Micromorphometric analysis of bone blocks harvested with eight different ultrasonic and sonic devices for osseous surgery

Optimizing Osteotomy Techniques: Comparison of Conventional Rotary Instruments Versus Other Bone Cutting Devices

Osteotomy procedures can be performed using conventional rotary instruments or piezoelectric surgery. Each technique has distinct advantages and disadvantages regarding surgical precision, patient outcomes, and recovery. To systematically review the literature comparing conventional rotary instruments and piezoelectric surgery in osteotomy procedures. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were systematically searched. Studies were included if they compared outcomes of conventional rotary instruments and piezoelectric surgery in osteotomy. Data on postoperative pain, swelling, surgical time, and other relevant outcomes were extracted. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated no significant difference in postoperative swelling between the 2 techniques, whereas piezoelectric surgery was associated with reduced postoperative pain and improved tissue integration but required longer surgical times. Piezoelectric surgery shows potential benefits over conventional rotary instruments in specific contexts but requires longer operative times.

Tissue changes and tissue reactivity following osteotomy by a conventional rotary device, an ultrasonic unit, and an Er: YAG laser - A comparative study in humans

INTRODUCTION

Innovative technologies from other fields of science are constantly being introduced in medicine. Research works on animals strongly confirm the belief in better results following ultrasound and laser surgery. The main conclusions are based on observations from different animal species, whose biological characteristics differ from those of humans. This requires scientific experiments to be performed and confirmed in humans.

MATERIAL & METHODS

Human mandible specimens harvested in vivo by a conventional low-speed rotary device, an ultrasonic unit, or an Er: YAG laser were studied and analyzed to compare their effects on bone morphology and tissue response following surgery.

RESULTS

The cutting surface of eighty biopsies was studied, as well the facial edema, pain levels, and jaw dysfunction were followed up in the same eighty patients from whom the slices were obtained. In the piezosurgery and drill groups, the borders exhibited irregular edges full of bone fragments and debris. Thermal alterations within the superficial surface in all bone samples were generally minimal. In all specimens, intact osteocytes were detectable away from the area of direct action of the bone-cutting device. It was established, that the reactive facial edema, pain levels, and jaw disfunction were with milder values following in vivo osteotomy by an ultrasonic unit and Er: YAG laser compared to the conventional drilling. Moreover, the recovery of the patients in these two groups was more pronounced. The observed tissue changes proved to affect the follow-up tissue reactions in the postoperative period (p ≤ 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Based on the established effects on human bone by its in vivo cutting, it can be concluded that laser and ultrasonic bone surgery was a superior alternative osteotomy method in humans to conventional drilling.

Comparison between Magneto-Dynamic, Piezoelectric, and Conventional Surgery for Dental Extractions: A Pilot Study

This pilot split-mouth study aimed to evaluate and compare early postoperative discomfort and wound healing outcomes in post-extraction sockets after dental extraction performed with a Magnetic Mallet (MM), piezosurgery, and conventional instruments (EudraCT 2022-003135-25). Twenty-two patients requiring the extraction of three non-adjacent teeth were included. Each tooth was randomly assigned to a specific treatment (control, MM, or piezosurgery). Outcome measures were the severity of symptoms after surgery, wound healing assessed at the 10-days follow-up visit, and the time taken to complete each procedure (excluding suturing). Two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests were performed to evaluate eventual differences between groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the compared methods in postoperative pain and healing, and no additional complications were reported. MM required significantly less time to perform a tooth extraction, followed by conventional instruments and piezosurgery, in increasing order (p < 0.05). Overall, the present findings suggest the use of MM and piezosurgery as valid options for dental extractions. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm and extend this study’s results, facilitating the selection of the optimal method for an individual patient depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.

Changes in implant stability using different site preparation techniques: Osseodensification drills versus piezoelectric surgery. A multi-center prospective randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Implant stability is influenced by bone density, implant design, and site preparation characteristics. Piezoelectric implant site preparation (PISP) has been demonstrated to improve secondary stability compared with conventional drilling techniques. Osseodensification drills (OD) have been recently introduced to enhance both bone density and implant secondary stability. The objective of the present multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial was to monitor implant stability changes over the first 90 days of healing after implant bed preparation with OD or PISP.

