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

This article focuses on the biomechanical evaluation of dental implants made from titanium (Ti) and carbon fiber–reinforced polyetheretherketone (Cfr-PEEK) composites with 30% and 60% carbon fiber content, using finite element analysis (FEA) to assess peri-implant bone stress under occlusal forces. The study found that 60% Cfr-PEEK implants exhibited stress distribution patterns in cortical and cancellous bone comparable to Ti implants and lower than those of 30% Cfr-PEEK implants, which showed higher stress concentrations, particularly under oblique loading in the maxillary molar region. Given the higher tensile strength and more homogeneous stress distribution of 60% Cfr-PEEK, it may offer biomechanical advantages over 30% Cfr-PEEK, although Ti remains the current gold standard. The authors note limitations related to modeling assumptions and emphasize the need for further in vivo and clinical studies to validate Cfr-PEEK as a potential alternative implant material.