Designing a jaw implant made of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) material taking into account anisotropy of mechanical properties caused by the application of additive technologies

The analysis of domestic and foreign literature has shown that modern maxillofacial surgery is in search of a solution to the problems of restoring the volume of bone tissue in defects resulting from the surgical treatment of patients with post-traumatic deformities, neoplasms, ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint, and this task is one of the most complex and relevant in modern maxillofacial surgery. Clinical and experimental work is carried out using both biological materials (carrying out auto-, allo-, xenoplasty, transplantation of bone and cartilage tissue), and non-biological (from metals and polymers). Traditionally, titanium metal structures are used for this purpose both by themselves and in combination with various types of grafts. Modern maxillofacial surgery not only explores and applies traditionally used bone grafts in clinical practice, but also expanded the search for biologically inert new materials. However, so far there are no studies containing a comprehensive analysis of the use of methodological techniques and evidence-based conclusions about the best ways to eliminate defects in the lower jaw, depending on their etiology, extent, localization, and stages of treatment. Constructs created on the basis of new technologies in maxillofacial surgery should play a significant role in the restoration of function, while possessing high ergonomics and bioadaptation. In this work, studies were carried out on the mechanical properties of the PEEK material, which is increasingly used in the field of medicine in the manufacture of implants. A feature of these studies is the fact that samples printed on a 3D printer were tested. Research on topics is especially relevant because, due to the complexity of the configuration of the geometry of human bone elements, the geometry of implants has a corresponding complexity of geometry, so it is rational to use 3D printing in their manufacture. Based on the results of the work carried out, recommendations were made that will allow optimizing any structure made of PEEK material using the 3D printing method in terms of strength.