If you are considering dental implants in Folsom, you have probably heard about implant brands and techniques. One design detail rarely discussed with patients is the implant-abutment connection, the small connector joining the implant to the crown. A 2025 systematic review examined that detail, called platform switching, asking whether it helps preserve surrounding bone over time, since that bone helps keep an implant stable for years.
What Is Marginal Bone Loss?
Marginal bone loss (MBL) is the gradual loss of bone height around the top of a dental implant. Some bone change after placement is common as the area heals. Dentists measure it on X-rays over months and years, in millimeters, watching whether it stays small and stable or progresses.
This matters because the bone around an implant anchors it in the jaw. Healthy bone gives the implant, gum tissue, and crown a better foundation, while progressing bone loss can affect the gum line, the restoration’s appearance, and, over time, the implant’s support.
What Does Platform Switching Mean?
Below the crown, a dental implant has two main parts: the fixture in the bone, and the abutment connecting the fixture to the crown. In a traditional platform-matched connection, the abutment is about as wide as the top of the implant, so the two edges line up flush.
In a platform-switched connection, the abutment is deliberately narrower than the implant platform, creating a small horizontal step at the top of the implant. Moving the implant-abutment junction inward, away from the implant’s outer edge and surrounding bone, may reduce irritation to nearby bone and soft tissue. It is one design choice among many; it does not change the fundamentals of implant treatment: careful planning, healthy bone and gums, precise placement, and good long-term care.
Platform switching is not a guarantee of success, nor a substitute for proper diagnosis or maintenance. An implant system is chosen as a whole, and the connection type is just one factor weighed alongside bone quality, implant position, bite forces, gum health, and overall health.
What the 2025 Review Did
Published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in 2025, the review compared marginal bone loss around platform-switched versus platform-matched implants. The authors searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Lilac for studies from January 2000 to July 2022, including only human randomized controlled trials and prospective controlled cohort studies.
Only four studies met the eligibility criteria, with follow-up of 5 to 10 years. Because the studies differed in methods and measurements, the authors used a descriptive analysis rather than combining all numbers into a single pooled estimate.
What the Review Found
Across the four eligible studies, the descriptive analysis favored platform switching: on average, platform-switched connections showed less marginal bone loss. The review’s example figures illustrate this:
In one study, platform-switched implants showed 0.6 ± 0.20 mm of marginal bone loss at 5 years and 1.20 ± 0.21 mm at 10 years, compared with 1.1 ± 0.3 mm at 5 years and 1.24 ± 0.39 mm at 10 years for platform-matched implants. In another study, the difference was 0.18 ± 0.14 mm for platform-switched implants versus 0.80 ± 0.40 mm for platform-matched implants.
Those numbers are averages from specific studies, not promises for any individual patient. Bone loss varies from person to person, and the authors stressed their conclusion’s limits: with only four studies, platform switching appears beneficial for keeping crestal bone, but the evidence is limited.
What This Means for Patients in Folsom
For someone exploring dental implants in Folsom, this review offers a balanced takeaway. First, implant design details matter, and it is reasonable to ask your dentist how a system is designed and why a particular approach was chosen for your case. Second, no single design feature decides the outcome alone. The biggest influences on long-term implant health are familiar: thorough planning with 3D imaging, healthy gums and adequate bone, precise placement, a well-fitting restoration, and consistent home care and maintenance.
Cost should also stay grounded: total cost depends on the number of implants, whether bone grafting or other preparatory treatment is needed, the type of restoration, and case complexity. A free consultation is the right setting to talk through those factors, rather than relying on a single advertised figure. Also ask how your bone and gum health will be evaluated, what the timeline looks like, what maintenance will be needed, and what the alternatives are, including bridges and dentures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is platform switching in dental implants?
Platform switching means using an abutment narrower than the top of the implant fixture, creating a small inward step at the implant-abutment junction that may reduce irritation to surrounding bone and soft tissue.
Does platform switching prevent bone loss around implants?
No. The 2025 review found less average marginal bone loss with platform-switched implants, but not that bone loss can be prevented entirely. Some bone change after placement is common.
How strong is the evidence for platform switching?
The evidence is limited: only four eligible studies, with 5 to 10 years of follow-up, analyzed descriptively because methods differed. The authors concluded platform switching appears beneficial for crestal bone, while noting more research is needed.
Should I ask for a platform-switched implant?
You can certainly ask about it, but the implant system should be chosen as a whole for your case. Your dentist will weigh the connection design with your bone quality, gum health, implant position, bite, and overall health, rather than choosing on one feature alone.
How can I protect the bone around my dental implants?
Brush and floss daily, attend regular checkups and cleanings, avoid smoking, and report any pain, swelling, or looseness around an implant promptly. Good planning, precise placement, and consistent maintenance support long-term health.
References
Tomar S, Saxena D, Kaur N. “Marginal bone loss around implants with platform switching and platform matched connection: A systematic review.” Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2025 Jul;134(1):109-113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2023.09.009. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37863757/
If you are considering dental implants, Dr. Leila Nikpour, prosthodontist at Expert Dental Group in Roseville, brings more than 15 years of dentistry experience and has placed 2,500+ dental implants. The Roseville office offers in-house 3D CBCT imaging. To learn whether dental implants may be right for you, call Expert Dental Group at (916) 888-1646 to schedule a free consultation. The office is at 5070 Foothills Blvd, Suite 2, Roseville, CA 95747, open Monday through Friday from 9 to 6 and Saturday from 9 to 1.