Evaluation of the Effects of Two Different Drill Designs on Temperature Measurements During Osteotomy – An In Vivo Animal Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to assess the thermic effects and bone-to-implant contact (BIC) caused by two distinct osteotomy drilling designs.
Materials and Methods: An in vivo animal study was conducted on New Zealand White Rabbits to measure temperatures during osteotomies perforated with standard Zimmer drills (Group A) and Densah burs (Group B). In this way, we prepared the osteotomy sites by drilling groups A or B of drills. We meticulously took temperature readings at the mesial and distal sides for all osteotomy sites. The primary endpoint was to assess temperature changes between both drill designs.
Results: The average temperatures recorded at the osteotomy sites, both mesial and distal to them, did not significantly differ between Group A and B (the group's p for side temperature was 0.3094). However, these temperatures were equivalent to the normal bone temperature at the site of insertion for both groups. The distal side temperature of Group A did not significantly exceed the threshold (P = 0.8871) when compared to Group B.
Conclusion: In terms of temperature distribution during osteotomy away from the implant bed, both standard Zimmer drills and Densah burs demonstrated similar effects. Hence, thermal outcomes from the mini drill design to the twister screw thread drive power can be different during osteotomy procedures, while the choice of such a configuration may not play an important role on these materials. This finding may underlie the clinical interchangeability of these drill designs in cases where temperature control during osteotomies is a relevant issue. More studies are needed to evaluate other parameters of BIC and clinical outcomes for a more complete view of the impact that drill design has on osteotomies.