Provisional restorations – a permanent problem?

A provisional indirect restoration, commonly referred to as a temporary or interim restoration, is described as a fixed restoration designed to enhance aesthetics, stabilization and/or function for a limited period of time, after which it is to be replaced by a definitive restoration. Often they are used to assist in determination of the therapeutic effectiveness of a specific treatment plan or the form and function of the planned for definitive restoration.¹

The importance of provisional restorations can sometimes be underestimated and a poorly constructed provisional restoration can compromise the success of the definitive restoration. This article aims to provide an understanding of provisional restorations for crowns and conventional bridgework, outlining the materials used, the techniques which are commonly adopted, and how a provisional restoration can influence the outcome of the final restoration.

Minimally prepared teeth that are to receive an adhesive restoration, such as a veneer or resin-retained bridge, do not usually require temporization. However, for more invasive preparations, a provisional or temporary restoration becomes necessary. A provisional restoration is an essential part of the indirect restorative procedure, placed after preparing teeth for single unit crowns or conventional bridges, and should remain in situ until delivery of the final restoration.² Provisional restorations serve biological, mechanical and aesthetic functions, which are outlined in Table 1.^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}