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

Purpose: To examine and compare peri-implant bone stress under the occlusal forces of 30% carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (Cfr-PEEK), 60% Cfr-PEEK, and titanium (Ti) materials for dental implants through finite element analysis (FEA).

Materials and methods: Single-tooth implants made of 30% Cfr-PEEK, 60% Cfr-PEEK, and Ti were modeled in the maxillary anterior, maxillary posterior, and mandibular posterior regions. As a result of the applied vertical and oblique forces, von Mises stresses-including the maximum principal stress values, minimum principal stress values, and stress distributions in the implant-in the cortical bone and cancellous bone of each model were examined.

Results: Overall, 30% Cfr-PEEK implants' stress in the surrounding bone was higher than that in the Ti and 60% Cfr-PEEK implants. The 60% Cfr-PEEK material displayed a lower stress distribution on both cortical and cancellous peri-implant bone in all models.

Conclusions: Ti and 60% Cfr-PEEK implants were found to distribute stresses to bone more homogeneously than the 30% Cfr-PEEK implants. Overall, oblique forces had a more destructive effect than vertical forces, and denser bone structures showed better stress distribution against incoming forces.