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Thermal implant removal in a pig jaw: a proof of concept study
Kristian Kniha1,2, Lorenz Haas3, Faruk Al-Sibai4
1Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital RWTH, Pauwelstraße 30, Aachen, Germany. kkniha@ukaachen.de.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thermal implant removal of osseointegrated implants is possible using a diode laser with an specific temperature-time interval.
Materials And Methods:
First, tooth extraction of the first three premolars was performed in the maxilla and mandible on both sides of 10 pig. After 3 months, implants were inserted into the upper and lower jaws of 10 pigs. After 3 more months, osseointegrated implants were heated with a laser device to a temperature of 50 °C for 1 min. After 14 days, the implant stability quotient (ISQ), torque-out values, and bone-to-implant contact (BIC) ratio were assessed using resonance frequency analysis.
Results:
ISQ values showed no significant differences within each group or between the control and test groups. Furthermore, torque-out and BIC value measurements presented no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusions:
At 50°C, changes in the BIC values were noticeably smaller; however, these differences were not significant. Future studies should evaluate the same procedures at either a higher temperature or longer intervals.
Clinical Relevance:
With only 50 °C for 1 min, a dental implant will not de-integrate predictably.
