Heat generation by superpulsed CO2 lasers on plasma-sprayed titanium implants: An in vitro study

Objective. The purpose of this study was to record the generation of heat i n selected titanium implants while exposing them to a superpulsed CO2 laser mode. These results can be compared with previous studies in which continu ous and pulsed CO2 laser modes were used. Study design. Titanium implants with cover screws were used in this study. The length of exposure time ranged from 2 to 15 seconds, and the wattage ra nged from 3 to 15 W. A thermocoupler with a module recorder was used to rec ord temperature changes at the implant-cover screw interface with the impla nt in a 37 degrees C water bath. Temperature changes were documented during the exposure phase, as well as after termination of the exposure. Statisti cal analysis consisted of analysis of variance (P <.05) for statistically s ignificant differences among the exposure time-wattage pairs. Results. Temperature increases were directly related to wattage and exposur e time. All temperatures returned to baseline within 1 minute. Conclusion. Superpulsed CO2 lasers generate significantly less heat with th e 15-second, 15-W trial as compared with continuous and pulsed laser modes. Peak temperature increases with similar exposure and wattage times are com parable to those of the pulsed-laser mode.