Assessing the Esthetic Impact of Platform Switching Implant Designs: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of platform switching (PS) implants on esthetic outcomes, focusing on peri-implant soft tissue stability and the overall esthetics of dental implant restorations.

Materials and methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science searches were conducted for in-vivo studies with implants with PS, specifically those focusing on peri-implant tissue levels, soft tissue behavior, and gingival contour. Two reviewers assessed the identified studies and data abstraction independently, and an additional hand search complimented this. The articles were limited to those in English published between January 1st, 2014, and June 1st, 2024.

Results: The initial search yielded 91 results, of which 80 were selected for full-text review following abstract evaluation. 56 articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, and the remaining 24 articles providing peri-implant soft tissue values were used in this review. The results showed that implants with PS improved scores for a pink esthetic score, mesial and distal papilla height, buccal peri-implant mucosal level, peri-implant mucosal zenith change, and visual analog scale-esthetic. In the anterior region, implants with PS demonstrated superior esthetic results, with better integration of the implant restoration into the natural dentition.

Conclusion: The outcome of this review suggests that implants with PS improve esthetic outcomes by preserving peri implant soft tissue and enhancing tissue stability. These implants offer a promising solution for achieving optimal esthetic results in dental implant restorations, particularly in the anterior region. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these benefits' sustainability and refine the selection of implant designs for optimal esthetic outcomes.