The Effect of Platform Switching on The Supporting Structures of Implant – Retained Mandibular Overdenture

Abstract

This split- mouth design study aims to evaluate the effect of platform switched dental implant on the peri-implant bone loss. Fourteen completely edentulous patients were selected and thoroughly examined clinically and radiographically. All were rehabilitated with two implant supported mandibular overdenture, one platform switching implant in one side and a non-platform switching implant in the other side, at the inter-foramina area. A linear measurement system supplied by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to evaluate peri-implant bone loss. Records were obtained at implant loading (baseline), six months and twelve months follow-up intervals. Lower values of peri- implant bone loss were detected in the platform switching implant, which might result from the horizontally re-established biological width, in which the re-positioned bone tissues and subsequently soft tissues are in a more horizontal direction.  Along with the inward shift occurred to the inflammatory cell infiltrate away from the adjacent crestal bone. The study concluded that the platform-switching approach improves the preservation of peri-implant bone loss.