Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material is a polycyclic, aromatic, thermoplastic polymer that is semi-crystalline and has a linear structure. PEEK has good mechanical and electrical properties such as resistance to high temperature and resistance to hydrolysis. In addition, because of the property of high biocompatibility, use of PEEK has increased in orthopaedic and trauma cases. The most characteristic property of PEEK material is that it has a low elasticity modulus, close to that of bone. It has been suggested that stress-based problems could be reduced with this material due to the low elasticity modulus. In the light of this information, PEEK material could be considered as an alternative to conventional materials in the field of dentistry.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic restraint stress (RS) and a high-fat diet (HFD) on the osseointegration of titanium implants in a rat model. After the surgical insertion of titanium implants into the metaphysis of the tibial bone, the rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 8 each): control (CNT), restraint stress (RS), high-fat diet (HFD), and restraint stress plus high fat diet (RS-HFD). CNT: Rats received no further treatment during the 92-day experimental period. RS: Stress was applied to the rats beginning from two days after the implant surgery for one hour per day for the first 30 days, two hours per day for the next 30 days, and three hours per day for the last 30 days. HFD: Rats were fed a HFD for the following 90 days starting two days after surgery. RS-HFD: Rats were fed a HFD and RS was applied to rats for the following 90 days, starting two days after surgery. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were euthanized, and the implants and surrounding bone tissues were removed for histological analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA and Bonferrroni tests. There were no significant differences in the bone-implant connection levels between the groups (p > 0.05), but in the HFD and RS-HFD groups, the bone filling ratios were found to be lower compared with the controls (p < 0.05) The data analyzed in this study suggest that an HFD with or without chronic RS adversely affected bone tissue in the rats during the 90-day osseointegration period.

This study examined the effects of different levels of chronic restraint stress on bone–titanium implant contact in rats. This study included 32 adult female Sprague–Dawley rats. The machined surface titanium implants were surgically placed into the metaphyseal region of the rat tibias. Next, the rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, namely, control (CNT) (n = 8), low-restraint stress (LRS) (n = 8), medium-restraint stress (MRS) (n = 8), and high-restraint stress (HRS) (n = 8) groups. The rats in the CNT group received only the titanium implants surgically but did not receive any further treatment during the experimental period of 30 days. The rats in the LRS, MRS, and HRS groups were applied restraint stress for 1, 2, and 4 hours, respectively, daily for 28 days starting from day 2 after the surgery. At the end of the study period, the rats were sacrificed and their implants and the surrounding bone tissues were harvested for performing nondecalcified histological analysis. Moreover, blood samples were collected from the rats and were centrifuged for analyzing serum cortisol levels. Serum cortisol levels of the rats in the LRS, MRS, and HRS groups were higher than those of the rats in the CNT group (P < 0.05). Moreover, serum cortisol levels of the rats in the HRS group were higher than those of the rats in the MRS and LRS groups (P < 0.05). The extent of bone–implant contact was lower in the rats in the HRS group than in the rats in the CNT and LRS groups (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the application of 4-hour chronic restraint stress during the 28-day experimental period impaired the bone–implant contact.

The aim of this experimental animal study was to evaluate the effects of systemic propranolol on new bone formation in peri-implant bone defects. Material and Methods: Implant slots were created 4 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. After the titanium implants were placed in the sockets, 2 mm defects were created in the neck of the implants. Bone grafts were placed in these defects. Then the rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: control (n = 8), propranolol dose-1 (PRP-1) (n = 8), and propranolol dose-2 (PRP-2) (n = 8) groups. In the control group, the rats received no further treatment during the eight-week experimental period after the surgery. The rats in the PRP-1 and PRP-2 groups were given 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg propranolol, respectively, every three days for the eight-week experimental period after the surgery. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were euthanized. Blood serum was collected for biochemical analysis, and the implants and surrounding bone tissues were used for the histological analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in the histological analysis results and the biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, creatinine and phosphorus) of the groups (P > 0.05). Also, in the test groups, there was numerically but not statistically more new bone formation detected compared with the controls. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, propranolol did not affect the new bone formation in peri-implant defects.

