The effect of low-speed drilling without irrigation on heat generation: an experimental study

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 9 - 12
• Main Authors: Oh, Ji-Hyeon, Fang, Yiqin, Jeong, Seung-Mi, Choi, Byung-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 01-02-2016; 대한구강악안면외과학회
• Subjects: Original; 치의학; Flapless; Surgical guide; Dental implants; Low-speed drilling
• ISSN: 2234-7550; 2234-5930
• DOI: 10.5125/jkaoms.2016.42.1.9

In this study we evaluated heat generation during the low-speed drilling procedure without irrigation.
Ten artificial bone blocks that were similar to human D1 bone were used in this study. The baseline temperature was 37.0℃. We drilled into 5 artificial bone blocks 60 times at the speed of 50 rpm without irrigation. As a control group, we drilled into an additional 5 artificial bone blocks 60 times at the speed of 1,500 rpm with irrigation. The temperature changes during diameter 2 mm drilling were measured using thermocouples.
The mean maximum temperatures during drilling were 40.9℃ in the test group and 39.7℃ in the control group. Even though a statistically significant difference existed between the two groups, the low-speed drilling did not produce overheating.
These findings suggest that low-speed drilling without irrigation may not lead to overheating during drilling.