In vitro assessment of thermal changes during piezosurgery and rotary osteotomy

High temperatures in osteotomy may result in thermal bone necrosis, which would compromise the healing process and the process of osseointegration. Hence, temperature increase in bone during osteotomy with piezosurgery and conventional rotary tools in different irrigation conditions were compared. Sixty bovine bone samples were examined with the help of thermocouples to define the real time temperature changes. Even with no irrigation, piezosurgery produced much lower peak temperatures and slower rates of temperature rise than was produced with rotary instruments. Thus, we show the claim that piezosurgery is safer in terms of thermal and less prone to bone injuries caused by heating during osteotomy.