Purpose: The aim of this case series study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic changes of soft and hard tissues around tapered, platform-switched, laser-microtextured implants 24 months after crown placement.
Materials and methods: Twenty tapered, platform-switched, laser-microtextured collar implants were placed in 20 patients. Full-mouth plaque score, full-mouth bleeding score, probing depth, and mucosal recession were recorded at the time of crown cementation and after 24 months follow-up. The marginal bone-level changes at the mesial and distal aspects of the implants were calculated by subtracting from baseline and 24-month implant marginal bone level.
Results: In terms of the full-mouth plaque score and full-mouth bleeding score, tapered, platform-switched, laser-microtextured implants showed statistically significant improvements at 6 months when compared to baseline (P < .001). Statistically significantly deeper probing depths (P < .001) were found when comparing baseline and at 24 months at mesial, lingual, and distal sites. However, no statistically significant difference was found at the buccal aspects (P = .064). Radiographic marginal bone loss at 2-year follow-up for tapered, platform-switched, laser-microtextured implants was 0.72 ± 0.16 mm and 0.67 ± 0.15 mm at the mesial and distal sites, respectively.
Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, tapered, platform-switched, laser-microtextured implants maintained marginal bone level (less than 1 mm radiographic bone loss) as well as limited mucosa recession over a 2-year period.