PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temperature gradient (ΔT) generated by laser irradiation of an implant surface using a carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and an Erbium:yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dental implant was irradiated with a CO(2) and an Er:YAG lasers, with variable power settings. Temperature increase was measured in 2 locations of the implant surface: in the cervical area (ΔT(c)) and in the apical area (ΔT(a)). RESULTS: The CO(2) laser showed the following results: after 60 seconds of irradiation with continuous mode, ΔT(c) was 13.9°C and ΔTa was 12.5°C. The Er:YAG laser showed the following results: after 60 seconds of irradiation with continuous mode, the temperature rise ΔT(c) was 50.6°C and ΔT(a) was 38.6°C. The CO(2) laser with continuous mode generated a temperature increase of 10°C after only 36 seconds. The Er:YAG laser with continuous mode produced a more rapid temperature increase and took only 10 seconds to reach the critical threshold. CONCLUSIONS: The irradiation of implant surfaces with CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers may produce a temperature increase above the critical threshold (10°C) after 10 seconds of continuous irradiation.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temperature gradient (ΔT) generated by laser irradiation of an implant surface using a carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and an Erbium:yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dental implant was irradiated with a CO(2) and an Er:YAG lasers, with variable power settings. Temperature increase was measured in 2 locations of the implant surface: in the cervical area (ΔT(c)) and in the apical area (ΔT(a)). RESULTS: The CO(2) laser showed the following results: after 60 seconds of irradiation with continuous mode, ΔT(c) was 13.9°C and ΔTa was 12.5°C. The Er:YAG laser showed the following results: after 60 seconds of irradiation with continuous mode, the temperature rise ΔT(c) was 50.6°C and ΔT(a) was 38.6°C. The CO(2) laser with continuous mode generated a temperature increase of 10°C after only 36 seconds. The Er:YAG laser with continuous mode produced a more rapid temperature increase and took only 10 seconds to reach the critical threshold. CONCLUSIONS: The irradiation of implant surfaces with CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers may produce a temperature increase above the critical threshold (10°C) after 10 seconds of continuous irradiation.