Solvay Dental 360™ debuted the Ultaire™ AKP, a high-performance polymer for removable partial denture (RPD) frames, to dentists at the 2017 American Dental Association Annual Meeting. Ultaire™ AKP was specifically designed to fill the gap between metal RPDs, which can be too rigid and stiff, and other polymer frame materials that can be too flexible. At the show, Solvay Dental 360™ offered a series of presentations and demonstrations for dentists on Ultaire™ AKP.

“Dentists and patients alike are demanding better materials for RPDs, and Ultaire™ AKP delivers in a way that metal and other polymer options simply cannot,” says Shawn Shorrock, global director, Solvay Dental 360™. “We saw an unmet need to replace metal in dental materials, similar to other markets we serve such as orthopedic and cardiovascular, and we worked closely with dentists to ensure Ultaire™ AKP best serves their needs and those of their patients.”

As patients become more aware of the effects of metal – the potential allergies, toxicity and taste – they are also becoming more proactive, asking for partial dentures that feel natural, comfortable and are aesthetically appealing. Ultaire™ AKP is an innovative aryl ketone polymer that provides a biocompatible, lightweight, metal-free, non-irritating and more aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional metal RPD frames.

“We see a lot of patients with different kinds of allergies,” says Dr. Vladamir Pastouk, DDS, of Cleveland Center of Integrative Dentistry. “We test patients for metal toxicity, and quite a few patients are coming to us knowing that we work with this kind of problem. I am turning towards Ultaire™ AKP. It’s lighter, strong enough, and more cosmetically pleasing to patients. And they are accepting that much easier than any other metal restorations.”

Ultaire™ AKP is is a rigid material – not flexible – suitable as a metal replacement and different than the other non-metal materials currently on the market. It is both strong enough and tough enough to be tooth-supported and help reduce bone loss, yet it is flexible enough to engage undercuts more deeply.

“The other metal-free options that I’ve used are flimsy," says Dr. Lee Gause, DDS, owner of Smile Design Manhattan. “Because Ultaire is so rigid, and because it needs such little adjusting, it's actually allowing me to provide a better product in a more efficient way, which is huge for a dentist.”

Making multiple adjustments to a milled RPD can be time-consuming and frustrating for patients and dentists alike. Furthermore, months or even years of adjustments tend to wear down once-healthy teeth. Not only does Ultaire™ AKP provide an aesthetically pleasing, biocompatible alternative to metal, once an RPD made out of Ultaire™ AKP is designed and fitted, adjustments should not be necessary – saving the dentist and patient valuable time.

“Ultaire AKP is a paradigm-shifting polymer – it really hits the sweet spot between metal and the flexible systems on the market today,” says Ryan Murphy, Ph.D., technology manager and polymer scientist at Solvay Dental 360™.

“It is a unique proprietary chemistry developed specifically for RPDs. There is no direct one-to-one comparison to any of the metal or polymer systems that are currently on the market for RPDs.”

Solvay Dental 360™ is a new dental business and medical device line of Belgian multi-specialty chemical group Solvay, a global leader in high-performance polymers used in the healthcare industry for medical and dental devices, equipment and instrumentation, including implantable applications. With over 35 brands available in more than 1,500 formulations, Solvay has the broadest portfolio of high-performance healthcare polymers in the world.

The new Solvay Dental 360™ business line was developed by Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit. Through products like Ultaire™ AKP, and other innovations to be commercialized in the future, Solvay Dental 360™ is committed to developing new and innovative materials that improve patient outcomes and advance the dental industry. Solvay Dental 360™ also provides unparalleled expertise in operations, technical support and education. The revolutionary products from Solvay Dental 360™ will help improve operational efficiency and patient satisfaction, offering profitable growth for both dental labs and dentists alike.

Dentists can find a list of labs HERE who have successfully completed the Solvay University qualification program, where they received training on the design and milling of RPDs made from this innovative, high-performance polymer. New labs are constantly being added to this list, many operating nationwide.

The Dentivera™ milling disc made from Ultaire™ AKP is available in North America, U.K. and Germany and has 510k clearance as well as CMDCAS and EU regulatory approvals. It is made in the U.S. under FDA and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines.

For more information about Ultaire™ AKP, Dentivera™ milling discs or Solvay Dental 360™, visit SolvayDental360.com.