Ultaire® AKP (Aryl Ketone Polymer)is a High-

performance polymer materials provide many beneficial properties

not currently satisfied by traditional cast metal, flexible and resin
based materials in the denture space of the dental market. This aryl
ketone polymer, called Ultaire® AKP, is sold to dental labs in a disc
form called the Dentivera® Milling Disc. It produces an RPD that is
bone-like in its rigidity and flexibility and will not wear on the
abutment teeth as metal partials do. The bone-like properties of
Ultaire® AKP are less likely to cause harm to abutment teeth.

The elastic modulus of the Ultaire® AKP material is closer to that of

cortical bone than metal options.

The Ultaire® AKP RPD will have a long lifetime1 (over ten years with
normal insertion and removal). It is designed to be supportive yet
lightweight, delivering a comfortable, natural-looking partial which
may improve overall patient compliance. Due to the fully
biocompatible nature of this material, Ultaire® AKP is non-allergenic
— which is not the case with conventional flexible, acrylic resin based
or metal partials. Ultaire® AKP is monomer, BPA and nickel-free, as
well as non-irritant, non-pyrogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-cytotoxic

Also,thermal analysis demonstrated that aryl ketone has high

resistance to heat (up to 300 ̊C)

 Biofilm resistance: Aryl ketone has demonstrated 90%

significantly better performance than acetal resin against
biofilms of candida albicans, ctrep mutans and dtrep
sanguinis (the bacterial strains primarily responsible for
dental caries)
 Toxicity: No cell lysis or systemic toxicity and does not leach
in water, ethanol, or hexane; aryl ketones are monomer and
nickel free.
 Biocompatibility: No delayed dermal contact sensitization,
No cell lysis or systemic toxicity, non-pyrogenic; does not
leach in water, ethanol, or hexane.
  Weight: It is 60% lighter than typical metal RPDs, and this
decrease in weight can result in more comfort and improved
patient compliance.
 Retention: the clasp design is different. It’s shorter and thicker,
and it’s purposely designed to engage the undercuts

Drawbacks: their relative newnessas many dentists are just learning

about the role of high-performance polymers, so their use is not yet
widespread. Because of this, many dentists erroneously confuse high-
performance polymers with flexibles.

References:
1. Cooper, Lyndon. Clinical study: REFRAME RPD study on aryl
ketone polymer (AKP) removable partial dentures. Univ of IL,
Chicago. July 6, 2016.5.

2. Marie A, Keeling A, Hyde P, et al. Deformation and retentive

force following in vitro cyclic fatigue of cobalt-chrome and aryl
ketone polymer (AKP) clasps. School of Dentistry, University of
Leeds UK. Document DCR-DENT-00106.