Solvay launches Ultaire AKP high-performance polymer

Solvay, an international chemical and advanced materials company, announces from the first day of the 2017 International Dental Show (IDS) that it is introducing Ultaire™ AKP, a high-performance polymer that has been specifically designed to meet critical performance requirements for dental applications, beginning with removable partial denture (RPD) frames.

Ultaire™ AKP will debut at IDS with a series of presentations, demonstrations and seminars for dental lab technicians and dentists.  

Ultaire™ AKP is reportedly an innovative aryl ketone polymer that provides a biocompatible, lightweight, metal-free, non-irritating and more aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional metal RPD frames. It also is said to expedite and facilitate the work of dentists and lab technicians through a digital workflow. Ultaire™ AKP is the first product in the Dentivera™ milling disc family, which will be available under Solvay Dental 360™, a new dental business line of Solvay Specialty Polymers, USA, LLC.

The Dentivera™ milling disc has earned the European Commission CE mark and 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is made in the United States under strict FDA and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines.

“We are looking forward to expanding the availability of Ultaire AKP for use in removable partial dentures around the globe,” says Shawn Shorrock, global director of Solvay Dental 360™. “Ultaire AKP provides a previously unattainable level of comfort, performance and aesthetics for removable partial dentures, as well as a more streamlined digital workflow for the technicians and dentists working to provide a superior product and experience for their patients.”

“Ultaire AKP is the first RPD material we’ve worked with that completely supports our lab’s digital CAD/CAM workflow,” says Jonathan Hughes, director of Hughes Dental Laboratory, Ltd. “We’ve seen significant time savings because we’ve been able to eliminate the waxing, investing and casting steps, allowing us to go direct to mill. Incorporating Ultaire AKP into our existing processes was very easy-it was a truly seamless transition.”

With over 35 brands available in more than 1,500 formulations, Solvay reportedly has the broadest portfolio of high-performance health care polymers in the world. The company has more than 150 years of experience
developing cutting-edge materials, as well as more than 25 years' experience as a leading polymer supplier to the health care industry, which are used in orthopedic, cardiovascular and renal markets. Through products like Ultaire™ AKP, Solvay Dental 360™ is said to be committed to developing new and innovative materials that improve patient outcomes and advance the dental industry.

“Solvay is pleased to expand its high-performance health care polymer portfolio to the dental market,” says Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay. “This launch represents a significant milestone in Solvay’s transformation toward a multi-specialty chemical group.”

For more information about Ultaire™ AKP, Dentivera™ milling discs or Solvay Dental 360™, visit www.solvaydental360.com.