Management of Provisional Restorations' Deficiencies: A Literature Review

ABSTRACT Provisional restorations are designed in order to protect oral structures and promote function and esthetics for a limited period of time, after which they are to be replaced by a definite prosthesis. They play a particular role in diagnostic procedures and continued evaluation of the treatment plan, as they should resemble the form and function of the definite rehabilitation that they precede. Therefore, interim treatment should satisfy the criteria of marginal adaptation, strength, and longevity. In complicated treatment plans that intend to last for extended periods of time, the function of provisional prostheses involves the possibility of relining, modification, or repair. These adjustments raise considerations regarding the strength of the resultant bond. Chemical composition of the base and repair material, surface characteristics of fracture parts, and time elapsed since the initial set of the rehabilitation should be considered in the decision of the appropriate repair material and technique. Proper pretreatment of the provisional components' surfaces is essential to ensure bonding as well. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the management of provisional restorations' deficiencies. This article highlights possible failures of custom‐fabricated provisional restorations, describes methods to prevent their occurrence, and discusses clinical techniques for their management. Finally, the proper combination of materials and surface preparation to achieve the optimum treatment outcomes are presented. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Provisional restorations' failures and other deficiencies are encountered by clinicians on a daily basis. Adequate laboratory techniques and material combinations presented herein may contribute to their efficient and predictable modifications and repairs. (J Esthet Restor Dent 24:26–39, 2012)