METHODS

Each patient received two identical, adjacent or contralateral implants in the posterior maxilla. Following randomization, test sites were prepared with OD and control sites with PISP. Resonance frequency analysis was performed immediately after implant placement and after 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, and 90 days. Implants were then restored with single screw-retained metal-ceramic crowns and followed for 12 months after loading.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients (15 males and 12 females; mean age 63.0 ± 11.8 years) were included in final analysis. Each patient received two identical implants in the posterior maxilla (total = 54 implants). After 1 year of loading, 53 implants were satisfactorily in function (one failure in test group 28 days after placement). Mean peak insertion torque (40.7 ± 12.3 Ncm and 39.5 ± 10.2 Ncm in test and control group, respectively) and mean implant stability quotient (ISQ) value at baseline (71.3 ± 6.9 and 69.3 ± 7.6 in test and control group, respectively) showed no significant differences between the two groups. After an initial slight stability decrease, a shift to increasing ISQ values occurred after 14 days in control group and after 21 days in test group, but with no significant differences in ISQ values between the two groups during the first 90 days of healing.

CONCLUSION

No significant differences in either primary or secondary stability or implant survival rate after 1 year of loading were demonstrated between implants inserted into sites prepared with OD and PISP.

Bone Micromorphology and Material Attrition After Sonic, Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomies

BACKGROUND/AIM

Osteotomy as the first step in surgery, provides access to the field and its application could influence the outcome. Nowadays, the conventional burr reduction is being challenged by newer sonic and ultrasonic methods. We investigated the bone structural integrity and metal attrition residues both in bone and the irrigation fluid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bovine ribs were cut using three methods. Bone cuts were studied using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) for tissue discrepancies and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersion X-Ray Microanalysis (SEM/EDX) for organic and inorganic debris.

RESULTS

Better preservation of bone architecture was seen in piezo and sono surgery while metal attrition was not conclusive (p>0.05). Unlike in bone analyses, both bur and ultrasonic osteotomies showed statistically significant higher median inorganic detection per analysis (p=0.021 and p=0.037, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Sono and piezo surgery proved to be less invasive while attrition properties were the same.

Wedge-Shaped Implants for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Narrow Ridges: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

The present study aims to investigate clinical and patient-centered outcomes after the implant-supported rehabilitation of narrow ridges using a novel wedge-shaped implant. Forty-four patients were treated with the insertion of 59 tissue-level wedge implants (1.8 mm bucco-lingual width) in horizontally atrophic ridges (mean bone width 3.8 ± 0.4 mm). The main outcome measures were: implant stability quotient (ISQ), marginal bone loss (MBL) and patient morbidity. Fifty-eight implants were functioning satisfactorily after one year of loading (98.3% survival rate). ISQ values measured in the mesio-distal direction resulted significantly higher than those in the bucco-lingual direction at all time points (p < 0.001). Both mesio-distal and bucco-lingual ISQ values at 6-month follow-up resulted significantly higher than at 4-month follow-up (p < 0.001 for both). Mean MBL was 0.38 ± 0.48 mm at prosthesis delivery (6 months after implant insertion) and 0.60 ± 0.52 mm after one year of functional loading. The majority of patients reported slight discomfort related to the surgical procedure. Postoperative pain score was classified as mild pain on the day of surgery and the first postoperative day and no pain over the following five days. Within the limitations of the present study, the device investigated showed low morbidity and positive short-term clinical results in narrow ridges treatment.

Dynamics of implant site preparation affecting the quality of osseointegrated implants in the maxillary aesthetic zone

PURPOSE

This study compared piezoelectric (PE) and conventional drills (CD) for maxillary aesthetic zone implant insertion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a prospective split-mouth study. Implants were divided into two groups. Beds were prepared with CDs in group I and PE in group II. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) of the mechanical implant stability (MIS) was measured intraoperatively. The ISQ of the biological implant stability (BIS) was recorded at postoperative second and fourth months. Marginal bone loss (MBL) and bone density (BMD) were measured in the first and second years after prosthetic loading. The osteotomy time was also documented for both techniques. P values <0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Sixty implants in 30 patients were included. PE provided a significantly higher ISQ. All values were above 70 throughout the follow-up period. The mean of the ISQ for MIS was 63.78 ± 1.03 and 73.89 ± 1.05 in group I and group II, respectively (p = 0.003). PE needed significantly longer osteotomy time with a mean of 11.99 ± 0.839 min. The BIS quality had high stability in group II and medium stability in group I throughout the study period. Its values decreased in both groups. Group II had a lesser percentage of decrease. However, it was significant only at time intervals between intraoperative and two months' postoperative (p = 0.004). MBL and BMD demonstrated insignificant results.

