Biomechanical Effects of Titanium and Carbon Fiber Reinforced PEEK as Dental Implant Material: A Finite Element Analysis.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the stresses on the peri-implant bone under occlusal forces of 30% Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (Cfr-PEEK) and 60% Cfr-PEEK materials that can be used as an alternative to titanium dental implants by finite element analysis.

Materials and methods: Single-tooth implants of 30% Cfr-PEEK, 60% Cfr-PEEK and titanium were modeled in each of the maxillary anterior, maxilla posterior, mandibular posterior regions. As a result of the applied vertical and oblique forces; Von Misses stress, maximum principal stress and minimum principal stress values and stress distributions in the implant, cortical bone and spongious bone in each of the models were examined.

Results: 30% Cfr-PEEK implants stress in the surrounding bone was higher than titanium and 60% Cfr-PEEK implants. The 60% Cfr-PEEK material displayed lower stress distribution on both cortical and spongious peri-implant bone in all models.

Conclusion: Titanium and 60% Cfr- PEEK implants exhibited biomechanically similar behavior and these implants conducted stresses to bone more homogeneous than the 30% Cfr-PEEK implants. Overall, oblique forces had more destructive effect than vertical forces and denser bone structure showed better stress distribution against incoming forces. For the routine use of Cfr-PEEK material as dental implant material; animal and long-term clinical studies are needed.