A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Comparison of Platform-Switched and Matched-Abutment Implants in Short-Span Partial Denture Situations

Recent observations suggest that less bone loss may result from placing a more medialized abutment on an implant (platform switching). The objective of this study was to measure the radiographic crestal bone loss and biologic width around conventional and platform-switched implants. Implants were randomly assigned into conventional or switched categories within the same prosthesis. Twenty-five implants were placed and observed in the mandibles of 10 patients for 2 years. A regression analysis demonstrated a significant difference between groups (P = .0001). These findings suggest that less crestal bone loss occurs around a platform-switched dental implant versus a conventional implant.