The influence of artificial tooth root materials on temperature distribution in peri-implantitis for photothermal therapy

BackgroundA representative method for compensating for tooth loss is implant placement. Dental implants consist of a crown, an abutment, and an artificial tooth root, and are made of various materials. Proper care is essential for the long-term use of implants, and negligence in care can lead to inflammation around the implant. The most representative inflammation that occurs around implants is peri-implantitis, and various laser treatments are being studied recently to eliminate it.ObjectiveIn this study, the effect of implant materials on temperature rise within inflamed tissue was analyzed both theoretically and numerically in removal of peri-implantitis using photothermal therapy.MethodsThe temperature distribution in tissue for various artificial root materials, laser irradiation angles, and intensities was calculated, and degree of tissue death was determined using the Arrhenius damage integral. Furthermore, percentage of tissue death was analyzed using the Arrhenius thermal damage ratio and the normal tissue Arrhenius thermal damage ratio to identify trends in the results based on treatment conditions.ResultsConsequently, with regard to materials used for artificial tooth roots, the prevailing trend in treatment indicates that zirconia is the most effective material, followed by Ti-6Al-4V, titanium, and tantalum. The efficacy of laser irradiation increases as the angle approaches vertical.ConclusionThe findings indicate that increasing laser power and reducing the irradiation angle are beneficial when focusing solely on inflammation.