CONCLUSION

The implant site preparation with PE devices should be preferred to CDs whenever possible, because they seem to enhance implant stability and osseointegration, especially at the initial stages of healing.

Modified Orthodontic Bone Stretching for Ankylosed Tooth Repositioning: A Case Report

Background:

Different approaches were proposed in the literature for the treatment of malpositioned ankylosed teeth. The present case report describes a modification of Orthodontic Bone Stretching Technique (OBS) for the repositioning of ankylosed teeth, consisting of dentoalveolar segmental osteotomies performed with piezoelectric instruments followed by orthodontic and orthopedic traction.

Case Report:

A 22-year-old female in good general health was referred by her orthodontist due to an infraoccluded and ankylosed maxillary upper left canine. Attempts of conventional and corticotomy-assisted orthodontic alignment of the tooth were previously performed with no success. After elevating a full-thickness flap, three osteotomies were performed by using piezoelectric inserts (Piezotome Cube, Acteon, Merignac, France). Mesial and distal cuts were full-thickness osteotomies, parallel to the long axis of the tooth, through the buccal and palatal cortical plates. The apical osseous incision was a horizontal corticotomy, involving only the buccal plate, and connecting the vertical osteotomies two millimetres over the apex of the tooth. Heavy orthodontic forces were immediately applied by using both dental and skeletal anchorage. The initial movement of the dentoalveolar segment was observed three weeks after surgery and case finishing has been completed in two months. At a one-year follow-up, the repositioned canine showed good periodontal conditions, no discoloration and positive pulp response to the electric test.

Conclusion:

Modified OBS technique was effective in repositioning an infraoccluded and ankylosed maxillary canine, providing satisfactory function and esthetics with short treatment time.

Piezoelectric bone surgery for impacted lower third molar extraction compared with conventional rotary instruments: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether piezoelectric bone surgery (PBS) for impacted lower third molar extraction reduces the surgical time and risk of intra- and postoperative complications in comparison with conventional rotary instruments. This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database. The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and OpenGrey databases were screened for articles published from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2018. Selection criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PBS with conventional rotary instruments for impacted lower third molar extraction and reporting any of the clinical outcomes (intra- and postoperative complications and duration of surgery) for both groups. A risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. A meta-analysis was performed, and the power of the meta-analytic findings was assessed by trial sequential analysis (TSA). Strong evidence suggests that PBS prolongs the duration of surgery and low evidence suggests that PBS reduces postoperative morbidity (pain and trismus) in comparison with rotary instruments. Data were insufficient to determine whether PBS reduces neurological complications and postoperative swelling in comparison with burs.

Primary Stability of Short Implants Inserted Using Piezoelectric or Drilling Systems: An In Vitro Comparison

The primary objective of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of implant site preparation technique (drills vs ultrasonic instrumentation) on the primary stability of short dental implants with two different designs inserted in simulated low-quality cancellous bone. Eighty implant sites were prepared in custom-made solid rigid polyurethane blocks with two different low cancellous bone densities (5 or 15 pounds per cubic foot [PCF]), equally distributed between piezoelectric (Surgysonic Moto, Esacrom, Italy) and conventional drilling techniques. Two short implant systems (Prama and Syra, Sweden & Martina) were tested by inserting 40 fixtures of each system (both 6.0 mm length and 5.0 mm diameter), divided in the four subgroups (drills/5 PCF density; drills/15 PCF density; piezo/5 PCF density; piezo/15 PCF density). Insertion torque (Ncm), implant stability quotient values, removal torque (Ncm), and surgical time were recorded. Data were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and Scheffé's test (α = 0.05). With slight variations among the considered dependent variables, overall high primary implant stability was observed across all subgroups. Piezoelectric instrumentation allowed for comparable or slightly superior primary stability in comparison with the drilling procedures in both implant systems. The Prama implants group showed the highest mean reverse torque and Syra implants the highest implant stability quotient values. Piezoelectric implant site preparation took prolonged operative time compared to conventional preparation with drills; among the drilling procedures, Syra system required fewer surgical steps and shorter operative time.

