Influence of Implant Placement Depth and Soft Tissue Thickness on Crestal Bone Stability Around Implants With and Without Platform Switching: A Comparative Clinical Trial

• Published in: The International journal of periodontics & restorative dentistry Vol. 41; no. 3; p. 347
• Main Authors: Zukauskas, Saulius, Puisys, Algirdas, Andrijauskas, Paulius, Zaleckas, Linas, Vindasiute-Narbute, Egle, Linkevičius, Tomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Alveolar Bone Loss - diagnostic imaging; Alveolar Bone Loss - etiology; Bone and Bones; Case-Control Studies; Dental Implantation, Endosseous; Dental Implants; Humans
• ISSN: 1945-3388
• DOI: 10.11607/prd.5256

This case control study measured early crestal bone changes around subcrestally placed platform-switched implants surrounded by thin soft tissue and compared them with regular, matching-platform implants placed in a supracrestal position and surrounded by thick soft tissue. Sixty-six patients received two-piece internal hex dental implants. Control group patients (n = 33) received implants that had a horizontally matching implant-abutment connection and were placed approximately 0.5 to 1 mm supracrestally. Test group patients (n = 33) received platform-switched implants that were placed about 1.5 mm subcrestally. Clinical examinations were conducted, intraoral radiographs were taken, and statistical analysis was performed. After 2 months, the mean bone loss was 0.2 mm (SD: 0.22 mm; range: 0.1 to 1.2 mm) in the control group and -0.69 mm (SD: 0.65 mm; range: 0 to 2.6 mm) in the test group; this difference was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). After 1 year, mean bone loss was 0.28 mm (SD: 0.36 mm; range: 0.1 to 1.63 mm) in the control group and -0.6 mm (SD: 0.55 mm; range: 0.05 to 1.8 mm) in the test group. Platform-switched implants placed in a subcrestal position in vertically thin soft tissues showed statistically significantly more bone loss than non-platform-switched implants placed supracrestally with vertically thick tissues.