The Platform Switching Concept—A Myth or Fact: A Literature Review

The peri-implant bone level has been used as one of the criteria to assess the success of dental implants. It is an impor tant prerequisite for preserving the integrity of gin gival margins and interdental papillae. Platform switching for maintaining periimplant bone levels has gained popu larity among implant manufacturers over the last few years. Typically, crestal bone levels are situated 1.5 to 2 mm below the implant-abutment junction, dependent on various factors and there are several theories stating the reason for this phenomenon. Platform switching is a con cept which aims at reduction of the crestal bone loss around the implants and involves the restoration of implants with smaller diameter abutments such that the implant abutment junction (IAJ) is horizontally repositioned inwardly and away from the outer edge of the implant platform. This review aims at summarizing the significance of platform switching.