Osteotomy speed, heat development, and bone structure influence by various piezoelectric systems-an in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate osteotomy speed, heat development, and bone structure influence from osteotomies performed by various piezoelectric devices and insert tips. These devices and tips were compared among each other with regard to conventional rotatory and oscillating systems with special focus on the insert tip design and thickness.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The osteotomies were conducted on porcine ribs utilizing 12 different insert tips (straight and angulated) and three conventional systems. After time and temperature measurements, histological analysis was carried out. Light microscopy was used to evaluate the roughness of the osteotomic surface and to search for indications of thermal bone necrosis. A special software analyzing tool was employed to determine cutting width (mm) and debris (%).

RESULTS

All piezoelectric tips created smooth cuts. Cutting widths in general were wider than the actual insert tip size with a tendency for narrow straight insert tips producing relatively wide osteotomies, whereas narrow angulated inserts produced relatively small osteotomies. None of the samples demonstrated distinct indication of necrosis. Overall, there was only a small amount of debris in all osteotomy gaps. Conventional rotatory saws were faster and created less heat compared to all tested piezoelectric systems. Straight tips proved faster osteotomy speed than angulated tips. Thin insert tips indicated to have a positive correlation to osteotomy time and performed faster than conventional microsaw. The average temperature rise was lower when using conventional systems, but critical exceeding temperatures were only observed in short-time exceptional cases. In general, temperature rise was less when using angulated inserts.

CONCLUSION

All tested tips are appropriate for bone surgery. Only small differences were found among the piezoelectric insert tips. Although conventional rotatory systems in general performed faster osteotomies, special designed and thin piezoelectric insert tips seem to have a positive influence on osteotomy speed. Ultimately, none of the tested devices or inserts combined all best features of speed, heat development, bone structure influence, and safety.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Narrow and straight piezoelectric insert tips demonstrated reduced osteotomy times. Nevertheless, a combination of conventional and piezoelectric systems in clinical practice might be the best way to work time-efficient, patient-oriented, and safe. The choice of instrument should be based on clinical experience of the user and should be evaluated individually depending on the case.

Piezoelectric versus conventional implant site preparation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of a piezoelectric device (PED) for implant site preparation (ISP) has been introduced to overcome the limitations of using conventional drills (CDs). With little and inconsistent information in the literature regarding their efficiency for preparing implant osteotomies, the objective of this systematic review was to compare the use of CDs to PEDs for ISP with regard to implant stability values, marginal bone level changes, operating time, and dental implant failure rate.

METHODS

The systematic review was prepared according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The literature was searched for studies that assessed the use of CDs and PEDs for ISP. The Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was used to evaluate the selected studies and meta-analyses were performed using statistical software.

RESULTS

A total of 755 citations were identified. Of these, 4 studies with 178 implant osteotomies in 80 participants were included. The pooled estimates for the implant stability showed significant differences between the 2 surgical techniques in favor of PEDs at baseline, 8 and 12 weeks. A statistically significant difference in the operating time was also shown between the 2 techniques with more time required using PED. The differences in marginal bone level changes or implant failure rate were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

With the limitations of this review in mind, PEDs appear to be a viable alternative to traditional drilling techniques for ISP. With the exception of prolonged operating time associated with the use of PEDs, both techniques were comparable in terms of the marginal bone level changes and the risk of implant failure. The favorable influence of the implant stability pattern related to the use of PEDs on the predictability of immediate and early loading protocols need to be confirmed in future studies.

