The Use of Zirconia for Implant-Supported Fixed Complete Dental Prostheses: A Narrative Review.

The success of implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (ISFCDPs) depends on multiple factors: some are related to the fixtures, such as fixture material, surface characteristics, positioning, and type of connection to prosthetic components; others are related to the prostheses, such as design and materials used. Zirconia is a material widely used in fixed prosthodontics, whether on natural teeth or on implants, with excellent results over time. Regarding the use of zirconia for ISFCDPs, the 2018 ITI Consensus Report stated that "implant-supported monolithic zirconia prostheses may be a future option with more supporting evidence". Since CAD/CAM technology and zirconia are being continuously innovated to achieve better results and performances over time, a narrative review of the literature seems necessary to focus research efforts towards effective and durable solutions for implant-supported, full-arch rehabilitations. The objective of the present narrative review was to search the literature for studies regarding the clinical performance of zirconia-based ISFCDPs. According to the results of this review, the use of zirconia for ISFCDPs showed good clinical outcomes, with high survival rates ranging from 88% to 100% and prosthetic complications that were restorable by the clinicians in most cases.

Histologic Evaluation of Soft Tissues around Dental Implant Abutments: A Narrative Review.

The basis for dental implant success comes not only with the titanium implant osseointegration but also depends on other factors such as the development of a soft tissue barrier, which protects the peri-implant bone from the oral environment. The characteristics of surfaces in contact with peri-implant soft tissues may affect the capacity of peri-implant mucosal cells to create a tight seal around the implant, thus influencing long-term implant success. Many histological studies on animals have been conducted on different materials to better understand their influence on peri-implant soft tissues, with the limitation that results from animal studies cannot be fully translated in humans. The aim of this review paper was to analyze the literature focusing on histological clinical studies in humans which have examined different materials or different surface treatments and their effects on peri-implant soft tissues. The research was conducted according to the following PICO question: "Do different implant/abutment materials affect peri-implant soft tissues adhesion and health?". Nine articles were analyzed in this review. The results of this review show the influence of different abutment materials on the peri-implant soft tissues, and the need of further research regarding the effect that abutment materials, surface treatments, and surface properties have on soft tissues.

Implant Placement in Patients under Treatment with Rivaroxaban: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

The management of patients under treatment with Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) has led clinicians to deal with two clinical issues, such as the hemorrhagic risk in case of non-interruption or the risk of thromboembolism in case of suspension of the treatment. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of perioperative bleeding events and healing complications in patients who were under treatment with Rivaroxaban and who received dental implants and immediate prosthetic restoration. Patients treated with Rivaroxaban (Xarelto 20 mg daily) and who needed implant rehabilitation were selected. Four to six implants were placed in mandibular healed sites or fresh extraction sockets. All patients, in agreement with their physicians, interrupted the medication for 24 h and received implants and immediate restorations. Twelve patients and 57 implants were analyzed in the study. No major postoperative bleeding events were reported. Three patients (25%) presented slight immediate postoperative bleeding controlled with compression only. The implant and prosthetic survival rate were both 100% after 1 year. Within the limitations of this study, multiple implant placement with an immediate loading can be performed without any significant complication with a 24 h discontinuation of Rivaroxaban, in conjunction with the patient's physician.

Tissue level implants in healthy versus medically compromised patients: a cohort comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Dental implants placed in medically compromised patients have predictable outcomes and a high rate of survival, compared to those placed in healthy patients. The aims of this study were to observe and compare implant survival/success rates and soft tissue response to tissue-level implants placed in healthy and medically compromised patients with a 1-year follow-up. METHODS: Seventy-two patients, 36 healthy patients (20 females and 16 males) and 36 medically compromised patients (18 females and 18 males) affected by cardiovascular diseases (arrythmia, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, bypass and pacemaker surgery), depression, endocrine metabolic diseases (hypercholesterolemia, type II diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis), gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, hiatal hernia, gastric ulcers), asthma, osteoporosis or glaucoma received one tissue-level implant. Measurements for primary and secondary outcomes were collected immediately after implant placement and at 1 year from implant insertion. RESULTS: Three were failed and two were survived out of a total of 72 implants. Among healthy patients, two implants failed while one was classified as survived; among Medically compromised patients one implant failed and another one was classified as survived. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of success rate or survival rate. No statistically significant differences between the two groups' marginal bone level was observed. In healthy patients a mean loss of keratinized tissue (-0.1±0.6 mm) was reported, while in medically compromised patients a mean gain was reported (+0.5±0.8 mm). CONCLUSIONS: In terms of success, failure and survival rates, tissue level implants placed in healthy and in medically compromised individuals showed no short-term (1 year) differences.

