Frequently Asked Questions For Dental Professionals Ultaire ® AKP Removable Partial Dentures About Ultaire ® AKP What are the benefits of RPDs made from Ultaire ® AKP? With Ultaire ® AKP RPDs, there is no metallic taste, no metal hooks, and a digitally accurate fit that makes it easier for patients to speak, laugh and smile. An Ultaire ® AKP RPD hits the sweet spot between metal and flexibles — designed specifically to enhance the rigidity of the polymer, to be supportive, but also to have some flexibility to improve patient comfort and overall experience. How strong is Ultaire ® AKP? Strength characteristics for Ultaire ® AKP surpass those of the acrylics and acetals on the market today. The flexural strength needs to be high enough to withstand loading and not break. At 148 MPa 1 , Ultaire ® AKP has flexural properties that are well above minimum requirements for denture base materials per ISO 20795 standards. Ultaire ® AKP is designed to be supportive and have a long lifetime — well over ten years with normal insertion and removal — but also to be comfortable enough to help improve patient compliance. Is Ultaire ® AKP biocompatible? Yes. Tests associated with our 510K clearance have shown that it is a biocompatible, non-irritant, non-pyrogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-cytotoxic material that does not leach in water, ethanol or hexane. 2 How does Ultaire ® AKP work with metal sensitivities? Ultaire ® AKP is a biocompatible, high-performance polymer that is monomer free. As a result, there is a reduced occurrence of sensitivity issues, making it an excellent choice for patients with metal sensitivities. 2 Which cases are suitable for an Ultaire ® AKP RPD? Ultaire ® AKP can be used in most cases where you would prescribe an RPD. Ultaire ® AKP RPDs are ideally suited for Kennedy Classifications I and III. Using Ultaire ® AKP for classes II and IV should be left to the discretion of the clinician. Can Ultaire ® AKP be used for other dental indications? Dentivera ® Milling Discs, made from Ultaire ® AKP, have FDA, CMDCAS and EU regulatory approvals for full and partial removable dentures and overdentures. You can use it for removable frameworks over locators, telescopic crowns and overdentures. Ultaire ® AKP is a high-performance aryl ketone polymer (AKP) that was purposefully engineered with the desired attributes of a removable partial denture (RPD) in mind — comfort, care and convenience. Ultaire ® AKP
What are the benefits of RPDs made from Ultaire® AKP?
With Ultaire® AKP RPDs, there is no metallic taste, no metal hooks, and a digitally accurate fit that makes it easier for patients to speak, laugh and smile. An Ultaire® AKP RPD hits the sweet spot between metal and flexibles — designed specifically to enhance the rigidity of the polymer, to be supportive, but also to have some flexibility to improve patient comfort and overall experience.
How strong is Ultaire® AKP?
Strength characteristics for Ultaire® AKP surpass those of the acrylics and acetals on the market today. The flexural strength needs to be high enough to withstand loading and not break. At 148 MPa1, Ultaire® AKP has flexural properties that are well above minimum requirements for denture base materials per ISO 20795 standards. Ultaire® AKP is designed to be supportive and have a long lifetime — well over ten years with normal insertion and removal — but also to be comfortable enough to help improve patient compliance.
Is Ultaire® AKP biocompatible?
Yes. Tests associated with our 510K clearance have shown that it is a biocompatible, non-irritant, non-pyrogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-cytotoxic material that does not leach in water, ethanol or hexane.2
How does Ultaire® AKP work with metal sensitivities?
Ultaire® AKP is a biocompatible, high-performance polymer that is monomer free. As a result, there is a reduced occurrence of sensitivity issues, making it an excellent choice for patients with metal sensitivities.2
Which cases are suitable for an Ultaire® AKP RPD?
Ultaire® AKP can be used in most cases where you would prescribe an RPD. Ultaire® AKP RPDs are ideally suited for Kennedy Classifications I and III. Using Ultaire® AKP for classes II and IV should be left to the discretion of the clinician.
Can Ultaire® AKP be used for other dental indications?
Dentivera® Milling Discs, made from Ultaire® AKP, have FDA, CMDCAS and EU regulatory approvals for full and partial removable dentures and overdentures. You can use it for removable frameworks over locators, telescopic crowns and overdentures.
Ultaire® AKP is a high-performance aryl ketone polymer (AKP) that was purposefully engineered with the desired attributes of a removable partial denture (RPD) in mind — comfort, care and convenience.
Ultaire® AKP
Does Ultaire® AKP offer multiple color options?
Ultaire® AKP is available in two colors – an A1/A2 matte tooth-like color and an A3/A3.5 matte tan color.
Can the Ultaire® AKP be colored/glazed?
Ultaire® AKP clasps can be colored using traditional coloring techniques.*
Will Ultaire® AKP discolor over time?
Under proper use conditions, discoloration is not expected. It is recommended that Ultaire® AKP be kept from direct sunlight exposure to avoid slight changes in color. Exposure to typical staining agents such as coffee may affect the color over long periods of time.
How sensitive is Ultaire® AKP to temperature?
Made from a high temperature resin, Ultaire® AKP can withstand temperatures up to 300°C (575ºF). No changes in properties are expected from exposure to hot or cold food/drinks.
Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a dentist or other authorized dental professional.
References
1. Solvay data on file.2. Solvay biocompatibility testing on file. 3. Marie A, Keeling A, Hyde TP, et al. Deformation and retentive force following in vitro cyclic fatigue of cobalt-chrome and aryl ketone polymer (AKP) clasps. Dent Mater (2019),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2019.02.028.
To learn more about introducing Ultaire® AKP RPDs into your practice, contact the Solvay® Dental 360 team at 844-659-1869 or [email protected].
*Contact your lab representative or Solvay® Dental 360 for more detailed information.
Aesthetics and Comfort
Care and Repair
Can I adjust Ultaire® AKP clasps?
Ultaire® AKP clasps may be altered with existing dental tools. Alterations should stay within design guidelines and avoid the use of force. Adjustments or tightening should not be necessary once the RPD is designed and fitted.
How often will Ultaire® AKP clasps need adjustments?
Bench testing has shown that Ultaire® AKP clasps maintain their original shape with significantly less distortion than metal, minimizing the need for adjustments later.3
Can I repair a broken Ultaire® AKP clasp?
Clasps can be repaired by doing a standard pickup of the partial in the mouth.*
Will an Ultaire® AKP RPD frame break?
A frame made from Ultaire® AKP is strong enough to withstand normal forces (i.e. mastication, insertion). However, the frame could break if extreme forces are applied.
Can I repair the Ultaire® AKP frame?
At this time, repair procedures only cover the breakage of a clasp or the addition of teeth. Repair methods for other failure types are being explored.*
Can I add another tooth to an Ultaire® AKP frame?
It may be possible to add a tooth to the framework if there is an opportunity to get mechanical retention from the frame where the tooth is being added.
Does Ultaire® AKP withstand bacteria?
Superior biofilm resistance enables better overall oral health. Research has shown that Ultaire® AKP has statistically significant better biofilm resistance (candida albicans) than cobalt metal.1
How are Ultaire® AKP frames cleaned?
Ultaire® AKP removable partial denture frames can be cleaned using current dental cleaning techniques and products.
