Peri-implant bone loss in platform-switched versus conventional implants: A radiographic analysis

Platform-switching (PS) reduces peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL) compared with conventional platform-matched (PM). Hence, we conducted a single-center retrospective radiographic study comparing 12-month MBL around PS and PM bone-level implants restored with fixed prostheses. Standardized periapical radiographs were calibrated to implant thread pitch and analyzed by blinded examiners. Among 128 implants (PS, n=64; PM, n=64), mean 12-month MBL was 0.28 ± 0.24 mm for PS vs 0.44 ± 0.31 mm for PM; the adjusted mean difference was -0.16 mm (95% CI -0.24 to -0.08; p=0.001). Thus, PS also showed a lower (non-significant) proportion with MBL ≥ 1.5 mm.