Standard vs customized healing abutments with simultaneous bone grafting for tissue changes around immediate implants. 1-year outcomes from a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Immediate implants have shown risks of esthetic complications. The hypothesis was that a customized healing abutment could improve the peri-implant tissue healing. PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the soft and hard tissue healing around immediate implants that received bone grafting and a customized vs a standard healing abutment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients, who required tooth extraction and who received an immediate implant (with an alloplastic graft material) were randomly assigned to a customized or a standard healing abutment group. Clinical and radiographic examinations were taken at baseline, at 4 and 12 months. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients out of 61 were excluded from the study because unsuitable for immediate implantation. In total, 36 patients were randomized in the two groups. There were 17 females and 19 males (age range 23-77). No prosthetic or implant failure was registered during the study period. The Papilla Index was significantly higher in the customized than in the standard group at 4 and 12 months (P = .0002). The bone loss at mesial sites was significantly higher in the control than in the test group (P = .0014). CONCLUSION: The customized healing abutment group showed the most favorable outcomes (in terms of PI and MBL) in case of immediate implant that received a peri-implant bone grafting procedure.

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: The Use of Leukocyte-Platelet-Rich Fibrin as an Adjunct in the Treatment.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw are bone exposures in the maxillofacial region that does not heal after 8 weeks from the observation of a health care provider in patients with history of the intake of antiresorptive agents and no previous irradiation of the craniofacial region. Initially attributed only to the intake of bisphosphonates they have later been associated also with the intake of other classes of antiresorptive medications.This retrospective study analyzed records from patients with documented medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws treated in our unit. Clinical data, comorbidities and concurrent medications, treatment outcome information such us number of repeated treatments needed, antibiotic used, type of treatment adopted were recorded. Baseline demographics for the included records of 15 patients (mean age: 64 years) revealed a treatment success rate of 73.3% (mean observation period: 42.2 months), failure rate of 26.6%, dental extraction trigger rate of 33.3%, and a spontaneous trigger rate of 40%.Zolendronate and denosumav were the medications most frequently associated with the upset of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (60% of the sample). In 8 cases out of the 11 that were successful, the surgical treatment had to be repeated more than once. Leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin led to the resolution of 11 of the 14 cases in which it was used.

Clinical Success of Dental Implants Placed in Posterior Mandible Augmented With Interpositional Block Graft: 3-Year Results From a Prospective Cohort Clinical Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present cohort study was to investigate the 3-year efficacy and clinical performance of implant-supported rehabilitations in posterior mandibles augmented with the sandwich osteotomy technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three partially edentulous patients who developed atrophy of the posterior mandible (residual ridge height, 3 to 7 mm) were treated (32 surgical sites) with vertical bone augmentation using interpositional equine cancellous bone blocks and porcine corticocancellous bone particulate. All implants were placed 4 months after augmentation and were loaded with fixed dental prostheses. One side per patient was selected and followed for 3 years, and the patient was the unit of analysis. Linear radiographic vertical bone gain and peri-implant marginal bone loss were assessed; secondary outcomes-complication rates after surgery, prosthesis and implant failure rates, width of keratinized mucosa, and patient satisfaction-were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients reported postoperative paresthesia that resolved over a period of 2 months after the augmentation procedure. The mean vertical bone gain was 5.6 mm after 4 months. Ninety-one dental implants were positioned into the augmented areas. The global 3-year survival rate was 95.5%. The mean peri-implant marginal bone loss around implants was 1.06 ± 0.37 mm 3 years after loading, whereas the width of keratinized mucosa had an overall increase of 0.39 ± 0.36 mm. CONCLUSION: The results of the present 3-year study suggested high success rates for implants placed in areas augmented with the osteotomy sandwich technique. This surgical approach could be helpful in the presence of a low residual vertical height in the posterior mandible before implant placement.

