PEEK stress-shielding with artificial bone for dental implants.

Abstract

Dental titanium implants and their surface modifications markedly improve implant biocompatibility. However, studies evaluating the mechanical biocompatibility of implants are scarce. In particular, the analysis of mechanical biocompatibility deficiencies leading to stress shield-induced bone resorption. Recently, we focused on using PEEK as a dental material. This study explored the hypothesis that PEEK implants improve the stress shielding of titanium. In this study, artificial bone surfaces were examined to measure strains on the artificial bone surface under compressive loading with the implants in place. Additionally, 3D image analysis of the fracture state inside the bone tissue was performed using micro-CT (µCT). This hypothesis was supported by µCT imaging analysis of bone tissue changes under stress, which revealed that PEEK implants transfer greater loads than titanium implants. µCT imaging and statistical analysis showed that bone porosity had little effect on stress shielding.