Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have been emerging
as an excellent biomaterial substitute for metal based
implants due to its chemical resistance, rigid semicrystalline nature with bone-like toughness, greater
biocompatibility, and superior mechanical properties.
The present evaluation of the available literature
search is to provide a broad review on properties and
bioactivity of PEEK material with emphasis on modified
PEEK dental implants to overcome its limited bioactivity
as a material of choice.
A structured literature search for articles written in
the English language in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase,
Google Scholar and Web of Science databases from 2000
till date was retrieved by using MeSH terms “Dental
implant ”, “PEEK Dental implant”’, “PEEK crown”,
“Osseo-integration”, “PEEK”, “Poly-ether-etherketone” and “implant materials”.
PEEK possesses compound structure with
promising aesthetics and functional properties. Surface
modifications of PEEK with Hydroxyapatite (HA),
Fluoro-hydroxyapatite crystals (HAF) showed superior
Osseo-conductive property along with antibacterial
effect. TiO2 coatings on PEEK implant induced new
bone formation more prominently with increase in shear
bond strength of bone. Numerous studies have shown
less wear resistance of carbon fiber (CFR-PEEK) or
glass fiber reinforced (GFR-PEEK) PEEK material
during mastication and brushing than Titanium based
implants.
Considering the long term clinical success of
implant prosthesis, reinforced-PEEK material could be a
potent alternative to titanium in high stress situations
such as bruxism, excessive crown height space and in
allergic responses.