OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present laboratory study was to investigate the retentive properties and the wear of three different resin matrix attachments for implant overdentures as well as to assess the effects of implant angulation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Three attachment systems with either polyetheretherketone inserts (PEEK; Novaloc, Straumann, Basel, Switzerland), polyetherketoneketone inserts (PEKK; CM Loc, Cendres + Métaux, Biel, Switzerland) or nylon inserts (Locator R-Tx, Zest Dental Solutions, Escondido, California, USA) were evaluated. The patrices were connected to their implant analogues and fixed in a resin cast at implant angulations of 0° and 15°. The corresponding matrices with inserts were fixed in a stylized unilaterally removable dental prothesis. To simulate masticatory forces 30,000 insertion and removal cycles with an eccentric load of 100 N at a distance of 12 mm were performed in a chewing simulator. The retention forces were measured. The wear patterns were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Games-Howell test and a Friedman test.

RESULTS: All attachment systems revealed a significant decrease in retention after testing, except PEEK 0°/0° and PEEK 15°/15°. PEEK and PEKK attachment systems showed significantly higher retentive forces than the nylon attachment system between 5000 and 30,000 cycles. The implant angulation did not significantly influence the retention behavior for any of the three attachment systems. Patrices showed no signs of wear, whereas the matrix inserts displayed signs of deformation.

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, attachments with PEEK and PEKK inserts combined with titanium patrices are favorable for long-term use, both for orthogonal and tilted implants. All three attachment systems showed a high variability of the retentive forces at baseline and for subsequent cycles. This should be taken into consideration for clinical use.