Clinical outcomes of implants placed in ridge-preserved versus nonpreserved sites: A 4-year randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Consistent bone changes occur after tooth removal, often compromising the success of implants placed within the socket left to natural healing The long-term effect of ridge preservation on implant outcomes is still unclear. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess success and survival rates of implants placed in extraction sockets, with spontaneous healing, or grafted with cortical porcine bone, or collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients in need for a single premolar/molar tooth extraction and an implant treatment were selected for the present study. Patients were randomly distributed among 3 groups: sites that healed naturally (ctrl), or sites that received ridge preservation with either cortical (cort) or collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone (coll). Three months after, all the experimental sites were reentered to insert implants. Marginal bone levels were recorded; soft tissues were analyzed and summarized with the Pink Esthetic Score (PES). Forty-two patients out of 90 (initial cohort study) completed the entire follow-up of 4 years. RESULTS: Cumulative survival and success rates for all implants were 100% at a 4-year evaluation. Mean marginal bone loss (MBL) was 1.14 ± 0.23 mm in the cort group, 1.13 ± 0.29 mm in the coll group, and 1.92 ± 0.07 mm in the ctrl group. There were no significant differences between the 2 grafting materials but MBL was significantly greater in the nongrafted sites (P value < .001). The PES resulted significantly better (9.42 ± 0.75) for the cort group than for the coll group (8.53 ± 1.18) and ctrl group (6.07 ± 1.89) at 4-year evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Ridge preservation was more effective than natural healing in preserving marginal bone and in achieving better esthetic outcomes around implants 4 years after placement. The cortical porcine bone showed better clinical outcomes than collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone.

Longitudinal analysis on the effect of insertion torque on delayed single implants: A 3-year randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Implant stability is commonly related to insertion torque. Recently, it has been suggested that higher insertion torque may lead to greater bone resorption. PURPOSE: The aim of the present randomized clinical study was to evaluate the role of different insertion torque values in terms of implant success, marginal bone loss, and facial soft tissues recession. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients requiring a single dental implant were recruited and randomized to receive one of two implants with the same macro-geometry but different cutting designs. First group consists of a 90 degrees cutting groove know as self-tapping implant, and the second group known as Blossom™ cutting groove. (Intra-Lock, Boca Raton, Florida). The insertion torque (IT) was assessed and two groups followed: high-IT (≥50 Ncm) group and regular-IT (<50 Ncm) group. After 3 months, all the implants were restored. At baseline, buccal bone thickness (BBT) was recorded. During the 3-year survey, the following outcomes had been registered: implant failures and success, radiographic marginal bone level around dental implant (MBL) and facial soft tissue level (FSTL). RESULTS: A hundred and sixteen implants were placed in healed sites. The overall survival rate after 3 years was 96.5%. The Cumulative Success Rate was 91.3% for the High IT group and 98.2% for the Regular IT group. The mean marginal bone loss and facial soft tissue recession, at a 3-year evaluation, were significantly greater for the High-IT group and in the mandible than that reached in the Regular-IT group and in the maxilla. CONCLUSION: Present findings showed that implants placed with higher insertion torque in mandible led to greater bone resorption and mucosal recession than that registered for implants placed with a regular IT. Moreover, sites with a thick buccal bone wall (≥1 mm) showed smaller recession at the facial soft tissue level after 3 years.

Molecular, Cellular and Pharmaceutical Aspects of Filling Biomaterials During the Management of Extraction Sockets.

After a tooth extraction both hard and soft tissues undergo dimensional changes. The use of a ridge preservation technique at the moment of the tooth extraction could help could help to prevent the volume loss, thus simplifying the subsequent prosthetic and/or implant therapy. Some studies were conducted in order to examine the biomaterials and the surgical technique used for ridge preservation procedures. Clinical, histological, volumetric and molecular outcomes were registered and analyzed in different studies, in order to comprehend the biological events and the consequences of a socket preservation procedure and to allow the clinician to make the correct choice.

