The purpose of this study is to investigate, in vitro, how two different implant placement methods (one and two-stage implant placement) affect implant surface temperature after thermal stimulation. Two titanium screw implants were used and three thermocouples were attached to the implant surface at 0.5 mm (ch1), 5.5 mm (ch2) and 9.0 mm (ch3) under each platform. Experimental devices were fabricated pouring polymerization resin under a condition that imitated the two embedded technique with the one-stage implant placement model (1-stage) and the two-stage implant placement model (2-stage). A hot water storage device was installed in each model and hot water at three temperatures (60 °C, 70 °C and 100 °C) was flowed. The temperature change over time at the implant surface by the thermocouple was recorded. From the measurement data, the maximum temperature (Max-temp) at the implant surface, the time to reach 47 °C (47 °C r-time), and the duration of 47 °C or more (47 °C c-time) were calculated, and the test was repeated 26 times using the same method. The mean of repeated measurements was determined and statistical analysis was performed. Max-temp showed significant differences between each implant placement method, each channel and each thermal stimulation (p < 0.01). In this study suggested that the implant surface could reach 47 °C with 60 °C thermal stimulation in a 1-stage. In addition, it rose over 47 °C at 70 °C. The 2-stage implant surface did not rise to 47 °C.
Keywords: Heat conduction; Implant placement method; Implant surface; Thermal stimulation; Thermocouples.