Analysis of Peri-Implantitis Photothermal Therapy Effect According to Laser Irradiation Location and Angle: A Numerical Approach

In recent years, dental implants have become increasingly popular around the world. However, if the implant is not properly managed, inflammation may occur, and the implant itself may need to be removed. Peri-implantitis is a common inflammation that occurs in dental implants, and various laser treatments have recently been studied to eliminate it. In this study, the situation of removing peri-implantitis using photothermal therapy, one of the various laser treatments, was analyzed theoretically and numerically. The temperature distribution in the tissue for various laser irradiation locations, angles, and power was calculated based on heat transfer theory, and the degree of thermal damage to tissue was analyzed using the Arrhenius damage integral. In addition, the thermally damaged region ratio of inflamed and normal tissue was analyzed using the Arrhenius thermal damage ratio and normal tissue Arrhenius thermal damage ratio to confirm the trend of treatment results for each treatment condition. The results of the study showed that if only the thermal damage to the inflamed tissue is considered, the laser should be angled vertically, and the laser should be applied to the center of the inflamed tissue rather than close to the implant. However, if the thermal damage to the surrounding normal tissue is also considered, it was found that the laser should be applied at 1.0 mm from the right end of the inflamed tissue for maximum effect. This will allow for more accurate clinical treatment of peri-implantitis in the future.