A Comprehensive Study on the Tribological Behavior of Extruded and 3D-Printed PEEK for Low-Cost Dental Implant Solutions Under Simulated Oral Conditions

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is being investigated as a promising alternative to conventional dental implant materials such as Titanium and Zirconia, which have certain limitations. The friction and wear caused by mastication can result in significant damage to both teeth and implants due to the tribological interactions involved. In this study, both extruded and 3D-printed PEEK specimens were fabricated, and their tribological behavior was evaluated against Vita enamel-coated Cobalt–Chromium (Co–Cr) plates under both dry and artificial saliva conditions to simulate the oral environment. The analysis focused on friction coefficients, specific wear rates, and wear mechanisms using linear reciprocating sliding tests. Extruded and 3D-printed PEEK exhibited comparable tribological performance. Under dry conditions, their friction coefficients were 0.306 and 0.318, respectively. In saliva, the coefficients decreased to 0.109 for extruded PEEK and 0.114 for 3D-printed PEEK. Specific wear rates were also closely matched, with extruded and 3D-printed PEEK showing rates of 5.989 × 10–5 and 6.151 × 10–5 mm3/Nm under dry conditions, and 1.745 × 10–5 and 1.878 × 10–5 mm3/Nm under saliva conditions. Notably, the specific wear rates of PEEK under saliva conditions were comparable to those of natural human tooth enamel when tested against the enamel-coated Co–Cr plates. This suggests that PEEK, with its proven tribological properties, is suitable for use in dental crown implant applications. These findings highlight PEEK’s potential as a strong and suitable alternative material than conventional for dental implants, demonstrating consistent performance in conditions that closely mimic the oral environment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.