title: Use of electrosurgery and lasers in the presence of dental implants.
abstract: Use of electrosurgery or laser surgery in the presence of metallic implants has been implicated in generating heat-induced injury to peri-implant bone, with the subsequent loss of osseointegration. Studies involving lasers offer conflicting results, while in the case of the electrosurg, little research has been published supporting or refuting these claims. This study measured local heat effects created by use of a unipolar electrosurgical unit, a bipolar electrosurgical unit, and a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Absolute temperature increase was measured during an in vitro uncovering surgical procedure performed with each unit. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was performed. Second, absolute temperature increase for each unit was compared with a theoretical clinical limit of a 10 degrees C increase. The findings suggest that use of the unipolar electrosurgical unit should be avoided, while judicious use of both the bipolar unit or the laser unit should produce temperature profiles well within clinical limits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Creighton University School of Dentistry, Omaha, Nebraska 68178, USA. ProsMan@aol.com
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wilwerding
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D009354:Neodymium; D016348:Osseointegration; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D013821:Thermometers; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003722:Dental Alloys; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium