Peri-Implant Bone Level Stability with and Without PlatformmSwitching: A Six-Years Follow-Up Case.

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this case is the long-term, clinical and radiographical, evaluation of bone resorption around implants rehabilitated with and without the platform switching. Materials and Methods: Two implants with external connection were placed in a 41 years old healthy woman in order to replace the upper right first molar and the upper right first premolar. The implant replacing the upper right first molar was managed, for both the healing screw and the final prosthesis, according to the platform switching paradigm (i.e. the healing screw and the final abutment were 1 mm narrower than the implant platform diameter), whereas for the other implant no platform switching was performed. The measurements of bone levels were carried out on intraoral radiographs, taken at 12 and 72 months after implant loading, using AutoCAD software on both the mesial and the distal aspect of each implant. Results: The bone loss around the implant with platform switching was, on average, 0.1 and 0.18 at 1 year and 6 years after loading, respectively; whereas, bone resorption around the implant without platform switching was, on average, 1.15 and 1.98 at 1 year and 6 years, respectively. Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, the results obtained demonstrate that the platform switching can reduce peri-implant bone resorption by increasing long-term predictability of dental implants.