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9
IN BRIEF
● The functions of provisional (sometimes termed temporary) restorations
● Diagnostic uses of provisional restorations
● Provisional restorations for conventional preparations including: the concept of short,
medium, and long-term temporisation; materials; and direct and indirect provisional
restorations
● Provisional restorations for adhesive preparations
● Problem solving
The important role of provisional restorations is often overlooked. This may be because they are left until the end of an
appointment when time for construction is short or because they generally do not need to last for long. However, not only
can good provisional restorations help produce better final restorations, they can also save a lot of time and expense at
subsequent appointments. In fact time spent in their construction will be more than repaid in time saved doing additional
procedures, adjustments and remakes later on.
Provisional cements
Provisional restorations are usually cemented
with soft cement. Traditionally, a creamy mix of
zinc oxide eugenol was used, but nowadays
most dentists prefer proprietary materials such
as Temp Bond (Fig. 5). This material comes with
a modifier, which is used to soften the cement, as
described later in the article, to ease removal of
the provisional restoration from more retentive
preparations. Temp Bond NE is a non-eugenol
cement which may be used for patients with
eugenol allergy or where there is concern over
the possible plasticising effect of residual
eugenol on resin cements and dentine bonding
agents. Certainly, surface hardness11 and shear
Fig. 5 Temp Bond and Temp Bond NE: The modifier (central tube) can be mixed with Temp Bond bond strength of resin12 to resin can both be
Base and Catalyst to ease crown removal with retentive preparations. Regular Temp Bond contains affected by eugenol and it is worth noting that
eugenol, which can soften composite cores. Temp Bond NE (shown to right of photograph) does not eugenol cements can significantly reduce the
contain eugenol and will avoid this problem
bond of resin cements to composite cores.16
However, resin bond strengths to enamel13 and
dentine14 are not affected if the eugenol residue
a is removed with pumice and water before condi-
tioning. Microleakage15 is also unaffected by the
use of eugenol.
Occasionally, hard cement is needed to retain
a provisional on a short preparation. This is con-
sidered later in the ‘problem solving’ section.
a
Fig. 6 (a) A familiar polycarbonate
shell crown relined with Trim; and
(b) The provisional is carefully
trimmed to help maintain gingival
health
Cast metal
Alloys used include nickel chromium, silver and
scrap gold. Copings can be cast with external
retention beads for acrylic or composite. In less
aesthetically critical areas of the mouth, metal Fig 7 (a) Aluminium shell crowns are convenient, but
may be used on its own. Cast metals are very suitable only for short term use on posterior teeth; and
durable, but rarely used unless provisional (b) Crimping of the crown margins will improve
retention and fit
restorations have to last a long time.
Proprietary shells
Shells can be divided into proprietary and cus-
tom made. Proprietary shells made of plastic
(Fig. 6) or metal (Fig. 7) are used commonly in
practice when only one or perhaps two prepara- b
tions are involved.
Proprietary plastic shells: A crown with the
correct mesio-distal width is chosen and placed
on the tooth preparation. The cervical margins
are trimmed to give reasonable seating and adap-
tation. The preparation is then coated with petro- Fig. 8 (a) A commonly used matrix is
an alginate impression of the
leum jelly and the crown, containing a suitable unprepared tooth; and (b) The flash
resin eg Trim, is reseated. While the resin is still must be removed and the linked
incompletely set, the proximal excess is removed provisionals trimmed prior to
using a sharp bladed instrument such as a half cementation
Hollenback amalgam carver. The crown is then
removed and replaced several times to prevent Mill Crowns are formed by first cutting mini-
resin setting in undercuts. Finally, the crown is mal crown preparations on a stone cast. A pre-
adjusted and polished using steel or tungsten preparation matrix is then filled with poly-
carbide burs and Soflex discs. Diamond burs are methyl methacrylate and placed over the
best avoided, as they tend to melt the shell and preparations. The trimmed and adjusted provi-
resin because of the heat generated. sional crowns are again relined in the mouth.
Proprietary metal shells: Aluminium crowns
are really only suitable for short-term use as Matrices
they are soft resulting in wear and deformation. Many operators prefer matrices (Fig. 8) to shell
Furthermore, they can produce galvanic reac- crowns for making single or multiple provision-
tions in association with amalgam restorations. al crowns. This is because matrices closely dupli-
Their fit is usually poor unless considerable time cate the external form of satisfactory existing
is spent trimming and crimping the margins fol- teeth, or, if changes are required, a diagnostic
lowed by relining with a resin. Stainless steel or wax up. If the matrix is carefully seated minimal
nickel chromium crowns may occasionally be adjustments are generally needed other than
used on molar teeth opposed by flat cusps where trimming flash at the crown margin.
heavy occlusal loading would quickly wear or There are three main types of matrix:
break a resin crown.
