AN IN VITRO COMPARISON OF PIEZOELECTRIC AND ROTARY OSTEOTOMIES DURING LATERAL SINUS WALL SURGERY

Abstract

Piezoelectric and high speed rotary instrumentation have proven to be viable methods of preparing osteotomies during lateral sinus wall surgery. Piezoelectric units have been suggested to have superior access and control as well as the ability to discern between soft and hard tissue. The major disadvantage of the piezoelectric technology is the reduced speed at which osteotomies are prepared. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in operator perception, speed and membrane damage between the two modalities. Seven different operators prepared 4 osteotomies in 2 mm thick polyurethane sheets backed by 0.2 mm thick plastic wrap. The preparation speed and incidence of membrane damage were recorded after each osteotomy. The operator perception of each modality was recorded at the end of the preparations. Several questions were asked to evaluate the accuracy, visibility, vibration, comfort and ease of use of both modalities. Results showed that rotary instrumentation was 160% faster than piezo (p<0.001), but resulted in 370% more damage and 130% more perforations (p<0.01). Surveys of operator preference showed piezo units with higher scores for accuracy and visibility (p<0.05). This study showed that in vitro a piezo unit compared to a rotary unit results in less membrane perforation and damage, higher perception of accuracy and visibility, but longer osteotomy preparation time.