Objective The present randomized controlled trial compares for the first time the vestibular socket therapy (VST) to the contour augmentation technique in the management of compromised fresh extraction sockets in the maxillary esthetic zone, regarding mid‐facial soft tissue changes (primary outcome), mesial and distal papillae dimensions, horizontal soft tissue changes and labial bone plate thickness at apical, middle and coronal levels (secondary outcomes) over 1‐year. Materials and Methods Forty participants with single nonrestorable maxillary teeth in the esthetic zone were randomized into two groups; VST (test; n = 20) utilizing vestibular access for guided bone regeneration (GBR) with immediate implant placement, or contour augmentation (control; n = 20) undergoing an initial healing period followed by implant placement with GBR through a conventional access flap. Results All implants were successfully osseo‐integrated, except for one implant in the test group. VST showed significantly less mid‐facial soft tissue changes of −0.53 ± 1.17 mm versus −1.87 ± 0.69 mm in the control group (p < 0.001). Similarly, changes in mesial papilla (test = −0.64 ± 0.95 mm, control = −1.20 ± 0.81 mm), distal papilla (test = −0.56 ± 1.17 mm, control = −1.26 ± 0.63 mm), horizontal soft‐tissue (test = −0.82 ± 0.95 mm, control = −1.84 ± 0.88 mm; p < 0.05) were significantly less in VST. Intra‐group comparisons demonstrated a significant increase in labial bone thickness, with no differences between groups. Regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between VST as well as increased coronal bone thickness with the reduction in mid‐facial soft‐tissue changes. Conclusion The VST showed less soft‐tissue changes and could represent an innovative technique for implant placement in the maxillary esthetic zone. Both techniques showed a high implant survival rate and increased bone thickness after 12 months.

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Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites are biocompatible materials that may overcome the esthetic and allergic problems of titanium dental implants. However, their potential for osseointegration with a subsequent survival rate is still questionable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and wettability of different surface-treated filled and unfilled PEEK specimens, which may be indicative of the osseointegration behavior and potential use of PEEK as an implant material. Unfilled, ceramic-filled (CFP) and carbon fiber-reinforced (CFRP) PEEK discs were prepared and left untreated or were surface treated with 50 μ, 110 μ, or 250 μ aluminum oxide particles. The roughness average (Ra) value of each disc was evaluated using a contact stylus profilometer. Their contact angles were measured to evaluate their wettability, which was compared among PEEK discs using ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni test for pairwise comparisons ( P ≤ .05). Regarding the surface roughness, a significant difference was found between unfilled and filled PEEK when untreated and bombarded with 50 or 110 microns of aluminum oxide particles. For the contact angle, a significant difference was found only among the untreated PEEK materials. Among the evaluated PEEK materials, CFRP50, CFRP110 and CFP110 showed the most favorable Ra values with good wettability properties, thus being potential substrates for dental implants.

: This study has demonstrated that implant overdenture attachment design and dislodging forces may significantly influence stress/strain magnitude around implants; the higher the retention (resistance to dislodging forces) of the attachments the more the transferred stresses.

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