Clinical and Histological changes after ridge preservation with two xenografts: preliminary results from a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare clinical and histological changes after ridge preservation procedures with those of spontaneous healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients were enrolled in the present randomized controlled clinical trial and underwent single-tooth extraction in the premolar/molar areas. Thirty sites were grafted with collagenated cortico-cancellous (coll), 30 sites with cortical (cort) porcine bone and 30 sites underwent natural healing. Primary (vertical and horizontal bone changes after 3 months) and secondary outcomes (histomorphometric after 3 months) were evaluated at implant placement. RESULTS: The vertical bone changes at the grafted sockets were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower (0.30 mm for cort group and 0.57 mm for coll group) when compared to non-grafted sockets (2.10 mm for nat group). Moreover, the width reduction of the coll (0.93 mm) and cort (1.33 mm) groups was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than the non-grafted group (3.60 mm). The analysis of subgroups attested that when premolar and molar sites were compared, the buccal bone loss appeared to be dependent both on tooth position and grafting material employed. CONCLUSION: The ridge preservation procedures had significantly better outcomes when compared to natural healing. The biomaterials did not differ for maintenance of bone width; even though, the bone height seemed to be better preserved with the cortical porcine bone.

Surgical Treatment of Oroantral Communications.

BACKGROUND: Oroantral communication (OAC) can be defined as a pathologic space created between the maxillary sinus and the oral cavity.This communication and subsequent formation of a chronic oroantral fistula is a common complication often encountered by oral and maxillofacial surgeons.Although various techniques have been proposed in published studies, long-term successful closure of oroantral fistulas is still one of the most difficult problems confronting the surgeon working in the oral and maxillofacial region.The decision of which treatment modality to use is influenced by many factors, such as the amount and condition of tissue available for repair, the size and location of the defect, the presence of infection, the time to the diagnosis of the fistula. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an alternative technique for the treatment of oro-antral fistula, using a combined therapeutic ear nose and throat/intraoral approach. METHODS: Twelve consecutive patients affected by complicated OAC were included in this study.The protocol consisted of: clinical, endoscopic, and radiological preoperative evaluation (panoramic tomogram and computed tomography); systemic antibiotic and steroid therapy for 2 weeks before surgery; one-stage surgical procedure consisting of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery technique associated with the closure of the OAC by a titanium mesh and a mucoperiosteal flap; postoperative antibiotic and cortisone-based therapy.A titanium mesh was used to obtain an optimal support and stabilization of soft tissues.Follow-up consisted of weekly clinical evaluation during the first month, a clinical evaluation at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months and a nasal endoscopy at 3, 8, 24 weeks after surgery. A second surgical step took place to remove the mesh, after a period of healing, which went from 6 to 18 months. Samples were harvested from the surgical site after mesh removal for histological analysis. RESULTS: At 1 month follow-up, in 10 patients of 12, the Valsalva manoeuvre was negative, same result at the 3rd month follow-up, although in 11 of 12 patients. In 5 of 12 patients, the mesh was exposed. The histological analysis confirmed the formation of a pseudo-periosteum layer.One patient failed because the mesh lost its stability. The patient was operated again 8 months later and new mesh was fixed into place. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that one-stage, combined endoscopic and intraoral approach represents a feasible and minimally invasive procedure for the long-term effective treatment of chronic complicated OACs.The main advantage of the use of a titanium mesh to guide the regeneration is that it assures a predictable healing, mechanic scaffold, tissues stability and allows a possible following oral rehabilitation.

Gene Expression of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured on Titanium Dental Implant Surfaces.

OBJECTIVE: The study shows how the influence of titanium surfaces on human mesenchymal stem cells differentiates toward osteocytes lineage and how, after growth, on machined titanium disk or etched titanium disk, changes, in gene expression for RUNX1, CTNNB1, SP7, and DLX5. METHODS: Genes were analyzed by means of quantitative real-time polimerase chain reaction. Osseo genic lineage differentiation was also tested by means of the catenin-ß1 immunofluorescence, induced osteoblasts, which represented the internal control. RESULTS: The RUNX1 and SP7 expressions in the induced osteoblasts prove to be different, compared with cells cultured on metallic supports. Moreover, the levels of expression of the runt-related transcription factor 1 and the osterix appeared more down-regulated in cells that grew on a machined titanium surface. In the present experimental model, mRNA expression of DLX5 and CTNNB1 in human mesenchymal stem cells, cultured on each of the titanium surfaces, showed no differences, compared with osteoblast-induced cells. The immunofluorescence scores, for protein expression of beta-catenin in human mesenchymal stem cell treated cells, illustrates significantly improved results with the etched surface. CONCLUSIONS: Present results suggested that different titanium surfaces might induce some differences in terms of gene expression. The only gene analyzed, which proved significant differences between the 2 titanium supports, was SP7; however, the other 3 genes indicating the existence of differences between the 2 titanium groups.

