Identification of possible factors influencing temperatures elevation during implant site preparation with piezoelectric technique.

Background: Overheating during implant site preparation negatively affects the osseointegration process as well the final outcome of implant rehabilitations. Piezoelectric techniques seem to provide to a gentle implant preparation although few scientific reports have investigated the heat generation and its underlying factors.

Purpose: To investigate, through a proper methodological approach, the main factors influencing temperature rise during piezoelectric implant site preparation.

Materials and methods: Different piezoelectric tips (IM1s, IM2, P2-3, IM3, Mectron Medical Technology, Carasco, Italy) have been tested. The experimental set-up consisted in a mechanical positioning device equipped with a load cell and a fluoroptic thermometer.

Results: The first tip of the sequence (IM1s) generated the highest temperature increasing (ΔT). The diamond tips (IM1s and P2-3) determined higher ΔT values than the smooth tips (IM2 and IM3). Further tests with IM1s suggested that the temperature elevation during the first thirty seconds may be predictive of the maximal temperature as well as of the overall thermal impact.

Conclusions: Working load, working movements management and bone features resulted to be the main factors influencing temperature rise during piezoelectric implant site preparation. Irrigant temperature and clogging effect may also synergically contribute to the heat generation.