A 36-month follow-up prospective cohort study on peri-implant bone loss of Morse Taper connection implants with platform switching

A prospective cohort study was designed to measure marginal bone level changes at 36-month follow-up and to evaluate the influence of biologically relevant, anatomic and stress-related variables. STROBE guidelines were followed. Totally, 748 implants were inserted into 350 patients. Standardized periapical radiographs were taken at 2- (stage-two surgery), 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-ups. Descriptive statistics were used and inter- and intra-examiner reliability were determined. A mixed-model was used to evaluate predictor variables. Statistical analysis was performed at implant level (statistical significance: P < 0.05). A total of 34 (4.5%) implants failed; of the 34 implants, 6 were early failures (0.8%) and 28 were late failures (3.7%). A total of 576 implants reached 36-month follow-up (mean follow-up: 25.58 months; SD: 10.32). Mean marginal bone remodeling was -0.56 mm. (SD: 1.30; range: -6.80 ± 3.65). A statistically significant, higher marginal bone loss was found for subcrestal implants and subcrestal implants inserted into the maxilla, for implants inserted into patients aged over 50 years, and for early-delayed implants inserted into patients aged over 50 years. In conclusion, a low, mean crestal bone loss at 36-month follow-up was recorded but implant positioning in the apico-occlusal dimension was found to be the most significant variable that influenced bone loss.