Table 3.
The mean temperature gradient at abutment level (P2 thermocouple). The temperature rose significantly with an increased laser fluence. (p < 0.0003). The temperature rise by the critical 10 °C (10.67 + 1.14 °C) was noted only for the ball type fixture (BTF) at 200 mJ/30 Hz. The temperature increase was significantly lower for the scaler (G4) in contrast to Er:YAG laser at FTF. (p < 0.0002).
| Study Groups | Thermocouple P2∆Ta (°C) IA (A) (Mean ± SD) |
Thermocouple P2∆Ta (°C) FTF (A) (Mean ± SD) |
Thermocouple P2∆Ta(°C) BTF (A) (Mean ± SD) |
P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 0.95 ± 0.55 * | 3.47 ± 0.27 *+ | 2.40 ± 0.35 + | IA vs. FTF vs. BTF p < 0.05 |
| Group 2 | 2.55 ± 0.58 | 5.50 ± 0.89 *+ | 3.12 ± 0.74 + | FTF vs. IA, BTF p < 0.0002 FTF vs. BTF p < 0.0002 |
| Group 3 | 5.86 ± 0.46 * | 7.62 ± 0.74 *+ | 10.67 ± 1.14 *+ | IA vs. FTF vs. BTF p < 0.05 |
| Group 4 | 2.00 ± 0.89 | 2.13 ± 0.23 | 2.97 ± 0.27 + | BTF vs. IA, FTF p < 0.003 FTF vs. BTF p < 0.003 IA vs. FTF p > 0.05 |
| P value | G1 vs. G2, G3, G4 p < 0.002 G2 vs. G3 p < 0.0002 G3 vs. G4 p < 0.0002 G2 vs. G4 p > 0.05 |
G1 vs. G2 vs. G3 vs. G4 p < 0.0002 | G3 vs. G2, G4 p < 0.0002 G1 vs. G3 p < 0.0002 G1 vs. G2, G4 p > 0.05 G2 vs. G4 p > 0.05 |
* Indicates significant differences between laser and control group G4 (ultrasonic scaler); + Indicates significant differences between the two-piece implant (IA) and one-piece implants (FTF, BTF).