Implant platform switching concept: a literature review.

ABSTRACT

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.