The aim of the present study was to assess in vitro the heat generated within the implant body when preparing titanium implants of the ITI Dental Implant System to estimate the potential risk of tissue damage of individual abutment preparation. The speed and the pressure were applied according to routine clinical procedures used in the patient's mouth. Much attention was paid to ensure optimal cooling at the point where the implant and secondary part were being cut. For each of 3 preparations the change from the original temperature was measured over a period of 40 s. Each type of preparation was repeated on 5 implants fitted with temperature probes. Three different preparatory procedures performed with rotating diamond burs and stainless steel finishing burs under cooling with spray from the dental unit may result in a maximal increase in temperature of 10 degrees, 7 degrees and 3 degrees measured coronally, both at the implant shoulder and at the coronal extent of the plasma-sprayed surface after 10 s. The use of additional spray and pressured air significantly reduced this maximal increase to 5 degrees C, 5 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively at 10 s. At the 30-s and 40-s time points, all the measured temperatures were significantly lower. Preparation of implants or abutments does not lead to detrimental effects on peri-implant tissues provided that adequate cooling with spray is used. However, without cooling, extreme overheating could be provoked, reaching the critical temperature that would lead to irreversible bone damage within only a few seconds.