An investigation of heat transfer to the implant-bone interface related toexothermic heat generation during setting of autopolymerizing acrylic resins applied directly to an implant abutment

Excessive heat generation at the implant-bone interface may cause bone dama ge and compromise osseointegration. Autopolymerizing acrylic resins are com monly used intraorally to join impression copings and suprastructure compon ents for soldering. The effect of heat generation at the implant surface re lated to the exothermic setting reaction of autopolymerizing acrylic resins applied to an attached abutment was examined in vitro. Two brands of autop olymerizing acrylic resin, Duralay and GC Pattern Resin, were compared. Acr ylic resin was applied to a titanium alloy abutment connected to a titanium alloy cylindric implant in varying controlled volumes, with both bulk appl ication and brush paint-on techniques. The implant was embedded in an acryl ic resin mandible in a 37 degreesC water bath. Temperature changes were rec orded via embedded thermocouples at the cervical and apical of the implant surface. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to compare tre atment groups. A mean maximum increase in temperature of 4 to 5 degreesC wa s seen at the implant cervical for both materials, with a maximum temperatu re increase of 6 degreesC. No difference between Duralay and GC Pattern Res in was seen, except for bulk application to medium-sized copper bands at th e implant cervical (P < .05). No difference between the bulk and brush tech niques was seen for all options, except for GC, where bulk application to m edium-sized copper bands produced higher temperatures than the brush techni que (P < .05). Spray coolant reduced temperatures for bulk application of b oth Duralay and GC (P < .05).