Evaluation of Marginal Bone Loss and Implant Survival in Internal Tapered Versus Internal Non-Tapered Connection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction- The dental implant is a dependable treatment option for partially & completely edentulous patients. The success of the implant placement and survival also depends upon the type of implant and the type of implant- abutment connection. There are two different implant- abutment connections, external connection and internal connection. The external connection has several disadvantages, so clinicians nowadays prefer internal connection for long-term success. Internal connections have two types of connection internal hex and internal tapered connection, and this systematic review and meta- analysis aimed to compare these two different connections.  Material and Methods- This review and meta-analysis used the population, intervention, control, and outcome (PICO) criteria to develop and answer a specific research question, "Is there a disparity in bone loss and implant survival between patients who had an internal tapered implant-abutment connection and those who had an internal non-tapered implant-abutment connection?" for a developed question there are some criteria's which include and exclude some studies from the meta-analysis.  Result- A final tally of 343 participants with 436 implants was assessed. In the mean 20.5-month follow-up time, the percentages of outcomes were comparable. The three assessed studies reported that the tapered connection's survival rate was higher. For the primary outcome, five out of the six included studies assessed the marginal bone loss surrounding the implants. Marginal bone loss of the internal tapered connection was lower than that of the internal non-tapered connection.  Conclusion- Internal connections with tapered connections had somewhat less marginal bone loss than internal non- tapered connections and more survival rate of implants.