Response to letter to the editor: Re: Stability of tapered and parallel-walled dental implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The primary aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the implant stability of tapered dental implants compared to standard parallel-walled dental implants.1 The peri-implant marginal bone level changes were one of the secondary outcomes which was only evaluated in two studies.2,3 The meta-analysis showed that tapered dental implants had less peri-implant marginal bone loss compared to parallel-wall dental implants (mean difference ̶ 0.28; 95% confidence interval ̶ 0.55 to ̵ 0.01; p = 0.04). Heterogeneity was detected (Chi2 = 2.06, df = 1 (p = 0.15); I 2 = 52%).