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of systemic omeprazole treatment on the osseointegration of titanium implants. Material and methods After surgical insertion of titanium implants into the metaphyseal part of rats’ both right and left tibial bones, the animals were randomly divided into three equal groups: control (n = 8), omeprazole dosage-1 (n = 8) (OME-1), and omeprazole dosage-2 (n = 8) (OME-2) and totally 48 implants were surgically integrated. The rats in the control group received no treatment during the four-week postoperative experimental period. In the OME-1 and OME-2 groups, the rats received omeprazole in doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, every 3 days for 4 weeks. After the experimental period, the rats were euthanized. One rat died in each group and the study was completed with seven rats in each group. Blood serum was collected for biochemical analysis, and the implants and surrounding bone tissue were used for biomechanical reverse-torque analysis. In the biomechanical analysis, implants that were not properly placed and were not osseointegrated were excluded from the evaluation. Results One-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test and Student’s t test were used for statistical analysis. The reverse-torque test (control (n = 9), OME-1 (N = 7), and OME-2 (n = 7)) analysis of biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, urea, and creatinine) revealed no significant differences between the groups (control (n = 7), OME-1 (N = 7), and OME-2 (n = 7)) (P > 0.05). Conclusions Omeprazole had no biomechanical or biochemical effects on the osseointegration process of titanium implants.

Aim: Metal-supported ceramics as crown material and glass fibre posts as dental post materials are in frequent current use. In recent years, it has been claimed that stress-based biomechanical problems in dentistry can be resolved with the benefit of the low elasticity modulus of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. The aim of this study was to use finite element analysis (FEA) to compare the stresses formed by forces applied after the use of PEEK material as dental post and crown material as an alternative to glassfibre posts and metal-supported ceramic crowns. Material and Method: The stress analysis metthod used in this study was FEA. First, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images were obtained of a maxillary central incisor tooth and the data of the post materials scanned with a 3-dimensional (3D) laser scanner were uploaded to a computer program. 3D models were obtained with designs made in the computer program of all the materials. The modelling of a maxillary central tooth was completed using 2 different post materials (glassfibre and PEEK) and 2 different crown materials (metal ceramic and PEEK) and 4 groups were formed for analysis. By applying force of 100N at 135˚ from the absolute central point of the palatinal surface of the tooth, the stress values and distribution occurring in the 3D peiodontal models were compared.   Results: The use of PEEK post reduced the stresses occurring on the periodontal ligament (PDL) and the cortical bone, and caused no significant change in the stresses on the crown. The use of PEEK crown reduced the stresses occurring on the crown and increased the stresses occurring on the PDL and cortical bone. Conclusion: With further in vitro and clinical studies of PEEK material, it can be considered that within a short time PEEK post and PEEK crown could be in routine use in dentistry.

The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical osseointegration of titanium implants after guided bone regeneration (GBR) with a hydroxyapatite graft, deproteinized bovine bone graft, human-derived allograft, and calcium sulfate bone graft. Thirty-two female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, each containing eight (n ¼ 8) rats: hydroxyapatide (HA), deproteinized bovine bone graft (DPBB), allograft (ALG), and calcium sulfate. Bone defects were created in the tibia of the rats, which were grafted with HA, DPBB, ALG, or CP bone grafts for the purpose of GBR. Ninety days after surgery, machine-surfaced titanium implants were inserted into the area where GBR had been undertaken. After 90 days of the surgical insertion of the implants, the rats were sacrificed, the implants with surrounding bone tissue were removed, and biomechanical osseointegration (N/cm) analysis was performed. No statistically significant differences were found among the groups in osseointegration (N/cm) three months after the GBR procedures (P > 0.05). According to the biomechanical results, none of the grafts used in this study was distinctly superior to any of the others.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of systemic propranolol on the osseointegration of titanium implants. After the surgical insertion of titanium implants into the metaphyseal part of the tibiae of rats, the rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: the control (n ¼ 8), propranolol dosage-1 (PRP-1) (n ¼ 8), and propranolol dosage-2 (PRP-2) (n ¼ 8) groups. In the control group, the rats received no further treatment during the 4-week experimental period after the surgery. After the surgical insertion of the implants, the rats in the PRP-1 and PRP-2 groups were given 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg propranolol, respectively, every 3 days for the 4-week experimental period. After the experimental period, the rats were euthanized. Blood sera were collected for biochemical analysis, and the implants and surrounding bone tissues were used for the biomechanical reverse torque analysis. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's honest significant difference test were used for statistical analysis. The student t-test was used to analyze the data obtained from the tests and the controls. There were no significant differences in the reverse torque analysis results and the biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus) of the groups (P > 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase was, however, found to be higher in test animals compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Also, propranolol did not biomechanically affect the osseointegration of titanium implants, while alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in the test animals.