Peri-implant bone loss in platform-switched vs conventional implants: A radiographic analysis

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Biomaterials Science
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL) is a critical factor in long-term dental implant success.
• Platform-switching (PS) has been proposed to mitigate MBL compared to conventional platform-matched (PM) implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare 12-month MBL around PS and PM bone-level implants restored with fixed prostheses.
• To evaluate the efficacy of platform-switching in reducing peri-implant bone resorption.

Main Methods:

• Single-center retrospective radiographic study.
• 128 bone-level implants (64 PS, 64 PM) restored with fixed prostheses were analyzed.
• Standardized periapical radiographs were calibrated and assessed by blinded examiners for MBL.

Main Results:

• Mean 12-month MBL was significantly lower for PS implants (0.28 ± 0.24 mm) compared to PM implants (0.44 ± 0.31 mm).
• The adjusted mean difference in MBL was -0.16 mm (95% CI -0.24 to -0.08; p=0.001), favoring PS.
• A lower, though non-significant, proportion of PS implants showed MBL ≥ 1.5 mm.

Conclusions:

• Platform-switching (PS) demonstrates a significant reduction in peri-implant marginal bone loss at 12 months compared to platform-matched (PM) implants.
• PS implants may offer a more favorable outcome for preserving marginal bone around dental restorations.
• Further long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.