2007 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 314-324
Inflammatory responses resulting from surgical stress following implant placement often involve temperature increases in addition to swelling and pain. To more objectively assess inflammatory reactions, the authors of this report independently developed a high precision system measuring the surface temperature of oral mucosa, and measured temperature differences in affected regions following implant surgery. Seventy cases of implant surgery (114 implants), undertaken by the same surgeon and facility and using the same implantation system (AQB Implant one piece type), were monitored. All patients had a pre-surgical status of 1 or 2 on the ASA Physical Status Classification System and were aged from 28 to 68 years (average age 53.2 years). Oral mucosa surface temperature in the buccal area surrounding the implants was measured for ten days after implantation. The baseline was the temperature of the same region pre-surgery, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Dunnettʼs test were used in statistical processing. Statistical analysis confirmed a constant pattern of temperature change. The results showed that the temperature of affected areas rose sharply from pre-surgery temperatures the day following surgery, the greatest difference in temperature being 1.16±0.18℃(mean±SD) and started decreasing two days after surgery. The difference in temperature dropped by half 5.9 days after surgery and returned to near pre-surgery levels ten days after surgery. The greater the number of implants and length of surgery, the higher the temperature in the affected region rose, and the slower the temperature decreased from day to day. In cases where one implant was placed, a significant rise in body temperature was only confirmed in the day following surgery. In cases where 2 to 4 implants were placed, a significant difference was confirmed on the first and second day after surgery. Daily measurement of the temperature of affected areas following implant placement is considered to be worthwhile in post-surgical management and to be a useful method of observing the wound healing process. Additionally, measurement of body temperature is considered necessary for whole body management.
