Platform switching vs regular platform implants: nine-month post-loading results from a randomised controlled trial

To compare the clinical outcome of platform switching (PS) and regular platform (RP) implants in bilateral single molar replacements.

This study was designed as a randomised, controlled, split-mouth trial. Eighteen patients, with bilaterally missing single molars had one site randomly assigned to a PS implant or a RP implant. A total of 36 implants were bilaterally installed. Both implants were loaded with screw retained temporary crowns 3 months after implant insertion and with screw retained definitive crowns 3 months later. Outcome measures were implant/crown failure, complications, radiographic marginal bone-level changes, pocket probing depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Clinical data were collected at baseline 6 and 12 months after implant placement.

No patients dropped out and no implant failed. No prosthetic or major biological complications were observed. One year after implant placement, mean marginal bone level was 0.93 ± 0.26 mm (95% CI 0.81 to 1.05) in RP group and 0.84 ± 0.23 mm (95% CI 0.73 to 0.95) in the PS group and no statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed (P = 0.18). Mean PPD and BOP values were, 6 and 12 months after implant placement, 2.74 ± 0.49 mm (95% CI 2.51 to 2.97) and 1.28 ± 0.75 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.63) in the RP group, and 2.70 ± 0.38 mm (95% CI 2.53 to 2.88) and 1.39 ± 0.78 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.75) in the PS group respectively, with no statistical differences between groups (P = 0.81 and P = 0.16, respectively).

No statistically significant difference was observed between platform switched and non-platform switched implants.