Crestal Bone Level Around Tissue-Level Implants Restored with Platform Matching and Bone-Level Implants Restored with Platform Switching: A 5-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The aim of this randomized clinical trial with a 5-year follow-up was to assess the differences in radiographic levels of peri-implant bone crest between tissue-level implants restored with platform matching (control group) and bone-level implants restored with platform switching (test group) in the posterior region. Materials and Methods: To assess marginal bone level changes, periapical radiographs were taken at the moment of prosthesis delivery (baseline), at 1 year, and at 5 years after the definitive restoration. Results: One hundred subjects, partially edentulous in the posterior region, were selected for this study. There were 54 men and 46 women between the ages of 25 and 70 years (mean = 50.5 years). A total of 202 implants were assigned to both groups using a randomized procedure (100 implants in the control group and 102 in the test group). The mean marginal bone level (MBL) changes for tissue-level implants restored with platform matching were 0.26 ± 0.55 mm at baseline to 1 year, 0.34 ± 0.54 mm at 1 year to 5 years, and 0.61 ± 0.73 mm at baseline to 5 years. The mean MBL changes for bone-level implants restored with platform switching were −0.03 ± 0.74 mm at baseline to 1 year, −0.17 ± 0.67 mm at 1 year to 5 years, and −0.20 ± 0.75 mm at baseline to 5 years. The mean difference between the two groups was 0.31 mm at baseline to 1 year, 0.53 mm at 1 year to 5 years, and 0.85 mm at baseline to 5 years. There was a statistically significant difference in MBL (P .001). Both implant systems showed good and similar survival rates (98% for tissue-level implants restored with platform matching and 96.1% for bone-level implants restored with platform switching). Conclusion: In this randomized controlled trial, the following observations were made. Radiographic levels of peri-implant bone crest in tissue-level implants restored by platform matching were statistically significant in the three interval times. Meanwhile, MBL changes for bone-level implants restored with platform switching were not statistically significant in the different times studied. Nevertheless, the mean difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Schlagwörter: bone-level implant, marginal bone loss, platform matched, platform switching, posterior healed site, tissue-level implant