Peri-implant bone level around implants with platform-switched abutments: preliminary data from a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Marginal bone loss around dental implants averages 1.5-2 mm in the first year post-restoration.
• New concepts aim to prevent bone remodeling around dental implants.
• Platform switching, using narrower abutments than implant diameters, shows potential to reduce crestal bone resorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of a platform switching protocol on crestal bone height around dental implants.
• To determine if bone levels remain stable for one year after final prosthetic reconstruction using platform switching.

Main Methods:

• A clinical trial involving 15 patients with fixed implant-retained prostheses.
• 14 implants used platform-switched abutments (test group).
• 8 implants used traditional abutments (control group).
• Standardized digital radiographs assessed peri-implant bone levels at baseline and 1-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Platform-switched implants showed significantly higher baseline crestal bone height (-0.09 mm) compared to controls (-1.73 mm).
• At 1-year follow-up, platform-switched implants maintained significantly better bone levels (-0.22 mm) versus controls (-2.02 mm).
• Mean bone level change from baseline to 1 year was significantly less for the platform-switched group (-0.12 mm) than the control group (-0.29 mm).

Conclusions:

• Platform switching effectively limits crestal bone resorption and preserves peri-implant bone levels.
• While some bone remodeling occurs, platform switching demonstrates significant preservation of peri-implant bone height at one year.
• A 0.45 mm reduction in abutment width per side appears sufficient to prevent significant peri-implant bone loss.