Concept of platform switching

Abstract

In terms of clinical techniques, research, material science, and oral rehabilitation implant dentistry is the latest developing field. Extensive work is being done to improve the implant design in order to achieve better function and esthetics. A current area of debate is the significance of the implant abutment junction (IAJ) and its influence on crestal bone level in relation to the first implant thread. Dental implants with platform switching are considered to represent the newest concepts in avoiding crestal bone loss. Platform switching refers to the use of a smaller diameter abutment on a larger diameter implant collar shifting the margin of the IAJ inward, toward the central axis of the implant which in turnis believed to shift the inflammatory cell infiltrate to the central axis of the implant and away from the adjacent crestal bone, thought to reduce the crestal bone resorption. A few aspects of platform switching to reduce the crestal bone loss have been discussed hereby.