EFFECTS OF DRILL SPEED ON HEAT-PRODUCTION AND THE RATE AND QUALITY OFBONE-FORMATION IN DENTAL IMPLANT OSTEOTOMIES .1. RELATIONSHIP BETWEENDRILL SPEED AND HEAT-PRODUCTION

The amount of heat produced by dental implant osteotomy (receptor site ) preparation at different speeds and the effects of hear production o n the prognosis of implant treatment are controversial. In Part I of t his two-part study, hear production was measured in vivo during osteot omy preparation at low (maximum 2,000 rpm), intermediate (maximum 30,0 00 rpm), and high (maximum 400,000 rpm) speeds in the rabbit tibia, an d an inverse relationship was observed between drill speed and heat pr oduction. For the measurement of heat production (Part I), a thermocou ple probe was inserted into a prepared receptor site in the anteromedi al aspect of the tibial metaphysis. Temperature was recorded while an osteotomy was drilled 1 mm from the thermocouple receptor site. Distil led water was used as coolant in conjunction with all drilling, and al l osteotomies were prepared by a single researcher to eliminate the va riable of interoperator difference in technique. An inverse relationsh ip was observed between drill speed and heat production. An analysis o f variance indicated significant differences in heat production among the three drilling speeds (P < 0.05). The results of Part 1 of this st udy indicate that for the configuration and material of bur used, the high-speed range minimizes hear production.