Marginal bone change, survival and biological complications around dental implants with a platform switched, Morse taper connection, and a medium rough surface in a sample of regular compliers patients

Abstract

Context: Marginal bone loss around implants still is difficult to avoid and the great influence of the size of the implant/abutment micro-gap on crestal bone level maintenance have been reported in the literature. The internal conical Morse taper connection has been demonstrated to be an effective system for minimizing inflammatory reactions and maximizing peri-implant bone stability. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the marginal bone change around dental implants with a platform-switched (PS) Morse taper connection and a medium rough surface over a 4-year follow-up period. Settings and Design: The data for this study were obtained from the clinical records of a private periodontal practice exclusively in Periodontics and Implantology (Vicenza, Italy), treated by one EFP certified periodontist (C.S). The same operator (C.S) performed all the surgeries. Subjects and Methods: Marginal bone loss around PS Morse taper connection implants was retrospectively analysed on standardized radiographs after 1 year and 4 years from the prosthesis connection. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical unit of observation was the single implant. The influence on MBC of the number of implants for the same patient was tested using the Kruskal Wallis non parametric test. The main effects of the follow-up times (T1 and T4) and of each individual factor on MBC were evaluated using the non-parametric Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests respectively. The interaction effect between follow-up time and each individual factor was graphically tested considering the MBC median values in the time level for each factor. Statistical significance was taken at the ≤0.05 level (two-sided). All analyses were performed using the STATA/IC for Windows, version 14.2. Results: Ninety implants were examined in fifty patients. Mean bone change was −0.06 ± 0.31 mm after 1 year and −0.2 ± 0.45 mm after 4 years. The cumulative survival rate at 4 years was 100%, and a low prevalence of implants with clinical signs of mucositis (12.2%) or peri-implantitis (1.1%) was reported. Conclusions: In implants where the prosthesis is correctly place and the patient are compliers to their maintenance therapy, the contemporary presence of a Morse taper connection and a switching platform seems to offer good results for the maintenance of peri-implant bone in the short and medium term.