Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and its manufacturing of customised 3D printed dentistry parts using additive manufacturing

Abstract

BackgroundIdentified research articles on Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and its application in dentistry. Further identified the direction of evolution of this material through additive manufacturing (AM) in the field of dentistry. Materials and methodsPEEK is one of the suitable thermoplastic polymers which is biocompatible for the human body. We have identified related research articles through Scopus. A bibliometric analysis helped to achieve the targeted research objective. ResultsThrough Scopus search, 46 research articles were identified by using keywords as “PEEK” “Dentistry”. Doctors and scientists are using PEEK material in medical, and other associated fields to fulfil extensive requirements of customisation. Nowadays, PEEK is also being experimented in dentistry for developing implants and associated requirements. Therefore, by using AM technologies, PEEK-based implants provide a perfect match replica in lesser time and cost. Further, this paper identifies significant challenges of using this material with AM for dentistry. In the last, the paper identifies ten important application of PEEK in AM for dentistry. ConclusionAdditive manufacturing shows a significant achievement in the design & development of dental implants, tools and devices using PEEK material. It helps in reduction of product development cycle time, cost, weight with improved quality of implants and helps fulfil various challenges faced in dentistry. This innovative technology works as concept generation and is easy to make a required modification for a product used in dentistry. Design and development of dentistry tool are done easily such as manufacturing of any implants for surgical planning and analysis whether the surgery will succeed or not. Therefore, this technology has application in the production of customised PEEK-based orthodontics, crowns, bridges, night guards and prosthodontics implants.