Three-Year Outcomes of a Fully Tapered Implant With the One-Time Abutment Protocol Placed in Healed Ridges: A Prospective Case Series

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate bone level changes three years after loading of a fully tapered implant with platform switching, using the one abutment-one time protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (11 females, 17 males) received 28 BLX implants (Straumann, SLActive Roxolid). Interproximal bone level changes were measured radiographically. Clinical parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), keratinized mucosa width (KMW), and modified plaque index (MPI) as well as esthetic outcomes using the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) were assessed at prosthetic loading, 1 year, and 3 years. Implant survival and success were recorded. RESULTS: Minimal increases in PPD (0.64-1.46 mm) and BoP were observed; KMW and crown length remained stable. No marginal bone loss was observed over the follow-up (mesial: 0.06 ± 0.47 mm; distal: 0.08 ± 0.38 mm). PES improved significantly from baseline to 3 years (9.39 ± 1.47 to 11.57 ± 1.34, p < 0.001). Implant survival and success were 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The one-abutment one-time protocol with fully tapered, platform-switched implants provide stable peri-implant bone, excellent clinical and esthetic outcomes, and high survival over 3 years (NCT05187143).