Assessment of Temperature Rise and Time of Alveolar Ridge Splitting by Means of Er: YAG Laser, Piezosurgery, and Surgical Saw: An Ex Vivo Study

Themost common adverse effect after bone cutting is a thermal damage. Theaimof our study was to evaluate the bone temperature rise during an alveolar ridge splitting, rating the time needed to perform this procedure and the time to raise the temperature of a bone by 10 degrees C, as well as to evaluate the bone carbonization occurrence. The research included 60 mandibles (n = 60) of adult pigs, divided into 4 groups (n = 15). Two vertical and one horizontal cut have been done in an alveolar ridge using Er: YAG laser with set power of 200 mJ (G1), 400mJ (G2), piezosurgery unit (G3), and a saw(G4). The temperature wasmeasured byK-type thermocouple. The highest temperature gradient was noted for piezosurgery on the buccal and lingual side of mandible. The temperature rises on the bone surface along with the increase of laser power. The lower time needed to perform ridge splitting was measured for a saw, piezosurgery, and Er: YAG laser with power of 400mJ and 200mJ, respectively. The temperature rise measured on the bone over 10 degrees C and bone carbonization occurrence was not reported in all study groups. Piezosurgery, Er: YAG laser (200 mJ and 400 mJ), and surgical saw are useful and safe tools in ridge splitting surgery.