On the Future Design of Bio-Inspired Polyetheretherketone Dental Implants

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a promising implant material because of its excellent mechanical characteristics. Although this polymer is a standard material in spinal applications, PEEK is not in use in the manufacturing of dental implants, where titanium is still the most-used material. This may be caused by its relative bio-inertness. By the use of various surface modification techniques, efforts have been made to enhance its osseointegrative characteristics to enable the polymer to be used in dentistry. In this feature paper, the state-of-the-art for dental implants is given and different surface modification techniques of PEEK are discussed. The focus will lie on a covalently attached surface layer mimicking natural bone. The usage of such covalently anchored biomimetic composite materials combines many advantageous properties: A biocompatible organic matrix and a mineral component provide the cells with a surrounding close to natural bone. Bone-related cells may not recognize the implant as a foreign body and therefore, may heal and integrate faster and more firmly. Because neither metal-based nor ceramics are ideal material candidates for a dental implant, the combination of PEEK and a covalently anchored mineralized biopolymer layer may be the start of the desired evolution in dental surgery.