The Effect of Insertion Torque on the Clinical Outcome of Single Implants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The insertion torque value has been extensively used as an indicator for implant primary stability, which is considered a determining parameter for the implants success. PURPOSE: The primary goal of the present randomized clinical trial was to evaluate and compare the clinical outcome for implants placed with high insertion torque (between 50 Ncm and 100 Ncm) and regular insertion torque (within 50 Ncm) in healed ridges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Partially edentulous patients, missing one or more mandibular or maxillary teeth, having an adequate amount of bone, requiring implant placement, were randomized to receive Blossom CT implants with regular insertion torque (<50 Ncm) or CT implants with high insertion torque (≥50 Ncm). Implants were left to heal submerged for 3 months. Implants were restored with individualized abutments and cemented metal-ceramic crowns. Acquired measurements were: insertion torque values (IT), thickness of buccal bone plate after implant osteotomy preparation (BBT), marginal bone level (MBL), and facial soft tissue level (FST). All patients were followed 12 months after implant placement. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen implants were placed in one hundred sixteen patients and enrolled for the study. Fifty-eight implants were randomly allocated in regular-IT and high-IT groups with a mean insertion torque ranging from 20 Ncm to 50 Ncm and from 50 Ncm to 100 Ncm, respectively. Three implants failed, and another five implants showed at the 12-month evaluation a marginal bone loss (ΔMBL) greater than 1.5 mm, being considered unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that implants inserted with high-IT (≥50 Ncm) in healed bone ridges showed more peri-implant bone remodeling and buccal soft tissue recession than implants inserted with a regular-IT (<50 Ncm). Moreover, sites with a thick buccal bone wall (≥1 mm) - after implant osteotomy site preparation - seemed to be less prone to buccal soft tissue recession after 12 months than sites with a thin buccal bone wall (<1 mm).

Volumetric analysis of remodelling pattern after ridge preservation comparing use of two types of xenografts. A multicentre randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to analyse and compare the volumetric changes after ridge preservation procedures using two different biomaterials and to evaluate associations between outcome variables and pristine three-dimensional aspects of the ridges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients subjected to single-tooth alveolar ridge preservation were enrolled in the present multicentre, single-blind, prospective and randomized clinical trial. Fourteen sites were randomly allocated to each experimental group. The experimental sites were grafted with pre-hydrated collagenated cortico-cancellous porcine bone (coll group) or with a cortical porcine bone (cort group) and a collagen membrane; a secondary soft tissue healing was obtained for all experimental sites. Plaster casts were scanned (preoperative, at 1 and 3 months postoperative). Analysis of volumes and areas was performed, and all measured variables were statistically compared. RESULTS: Intragroup analyses at 3 months revealed that when examining changes related to three-dimensional features of remodelling patterns (volume, surfaces, height and shape), the two biomaterials showed similar behaviours with a minor loss in volume and ridge surface. Intergroup analysis at 3-month survey revealed that volume resorption of the coll group (244 mm3 ) was significantly lower (P = 0.0140) than that of the cort group (349 mm3 ). The reduction for basal surface appeared significantly different between the two groups at 1-month survey only (P = 0.0137), while the final basal surface reduction was 4.9 and 12.2 mm2 for coll and cort group, respectively. The superior surface reduction was 40.8 mm2 for coll and 50.7 mm2 for cort group, with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: At the 3rd month analysis, coll group showed a significantly lower reduction of ridge volume and a significantly smaller shrinkage of the basal area when compared to the cort group; moreover, the coll group experienced a smaller superior surface shrinkage when compared to the cort group, even though no significance was evaluated.