Conventional Drilling Versus Piezosurgery for Implant Site Preparation: A Meta-Analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the stability of dental implants varies between dental implants placed by piezosurgery compared with those placed by conventional drilling. An electronic search in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Library was undertaken until August 2016 and was supplemented by manual searches and by unpublished studies at OpenGray. Only randomized controlled clinical trials that reported implant site preparation with piezosurgery and with conventional drilling were considered eligible for inclusion in this review. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of piezosurgery on implant stability. Of 456 references electronically retrieved, 3 were included in the qualitative analysis and quantitative synthesis. The pooled estimates suggest that there is no significant difference between piezosurgery and conventional drilling at baseline (weighted mean differences [WMD]: 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.09, 9.49; P = .55). At 90 days, the pooled estimates revealed a statistically significant difference (WMD: 3.63; 95% CI: 0.58, 6.67, P = .02) favoring piezosurgery. Implant stability may be slightly improved when osteotomy is performed by a piezoelectric device. More randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Bone Scrapers Versus Piezoelectric Surgery in the Lateral Antrostomy for Sinus Floor Elevation

The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate 2 different methods for reducing cortical wall thickness in sinus floor augmentation surgery. A manual bone scraper was compared in terms of efficacy, speed, and safety to an ultrasonic insert for osteoplasty, in a randomized controlled clinical trial with a split-mouth design. Twenty-five patients with severe posterior maxillary atrophy were treated with bilateral sinus floor elevation with lateral approach. Antrostomies were randomly performed by eroding the cortical wall with a manual bone scraper (test site) or with an ultrasonic insert (control site) until the membrane was visible under a thin layer of bone, before outlining the window with a piezoelectric device. Occurrence of membrane perforation, laceration of vascular branches, and surgical time were recorded. Mean surgical time of the antrostomy in the test sites was 9'18", while in the control sites was 9'47". No significant differences were found in terms of surgical time, incidence of membrane perforation during antrostomy (4.3% in both groups), or other intraoperative complications between the 2 techniques. Both surgical approaches represent effective options for performing lateral antrostomies during sinus floor elevation procedures in a safe and predictable way.

The effect of demographic and disease variables on Schneiderian membrane thickness and appearance

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sinus mucosal thickening (MT) and mucosal appearance (MA) in a patient population as detected with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to determine the effects of various disease and demographic factors on MT and MA.

STUDY DESIGN

The retrospective study consisted of CBCT images of 1000 maxillary arches in 500 patients. The arches were divided into 3 groups (atrophic, partially atrophic, and nonatrophic) according to the type of the maxillary dental crest. The CBCT scans were assessed to detect the prevalence of maxillary sinus MT and MA. χ² analysis was used to determine the significance of association of periodontal bone loss (PBL), periapical (PA) status, alveolar crest type, age, and gender on sinus MT and MA.

RESULTS

MT was significantly associated with PBL (P = .004), PA status (P = .001), and gender (P < .01). MA was significantly associated with PBL (P = .038), PA status (P = .009), and gender (P < .020). There were no significant associations between age or crest type and either MT or MA.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal bone loss, PA lesions, and gender may have an association with MT of the maxillary sinus.

Physics and Histologic Evaluation of Rotary, Ultrasonic, and Sonic Instruments

Rotary instruments (RIs) are the most commonly used to perform osteotomies in many fields of medicine. Owing to a new interest in performing a minimally invasive surgery, over last fifteen years new devices have been used in oral surgery such as ultrasonic instruments (UIs) and, lately, sonic instruments (SIs). Nowadays, bone preservation and regeneration are paramount in many clinical situations and, consequently, it is crucial to rely upon instruments, which cause the least tissue damage during the surgery. Concerning SIs, there is still few information about workload to be applied and related temperature increases; furthermore, there are no comparative in-vivo studies, which analyze the thermal and mechanical effects on bone. Thus, SIs have been compared with UIs and RIs in terms of heat generation, operating time, accuracy, and tissue damage. Decalcification and sectioning procedure resulted in no significant differences between the applied instruments in terms of bone damage. RIs resulted more efficient than UIs (P < 0.001), but demonstrated low accuracy (NRS 4.9), whereas SIs (P = 0.005) required more time to perform the osteotomy. The maximum temperature increase occurred in the ultrasonic group. Even though SI were the slowest, they have proved to be the most accurate (NRS 8.4) in comparison with UI (NRS 7.6) and RI (NRS 4.9). Within the limit of this study, sonic instruments could be considered a safe alternative to ultrasonic instruments.