These provisional solutions are designed to support your patient’s oral health — and provide an efficient, simple clinical protocol for your implant cases.
by Taylor Manalili, DDS
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Director of Clinical Prosthodontics for Glidewell — Newport Beach, California
When I am asked about my favorite way to provisionalize dental implants, I have one answer on standby: “It depends.” How many teeth need to be restored? Is the implant stable? How long will the patient be wearing the provisional? These are just some of the factors that inform my clinical decision-making. Ultimately, I want to provide temporization results that will best serve my patient’s oral health — in the healing phase and for the final implant restoration.
I’m always aware of the time factor, too. That’s why I often prescribe lab-fabricated solutions to temporize dental implants, rather than enduring the time and inconvenience of trying to create temporaries chairside. Let’s look at four options.
1. SCREW-RETAINED BIOTEMPS® PROVISIONALS
For single-unit implant cases, screw-retained BioTemps® Provisionals are my go-to solution. Why? Because my driving concern in the temporization stage is to ensure esthetic gingival contours, whether I want to retain the current position of the gingiva or guide the soft tissue into an ideal emergence profile.
When it comes to implant cases in the esthetic zone, we are all acutely aware of the challenges and importance of managing the soft tissue. Fortunately, BioTemps Provisionals enable predictable results. It’s also important not to rush this pivotal step. For patient comfort, predictable final esthetics and ease of communication with the lab, goals for the soft tissue need to be fully realized before advancing to the final restoration.
Case Report
2. CEMENT-RETAINED BIOTEMPS PROVISIONALS
When multiple sites — implants and natural teeth — need to be provisionalized, BioTemps Provisionals remain my answer. In this case report, you’ll see how I placed a dental implant at tooth #9 and immediately temporized teeth #8–11 with splinted BioTemps Provisionals.
Case Report
3. SMILE TRANSITIONS™ COSMETIC APPLIANCE
Fully transforming a smile is often a complex process that takes place over many months. But before the process can begin, there’s the crucial step of gaining patient acceptance. And one of my favorite motivational tools for smile makeovers is the Smile Transitions™ cosmetic appliance.
Prescribing a Smile Transitions appliance is an easy, affordable way to give the patient a preview of the cosmetic possibilities. The patient can instantly see dramatic improvements in the shape and shade of the teeth, without any tooth preparation or cementation.
Case Report
4. ESSIX RETAINER
Sometimes, primary stability is inadequate and immediate loading is not indicated. For instance, when placing an implant in the maxillary posterior, with Type 3 or Type 4 bone, immediate loading is less predictable. Typically, I prefer to put on a cover screw and do a full soft-tissue closure. Then, with the implant buried, I can temporize the site with an Essix retainer from Glidewell.
An Essix retainer is the easiest of these four implant temporization options. Glidewell fixes a denture tooth in the Essix retainer to maintain the edentulous space and provide an esthetic temporary tooth replacement.
Case Report
CONCLUSION
Knowing all your options is essential for predictably temporizing dental implants across a range of case needs. These four lab-fabricated options are just one indicator of how, with the right dental laboratory by your side, implant dentistry can be simpler and safer.