are compatible with PEEK discs?
A: Natural PEEK Discs are available in two formats: 98mm Open System (compatible with Roland, VHF, Amann Girrbach, Sirona, Yenadent) and 95mm Zirkonzahn (for Zirkonzahn systems). Both require professional 5-axis CAD/CAM milling systems with adequate spindle power for PEEK processing. Verify your system supports PEEK milling before purchasing.

Q: What milling parameters should I use for PEEK?
A: Recommended parameters for PEEK:
• Bur type: Carbide burs with TiAlN coating (PEEK-specific)
• Bur size: 0.5-2.0mm diameter
• Spindle speed: 12,000-25,000 RPM (lower than PMMA)
• Feed rate: 0.8-1.5 mm/s (slower than PMMA - PEEK is tough)
• Cooling: Wet milling mandatory - use abundant coolant
• Strategy: Climb milling preferred
Important: PEEK is tougher than PMMA and generates significant heat - inadequate cooling damages both material and tools.

Q: Why does PEEK milling take longer than PMMA?
A: PEEK is significantly tougher and more heat-resistant than PMMA, requiring slower feed rates, more conservative cutting parameters, and more frequent tool changes. Expect milling times 2-3x longer than PMMA for similar geometries. However, PEEK's superior mechanical properties and biocompatibility justify the additional processing time for implant applications.

Q: How often should I replace PEEK milling burs?
A: PEEK causes higher tool wear than PMMA. Typical bur life:
• Roughing burs: 3-5 restorations
• Finishing burs: 5-8 restorations
Replace burs when you notice: increased milling time (>20%), poor surface finish, excessive vibration, or visible wear on cutting edges. Using dull burs generates excessive heat and compromises quality.

🦴 Clinical Applications

Q: What are the best applications for PEEK?
A: PEEK excels in applications requiring bone-like flexibility and biocompatibility:
• Implant-supported frameworks: Screw-retained or cement-retained frameworks on dental implants
• Temporary implant abutments: Long-term provisional abutments during healing
• Implant bars: Overdenture bars and hybrid prosthetic frameworks
• Removable partial denture frameworks: Lightweight, biocompatible metal-free frameworks
• Long-term provisional restorations: Extended temporary crowns and bridges
PEEK is specifically recommended when stress shielding prevention and bone preservation are priorities.

Q: Can PEEK be used for permanent restorations?
A: PEEK is primarily used for long-term provisional and semi-permanent restorations rather than final permanent restorations. While PEEK has excellent biocompatibility and durability, its moderate strength (90-100 MPa) makes it less suitable for high-stress permanent applications compared to titanium (550-1050 MPa) or zirconia (900-1200 MPa). PEEK is ideal for implant frameworks, temporary abutments, and situations where bone-like flexibility is more important than maximum strength.

Q: Should I choose PEEK or titanium for implant frameworks?
A: Choose based on clinical priorities:
Choose Natural PEEK when:
• Stress shielding prevention is critical (bone preservation)
• Bone-like flexibility desired (elastic modulus 3-4 GPa)
• MRI compatibility important (no artifacts)
• Lightweight construction preferred (70% lighter than titanium)
• Long-term provisional or semi-permanent restoration

Choose Titanium when:
• Maximum strength required (550-1050 MPa)
• Permanent restoration needed
• High occlusal forces present
• Osseointegration critical (direct bone contact)

For most implant frameworks, PEEK's stress shielding prevention provides significant long-term benefits.

🔬 Surface Treatment & Bonding

Q: How do I bond or cement restorations to PEEK?
A: PEEK requires special bonding protocols for optimal adhesion:
Surface treatment options:
• Sandblast with 50-110 micron Al₂O₃ at 2-4 bar
• Atmospheric plasma treatment for surface activation
• Sulfuric acid etching (optional, for enhanced bonding)

Bonding:
• Use PEEK-specific primers or universal adhesives
• Resin cement or composite for bonding
• MDP-based adhesives show good bond strength

For screw-retained restorations:
• No cementation needed - mechanical retention via screws
• Preferred method for implant-supported frameworks

Q: What surface treatments are recommended for PEEK?
A: Surface treatment depends on application:
For bonding surfaces:
• Sandblasting: 50-110 micron Al₂O₃ creates micro-roughness
• Plasma treatment: Atmospheric plasma for enhanced surface activation
• Acid etching: Sulfuric acid treatment (optional)

For supragingival surfaces:
• Polishing: High-gloss finish reduces plaque accumulation
• Use PEEK-specific polishing compounds

Proper surface treatment is critical for achieving adequate bond strength to PEEK.

📦 Ordering & Specifications

Q: How many restorations can I get from one disc?
A: Typical yield from a 20mm disc:
• Implant frameworks: 2-4 frameworks
• Temporary abutments: 8-12 abutments
• Partial denture frameworks: 1-2 frameworks
• Single crowns: 6-10 crowns

Actual yield depends on restoration size, design complexity, and nesting efficiency.

Q: Do you offer sample discs for testing?
A: Yes! We offer sample discs for qualified dental laboratories. Contact our sales team at oneprodental@gmail.com to request samples and test the milling quality and material properties firsthand.

Q: What is your shipping time?
A: We offer fast global shipping with delivery in 5-10 business days. Express shipping options are available for urgent orders. Free shipping on orders over $500!

🛠️ Technical Support

Q: What if I need help with PEEK milling parameters?
A: Our technical support team specializes in PEEK processing! We provide assistance with:
• Milling parameter optimization for your specific machine
• Tool selection and bur recommendations
• Surface treatment protocols
• Troubleshooting milling issues
• CAM programming guidance

💬 Still have questions? Contact our expert team at oneprodental@gmail.com or use the live chat feature. We're committed to your success with every PEEK restoration!