Zecca Piero Antonio, Bocchieri Salvatore, Carganico Andrea, Caccia Margherita, Fastuca Rosamaria, Borgese Marina, Levrini Luca, Reguzzoni Marcella
Department of Medicine and Innovative Technologies, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy.
Dent J (Basel). 2024 Jul 18;12(7):223. doi: 10.3390/dj12070223.
This study presents a scanning electron microscopy analysis of a failed PEEK retainer in an orthodontic patient. After 15 months of use, the patient reported a gap opening between teeth 41 and 42. The PEEK retainer was removed and sent for electron microscope analysis. To investigate the failure, scanning electron microscopy was employed to assess the microstructure and composition of the retainer at various magnifications. These findings suggest that the failure of the PEEK retainer was multifaceted, implicating factors such as material defects, manufacturing flaws, inadequate design, environmental factors, and patient-related factors. In conclusion, this scanning electron microscopy analysis offers valuable insights into the failure mechanisms of PEEK retainers in orthodontic applications. Further research is necessary to explore preventive strategies and optimize the design and fabrication of PEEK retainers, minimizing the occurrence of failures in orthodontic practice.
本研究展示了对一名正畸患者中失败的聚醚醚酮（PEEK）保持器的扫描电子显微镜分析。使用15个月后，患者报告41号牙和42号牙之间出现间隙。取出PEEK保持器并送去进行电子显微镜分析。为了研究失败原因，采用扫描电子显微镜在不同放大倍数下评估保持器的微观结构和成分。这些发现表明，PEEK保持器的失败是多方面的，涉及材料缺陷、制造瑕疵、设计不足、环境因素和患者相关因素等。总之，这种扫描电子显微镜分析为正畸应用中PEEK保持器的失败机制提供了有价值的见解。有必要进行进一步研究以探索预防策略并优化PEEK保持器的设计和制造，从而在正畸实践中尽量减少失败的发生。
