title: Morse taper dental implants and platform switching: The new paradigm in oral implantology.
abstract: The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review on the potential benefits with the use of Morse taper dental implant connections associated with small diameter platform switching abutments. A Medline bibliographical search (from 1961 to 2014) was carried out. The following search items were explored: "Bone loss and platform switching," "bone loss and implant-abutment joint," "bone resorption and platform switching," "bone resorption and implant-abutment joint," "Morse taper and platform switching." "Morse taper and implant-abutment joint," Morse taper and bone resorption," "crestal bone remodeling and implant-abutment joint," "crestal bone remodeling and platform switching." The selection criteria used for the article were: meta-analysis; randomized controlled trials; prospective cohort studies; as well as reviews written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish languages. Within the 287 studies identified, 81 relevant and recent studies were selected. Results indicated a reduced occurrence of peri-implantitis and bone loss at the abutment/implant level associated with Morse taper implants and a reduced-diameter platform switching abutment. Extrapolation of data from previous studies indicates that Morse taper connections associated with platform switching have shown less inflammation and possible bone loss with the peri-implant soft tissues. However, more long-term studies are needed to confirm these trends.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Porto, 4249-004, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Porto, 4249-004, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, 925 W 34 St. Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.|School of Dentistry (ODT), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianopolis/SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Brendan R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Vahey
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry (ODT), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianopolis/SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry (ODT), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianopolis/SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cesar A M
authors.initials: CAM
authors.lastname: Benfatti
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Porto, 4249-004, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Magini
authors.affiliation: Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Group), School of Dentistry, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, 402 4270, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry (ODT), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianopolis/SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlio C M
authors.initials: JCM
authors.lastname: Souza
keywords: Bone loss; Morse taper; crestal bone remodeling; implant-abutment connection; platform switch; platform switching