• Impression (alginate or elastomer)
• Vacuum formed thermoplastic
Custom shells
• Proprietary celluloid
Some operators favour custom shells for multi-
ple tooth preparations. The shell is made in The simplest way of making a matrix is to
advance of tooth preparation so the desired record an impression of the tooth to be prepared
external contours are pre-formed, but relining either in alginate or silicone putty. Impression
and careful marginal trimming are necessary matrices are quick, easy and inexpensive, and
prior to fitting. Custom shells are of two types, can be formed while the local anaesthetic is
either beaded acrylic or ‘Mill Crowns’. Both offer allowed to take effect. When impression matri-
the advantage of being able to use the superior ces are used some judicious internal trimming
properties of polymethyl methacrylate, whilst may be helpful to improve seating and bulk out
avoiding pulpal damage by constructing the critical areas of the provisional restoration.
shell out of the mouth. These aspects are covered later when we deal
The beaded acrylic shell is formed within an with problem solving. Alginate matrices are
impression taken of the teeth prior to preparation best at absorbing the resin exotherm3 —
or of a diagnostic wax up. A thin shell of poly- although the temporary should have been
methyl methacrylate is constructed in the impres- removed before this stage of set. Elastomeric
sion by alternately placing small amounts of impression matrices have the advantage of
methyl methacrylate monomer followed by poly- being reusable, allowing them to be disinfected
mer, taking care not to make the shell too thick, and stored in case they are required again.
otherwise it will need time-consuming adjust- Polyvinylsiloxane putty impressions are fre-
ment later. Once set, it is trimmed and then relined quently used because of their ease of handling
in the mouth as with polycarbonate crowns. and long-term stability.
c d
provisional technique for onlay modifier should be added to the cement (Fig. CONCLUSION
preparations. J Esthetic Dent 1992; 4:
202-207.
5). Equal lengths of base and catalyst with a Quality restorative dentistry needs quality
9. Liebenberg W H. Improving third of a length of modifier will soften the provisional restorations for predictable
interproximal access in direct cement appreciably. Therefore, the proportion results. Dentists therefore need to be familiar
provisional acrylic resin restorations. of modifier needs to be gauged for each case. with the range of materials and techniques for
Quintessence Int 1994; 25: 697-703.
10. Shillingburg H T, Hobo S, Whitsett L D. Either finger pressure or instruments such as short term, medium-term and long-term tem-
Provisional Restorations. towel clips can then remove the restorations, porisation. Forethought and planning are also
Fundamentals of Fixed without risking damage to the preparation needed to ensure the most appropriate provi-
Prosthodontics. 4 ed pp.225-256.
Chicago: Quintessence international,
margin. sional is used, especially when multiple teeth
1998. are to be prepared or where occlusal or aes-
11. Civjan S, Huget E F, De Simon L B. Removal of excess cement thetic changes are envisaged. Such changes
Compatibility of resin composites Temporary cement removal is facilitated by are best tried out with provisionals so that
with varnishes, liners and bases. J
Dent Res (Special issue) 1973; 52: 65 pre-applying petroleum jelly to the outside of modifications can easily be made intra-orally
(Abstract no.27). the restorations and placing floss under each and when satisfactory copied into the defini-
12. Dilts W E, Miller R C, Miranda F J, connector of linked crowns before seating tive restorations. In this respect an initial
Duncanson M G J. Effect of zinc oxide
-eugenol on shear bond strength of (look at Fig. 13). Once set, the excess cement is diagnostic wax-up is invaluable to facilitate
selected core/cement combinations. easily removed with the strategically posi- the construction of laboratory formed provi-
J Prosthet Dent 1986; 55: 206-208. tioned floss. sionals or matrices.
13. Schwartz R S, Davis R D, Mayhew R
W. The effect of a ZOE temporary
cement on the bond strength of a
List of products mentioned in the text:
resin luting agent. Am J Dent 1990; 3:
28-31. Fermit Ivoclar-Vivadent UK Ltd, Leicester, UK
14. Schwartz R, Davis R, Hilton T J. Effect Protemp II (hand-mix) ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
of temporary cements on the bond
strength of a resin cement. Am J Dent Protemp Garant (syringe mix) ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
1992; 5: 147-150. Provipont DC Ivoclar-Vivadent UK Ltd, Leicester, UK
15. Woody T L, Davis R D. The effect of
Quicktemp Davis, Schottlander & Davis Ltd, Letchworth, UK
eugenol-containing and eugenol-
free temporary cements on Snap Parkell, Farmingdale, USA
microleakage in resin bonded Soflex Discs 3M Dental Products, St Paul, USA
restorations. Operative Dent 1992;
17: 175-180. Temp Bond Kerr UK Ltd, Peterborough, UK
16. Millstein P L, Nathanson D. Effects of Temp Bond NE Kerr UK Ltd, Peterborough, UK
temporary cementation on Trim II Harry J. Bosworth Co, Illinois, USA
permanent cement retention to
composite resin cores. Vita Autopolymerizing Panadent, London, UK
J Prosthet Dent 1992; 67: 856-859. K+B Acrylics