Assessment of Customized Alveolar Bone Augmentation Using Titanium Scaffolds vs Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Scaffolds: A Comparative Study Based on 3D Printing Technology

Customized alveolar bone augmentation provides sufficient and precisely regenerated bone tissue for subsequent dental implant placement. Although some clinical cases have confirmed the successful use of the patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) scaffolds, the biomechanical property and osteogenic performance of the patient-specific PEEK scaffolds remain unclear. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the space maintenance capacity and osteogenic performance of the patient-specific PEEK scaffolds for customized alveolar bone augmentation and (2) to compare the biomechanical properties of three-dimensionally printed titanium scaffolds and PEEK scaffolds. Both titanium scaffolds and PEEK scaffolds were designed and manufactured via additive manufacturing technology combined with computer-aided design (CAD). In three-point bending tests, the bending strength of the PEEK scaffold was about 1/3 that of the titanium scaffold. Accordingly, the equivalent strain value of the internal bone graft beneath the PEEK scaffold was about 3 times that beneath the titanium scaffold in finite element analysis, but the maximum deformations of both scaffolds were less than 0.05 mm. Meanwhile, in in vivo experiments, it is demonstrated that both scaffolds have similar space maintenance capacity and bone ingrowth efficiency. In conclusion, patient-specific PEEK scaffolds showed significantly lower biomechanical strength but comparable space maintenance and osteogenic properties to the titanium counterpart. Compared with traditional guided bone regeneration (GBR) surgery, both patient-specific PEEK and titanium scaffolds can achieve excellent osteogenic space maintenance ability. This study provides a preliminary basis for the clinical translation of the nonmetallic barrier membrane in customized alveolar bone augmentation.