title: Laser welding and syncristallization techniques comparison: "Ex vivo" study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stabilization of implant abutments through electric impulses at high voltage for a very short time (electrowelding) was developed in the Eighties. In 2009, the same procedure was performed through the use of laser (laser welding) The aim of this study is to compare electrowelding and laser welding for intra-oral implant abutments stabilization on "ex vivo models" (pig jaws).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six bars were welded with two different devices (Nd:YAG laser and Electrowelder) to eighteen titanium implant abutment inserted in three pig jaws. During the welding process, thermal increase was recorded, through the use of k-thermocouples, in the bone close to the implants. The strength of the welded joints was evaluated by a traction test after the removal of the implants. For temperature measurements a descriptive analysis and for traction test "values unpaired t test with Welch's correction" were performed: the significance level was set at P<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser welding gives a lower thermal increase than Electrowelding at the bone close to implants (Mean: 1.97 and 5.27); the strength of laser welded joints was higher than that of Electrowelding even if nor statistically significant. (Mean: 184.75 and 168.29) CONCLUSION: Electrowelding seems to have no advantages, in term of thermal elevation and strength, while laser welding may be employed to connect titanium implants for immediate load without risks of thermal damage at surrounding tissues.
authors: Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parma ; UFR Odontologie, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Fornaini
authors: Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parma.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Meleti
authors: Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parma.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Vescovi
authors: Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parma.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Merigo
authors: UFR Odontologie, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis.
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Rocca
keywords: Nd: YAG laser; implants; syncristallization; welding