Heat transfer to the implant-bone interface during preparation of a zirconia/alumina abutment.
OBJECTIVE
Excessive heat at the implant-bone interface may compromise osseointegration. This study examined the heat generated at the implant surface during preparation of a zirconia/alumina abutment in vitro.


METHODS
Sixty zirconia/alumina abutments were randomized into 12 experimental groups. The abutments were connected to implants and embedded in an acrylic resin block in a 37 degrees C water bath. The abutments were reduced by 1 mm in height over a period of 1 minute with a high-speed handpiece and then polished for 30 seconds with a low-speed handpiece, both with and without an air/water coolant. Temperatures were recorded via thermocouples at the cervical, middle, and apical part of the implant surfaces. The Mann-Whitney rank-sum test was used to assess the statistical significance of the difference in temperature between the abutment/implant complexes altered with and without coolant.


RESULTS
The 1-mm reduction with the high-speed handpiece without coolant resulted in a maximum temperature of 41.22 degrees C at the cervical portion of the implant. Three of four temperatures above 40 degrees C were observed at the cervical part of the implant following use of the high-speed handpiece without coolant. The temperature difference between "with coolant" and "without coolant" during both low-speed polishing and high-speed reduction was statistically significant at the cervical portion of the implant (P = .009). In contrast, the temperature difference between "with coolant" and "without coolant" during both low-speed polishing and high-speed reduction was not statistically significant at the middle and apical parts of the implant (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preparation of a zirconia/alumina abutment caused an increase in temperature within the implant, but this temperature increase did not reach the critical levels described in the implant literature.
Huh
Jung-Bo
JB
Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Clinical Dental Research, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Eckert
Steven E
SE
Ko
Seok-Min
SM
Choi
Yong-Geun
YG
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000388:Air; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013821:Thermometers; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D014867:Water; D015040:Zirconium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C028541:zirconium oxide