Laboratories are typically asked to fabricate a transitional partial denture or "flipper" as a temporary restoration in single-implant cases. The problem is that the esthetics are less than acceptable, the patient has trouble eating with the flipper in place and it can be detrimental to the supportive tissues in the maxilla. In fact, the patient often ends up not wearing the flipper, which can lead to movement of the adjacent teeth and failure to maintain desired tissue condition and profile. Flippers are also subject to frequent breakage and non-revenue repair time for the laboratory.
Alternatively, a bondable temporary restoration for a single-tooth implant can go a long way to satisfy retentive, esthetic and functional requirements. The bonded restoration is very stable in the patient's mouth and is easily retrievable by the dentist when the patient is ready for a permanent restoration.
Here is a quick-and-easy technique for an esthetic, bondable provisional restoration using eFiber, a very strong, opaque glass fiber that is impregnated with both PMMA resin and BIS GMA. Both the clinical and laboratory techniques are simple and the restoration can be fabricated in advance and delivered when the implants are placed.
What do we need from the dentist?
- Maxillary and mandibular model or impressions.
- A bite registration if necessary.
- A tooth shade.
- Instructions as to desired pontic design or shape.
Below is the process:
