Influence of platform switching on crestal bone changes at non-submerged titanium implants: a histomorphometrical study in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate histomorphometrically the influence of platform switching on crestal bone changes at non-submerged wide-body titanium implants in a dog model.


METHODS
One-stage insertion of sand-blasted and acid-etched screw-type implants with either matching (CAM) or smaller-diameter healing abutments (CPS) were randomly assigned to the lower jaws of nine beagle dogs. The animals were killed after 7, 14, and 28 days of non-submerged healing. Dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometrical analysis. Measurements were made between the implant shoulder (IS) and:--the apical extension of the long junctional epithelium (aJE), --the most coronal level of bone in contact with the implant (CLB), and --the level of the alveolar bone crest (BC).


RESULTS
At 7, 14, and 28 days, the mean IS-aJE values were significantly the lowest at CPS implants. However, after 28 days of healing, both groups revealed significantly increased mean IS-BC values at the buccal aspect of the alveolar bone. The difference in IS-CLB and IS-BC between groups was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that both CAM and CPS implants revealed crestal bone-level changes after 28 days of healing.
Becker
Jürgen
J
Department of Oral Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. jbecker@uni-duesseldorf.de
Ferrari
Daniel
D
Herten
Monika
M
Kirsch
Axel
A
Schaer
Alex
A
Schwarz
Frank
F
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004285:Dogs; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000209:etiology
D015921:Dental Implants