Implant platform switching concept: a literature review

C. Cumbo, L. Marigo, F. Somma, G. La Torre, I. Minciacchi, A. D’addona

Section of Endodontics, Section of Dental Materials, and Section of Oral Surgery and Implant-Prosthetic Rehabilitation; Odontostomatological Institute, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. luca.marigo@rm.unicatt.it

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• Dentistry

BACKGROUND: The platform switching concept involves the reduction of the restoration abutment diameter with respect to the diameter of dental implant. Long-term follow up around these wide-platforms showed higher levels of bone preservation.

AIM: The aim of this article is to carry out a literature review of studies which deal with the influence of platform-switched implants in hard and soft oral tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All papers involving “platform switching” that are indexed in MedLine and published between 2005 and 2011 were used. Clinical cases, experimental and non-experimental studies were included, as well as literature reviews.

RESULTS: In our search, we analized 18 clinical cases and 3 reviews. The results indicate that peri-implant bone resorption is reduced with platform switching system.

CONCLUSIONS: All papers written by different researchers show an improvement in peri-implant bone preservation and satisfactory aesthetic results. Further long-term studies are necessary to confirm these results.

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