Buccal bone deficiency in fresh extraction sockets: a prospective single cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective single cohort study was to evaluate the use of xenograft and collagen membranes in treating full or partial buccal bone defects of fresh extraction sockets in the esthetic zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients requiring tooth extraction in the anterior maxillary area and showing a complete or partial buccal bone plate deficiency (more than 2 mm) were consecutively enrolled and treated. Corticocancellous porcine bone and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with a collagen membrane were used to graft the extraction sockets, and the membranes were left exposed to the oral cavity with a secondary soft tissue healing. The outcome variables were as follows: width of keratinized mucosa, facial soft tissue levels, clinical bone changes (measured with a clinical splint), implant and prosthesis failures, and peri-implant marginal bone changes. RESULTS: All treated sites allowed the placement of implants; the width of keratinized mucosa at the mid-facial aspect showed an increase of 2.3 mm 5 months after the grafting procedure, and its value was 3.2 ± 0.6 mm at 1-year follow-up. The mean values of the facial soft tissue level indicated an increase over time. The bone level showed an improvement of 0.8 ± 0.1 mm and 0.7 ± 0.1 mm at mesial and distal sites, respectively, when compared to the baseline measurements. Finally, in the palatal area, no bone changes were observed. No implant failed during the entire observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study showed that xenograft and PRF, used for ridge preservation of the extraction sockets with buccal bone plate dehiscence in the esthetic zone, can be considered effective in repairing bone defects before implant placement. The secondary soft tissue healing over the grafted sockets did not compromise bone formation; moreover, the soft tissue level and the width of keratinized gingiva showed a significant improvement over time.

Tissue stability of implants placed in fresh extraction sockets: a 5-year prospective single-cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Several materials have been used for ridge preservation after tooth extraction. This 5-year prospective single-cohort study is aimed at evaluating the success rate, marginal bone level (MBL), soft tissue stability, and subjective patient evaluation of implants placed in fresh extraction sockets with the use of a flapless technique and a xenograft to treat the peri-implant bone defect. METHODS: Patients requiring a single implant in fresh extraction sockets were selected. After flapless extraction and implant insertion, the peri-implant bone defect was grafted with porcine bone. Collagen membrane was used to stabilize the graft. Four months later, a second surgery and prosthetic procedures were performed. Clinical parameters (width of keratinized gingiva [WKG], facial soft tissue level [FST], papilla index, plaque index, and bleeding on probing) were measured, and periapical radiographs were taken at the time of implant placement (baseline) and then at 1, 3, and 5 years thereafter. Image analysis software was applied to measure changes in the marginal bone level (ΔMBL). Additionally, patient satisfaction regarding the implant treatment was evaluated. All analyses were collected and measured by an independent, trained observer. Together with descriptive statistics, for each of the outcome variables, pairwise comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for matched samples. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.01 for all analyses. RESULTS: Forty-seven consecutive patients were treated, with an implant survival rate at 5 years of 95.7%. ΔMBL showed statistically significant differences: mean values were -0.68 ± 0.39, -0.94 ± 0.44, and -1.08 ± 0.43 mm at the 1, 3, and 5-year follow-up, respectively. Changes in WKG (ΔWKG) and FST (ΔFST) decreased from the 1-year point of the survey (0.80 ± 0.79 and 0.71 ± 0.73 mm for ΔWKG and ΔFST, respectively) to the last follow-up check at 5 years (0.67 ± 0.74 and 0.56 ± 0.69 mm for ΔWKG and ΔFST, respectively), with no significant differences. The papilla indexes showed significant differences among the baseline and all the other time points. Concerning patient satisfaction, at the last survey time point, 74% ± 11.8% of patients were satisfied regarding the overall implant treatment, 73.0% ± 11.1% gave a favorable opinion regarding the appearance of the peri-implant soft tissues, and 80.5% ± 11.3% judged positively the finished appearance of the implant crown. No significant differences were obtained among the three follow-up times. CONCLUSIONS: The data of the present study suggest that the placement of a dental implant by means of a flapless technique in a fresh extraction socket filled with slowly resorbable graft biomaterial and with a delayed prosthetic restoration shows positive final esthetic outcomes. At the 5-year point of the survey, the changes in the bone level were minimal. Moreover, both midfacial tissue and the papillae maintained the early increase recorded before the first year of the follow-up.